Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

-	Player	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
1	Bunty Afoa	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔
4	Rocco Berry	✔	✔
5	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Morgan Harper	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
24	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Fatialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	S	✔	✔
S5	Sio Kali	S
S6	Patrick Moimoi	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 25/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[dylpickle]

New Zealand Warriors comment on Tanah Boyd rumours

He has been linked with a move to the North Queensland Cowboys.

www.zerotackle.com

Sounds like there’s no intention of letting Tanah Boyd go early

Watch us let TMM go at the end of the year and keep Tanah and then he asks for a compassionate release.

 

[Victor_Radley's_Scrotum]

@Wrighty what's the latest with Starford Toa? Thought you would've had this sorted by now mate!?

 

[Boston Boy]

Watch us let TMM go at the end of the year and keep Tanah and then he asks for a compassionate release.

Yeah Tannah's gone at the end of the year. His agent knows he needs to be in the front window of the NRL to build his profile and bank balance.

 

[Noitall]

Watch us let TMM go at the end of the year and keep Tanah and then he asks for a compassionate release.

Webster says the club have no intention of releasing him, but you’d think that’s only for this year with a mutual option for next year between the club and Boyd. He won’t require a release for next year as he’s free to negotiate with the option

 

[dylpickle]

Webster says the club have no intention of releasing him, but you’d think that’s only for this year with a mutual option for next year between the club and Boyd. He won’t require a release for next year as he’s free to negotiate with the option

I just hope we reinvest and keep TMM. He is a class player, wants to play for the warriors FG or Cup. If we let him go and rely on Boyd and the new kid from newcastle we will be in a worse situation.

 

[Boston Boy]

I just hope we reinvest and keep TMM. He is a class player, wants to play for the warriors FG or Cup. If we let him go and rely on Boyd and the new kid from newcastle we will be in a worse situation.

I like TMM too + he's happy at home in NZ.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I like TMM too + he's happy at home in NZ.

Me 2
If the heart is here
Luv our Ozzie bruvs
But compassion is always around the corner

 

[Sammyw]

i would be forcing tanah and tmm to hang around until we are certain metcalf has grown out of his injury issues

 

[Noitall]

i would be forcing tanah and tmm to hang around until we are certain metcalf has grown out of his injury issues

That article gives the impression that Boyd will be forced to stay here this year, I’d say for the reason you stated. Seems unlikely that Webster wouldn’t have heard the cowboys interest if they reached out to his management as the article mentions. Beyond this year is an option for either party to decide what’s best for them. For us, it’s hard to imagine the club can offer him anything but the situation he’s in now that he’s backup if Metcalf goes down injured, and hard to say what length of contract you’d need to hold onto him. Understandably he wants whatever is his best path back to first grade

 

[CWC]

That article gives the impression that Boyd will be forced to stay here this year, I’d say for the reason you stated. Seems unlikely that Webster wouldn’t have heard the cowboys interest if they reached out to his management as the article mentions. Beyond this year is an option for either party to decide what’s best for them. For us, it’s hard to imagine the club can offer him anything but the situation he’s in now that he’s backup if Metcalf goes down injured, and hard to say what length of contract you’d need to hold onto him. Understandably he wants whatever is his best path back to first grade

Can cows do a player swap with us? He is keen to go, cows want him and we’re not playing him and have TMM is backup and TT can play anywhere

 

[Noitall]

Can cows do a player swap with us? He is keen to go, cows want him and we’re not playing him and have TMM is backup and TT can play anywhere

We’ve granted plenty of compassionate releases in recent times so he’s either content as Webster mentions, or we’re digging our heels in for whatever reason on this one. Wondering if the club really thinks it could do something special with this squad this year and wants him as a steady backup?

 

[Inruin]

Why would we release Boyd this season? We have 4 halves who all have first grade experience and can do the job. Let him go and it only takes one injury and then the cupboard starts looking fairly bare. It was only last season we ended up with CNK as a make shift 6. We are in a good space, with a squad, with depth in most positions. We release no one this season.

 

[Noitall]

Why would we release Boyd this season? We have 4 halves who all have first grade experience and can do the job. Let him go and it only takes one injury and then the cupboard starts looking fairly bare. It was only last season we ended up with CNK as a make shift 6. We are in a good space, with a squad, with depth in most positions. We release no one this season.

He won’t be released this year, but I can’t see him being here beyond that

 

[Blain]

If Boyd doesn't get a game this year, and is clearly behind TMM later in the season, I would prefer we re sign TMM for a year and let Boyd go. Worst case is losing both, and don't see the point in keeping Boyd and he buggers off in 2027 anyway. TMM knows the club inside out and should be an easier fit if he's needed to fill in.

 

[Playdaball]

We need either Boyd or TMM for 2026 as the young guns are not up to it yet and it would probably mean the likes of TT or CNK filling in if major injuries.

 

[Inruin]

We need either Boyd or TMM for 2026 as the young guns are not up to it yet and it would probably mean the likes of TT or CNK filling in if major injuries.

I'd suggest we need both of them or risk ending up in a position like we have this year with wings after letting Montoya go

 

[juju]

I'd suggest we need both of them or risk ending up in a position like we have this year with wings after letting Montoya go

For 2026 Our current FG & Reserve halves

+ Jye Linnane
+ Jett Clearly (whatever contract he moves too)

and potentially Luke Hanson.

I'm not sure it makes sense keeping both TMM and Tannah for a well balanced squad.

 

[juju]

I'd let Tannah go end of year if he wanted.
Offer TMM a one year deal leaving Perth as an option for him.

Then trust in the young ones 2027 as back up.

 

[Inruin]

For 2026 Our current FG & Reserve halves

+ Jye Linnane
+ Jett Clearly (whatever contract he moves too)

and potentially Luke Hanson.

I'm not sure it makes send keeping both TMM and Tannah would be a well balanced squad

Jye Linnane is unproven and still coming back from another big injury 2 ruptured ACL's in the space of 12 months I think?
Jett Cleary is unproven and I don't think has even played 💙 Mighty NSW cup yet? If he has its minimal.
Luke Hanson hasn't been overly inspiring in Cup from what I have seen. Others may have a different opinion.

2026 without Boyd and/or TMM leaves us very light in the halves IMO. It would also give us another year of development for those two you mentioned to develop and grow ready for the step up. As it is now I would be uncomfortable and not have any real confidence with Hanson, Jett or Jye playing first grade next season.

I'd keep Boyd and TMM for 1 more year each if possible

 

[juju]

Jye Linnane is unproven and still coming back from another big injury 2 ruptured ACL's in the space of 12 months I think?
Jett Cleary is unproven and I don't think has even played 💙 Mighty NSW cup yet? If he has its minimal.
Luke Hanson hasn't been overly inspiring in Cup from what I have seen. Others may have a different opinion.

2026 without Boyd and/or TMM leaves us very light in the halves IMO. It would also give us another year of development for those two you mentioned to develop and grow ready for the step up. As it is now I would be uncomfortable and not have any real confidence with Hanson, Jett or Jye playing first grade next season.

I'd keep Boyd and TMM for 1 more year each if possible

The balance of the squad would be out of whack.

How many clubs would stock pile 4 genuine first grade halves then go ahead & sign a highly rated prospect (albeit it injured) on a multi year deal?