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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[FormerlyJamesW]

TSS extends till 2028View attachment 13497

I've like what Ive seen so far, from the minutes he's played.

Good stuff.

 

[Lance155]

I've like what Ive seen so far, from the minutes he's played.

Good stuff.

Same here, in fact I would say he showed more in his first couple of games than the other rookies did in their first couple (except Leka).

 

[CWC]

If Jazz and Walker had a baby it'll be TSS

Looks like he's the 1st drop outside the starting 17 going forward, followed by Crosby, Tuipulotu-Vea and Neal to transition from Barney/Fish/Marata...

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I think Kayliss overtakes Ali (better defender and more dynamic runner) They’ll play him at centre to accomodate everyone to start.

But to begin Kayliss will take Capewell’s role of second row/centre cover who starts in either position

I think EIT plays lock to accomodate everyone (I think Gannon has his work cut out to prove he’s even better than EIT). Erin probably moves back to the bench in maybe 2-3 years as he slows down

Demetric is purely a prop. Will come off the bench until Barnett comes off contract (I don’t think we re-sign him; NSW prop with Perth lurking and likely with Metcalf on a mil). Salalilo comes onto the bench.

The headaches really start once the likes of Bishop Neal start to become first grade ready

Apart from Metcalf, we’re not really desperate for any of our best Aus players to re-sign which is a good position to be when it comes to negotiations.

Not sure he overtakes imo. I think Ali Leiataua still has the potential to be the best at the club if webby can get him more up to the harder stuff in the game, and I believe webby can do this.

Next season shapes up as a big one Ali and he's now got a point to prove to the coach. I think with another pre season and some injury luck, he will be the first picked next year with Berry to start the season.

This is perfect that there are genuine fights for players to prove thier worth. I do think Pompey is reliable.

But if they can sit through 100 plus games of Pompey then surely a little bit more patience is needed with Leiataua.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Great news on TS Smith! Strength to Strength!!! Go get it lad!!!

 

[Warriorsfan92]

So our 2027 side might look like this, with those signed on:

CNK
DWZ
Ali
Pompey
?
? (Jye linnane)
?
Fish
Egan
Barnett
Leka
Laban
Clark

Healey
Vaimauga
Ford
Gannon
Tanner

We’re short a wfb & 2 halves. Metcalf, Roger, Boyd & CHT all off contract in November.

Taine, Rocco, Marata, Capewell off contract too.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Great news on TS Smith! Strength to Strength!!! Go get it lad!!!

Have we got another Tevaga type player on the books ?
Hey peeps out there
How many metres per game is TSS doing at mo?
Too me doesn’t look that big to me
But what do I know

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Have we got another Tevaga type player on the books ?
Hey peeps out there
How many metres per game is TSS doing at mo?
Too me doesn’t look that big to me
But what do I know

Tanner would be that guy!

 

[roguei]

Big congrats on tanner getting the extension. I think he's pretty great in the wrestle when it comes to tackling people.

I've gotta assume this means we'll not be extending both bunty and ale now.

 

[snake77]

He's been good in NSW Cup the last few years. Plays big minutes and leads from the front.

He's looked good with the opportunities he's been given in first grade.

Happy having him on our books for a few more years.

 

[Makasene]

Big congrats on tanner getting the extension. I think he's pretty great in the wrestle when it comes to tackling people.

I've gotta assume this means we'll not be extending both bunty and ale now.

Ale I hope they might - although he does seem surplus now.

Bunty, sadly, did very little to push his cause in the opportunities he has gotten this year.

A faithful servant old Bunty, and has been shown the door once before but opted to stay and forced his way back.

Bunty would do well in Super League, Ale could easily find a spot elsewhere in the NRL. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up somewhere like Manly who are desperate for forwards.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Ale I hope they might - although he does seem surplus now.

Bunty, sadly, did very little to push his cause in the opportunities he has gotten this year.

A faithful servant old Bunty, and has been shown the door once before but opted to stay and forced his way back.

Bunty would do well in Super League, Ale could easily find a spot elsewhere in the NRL. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up somewhere like Manly who are desperate for forwards.

Bizarre that Bunty has had 7 games this year to Ales 0. You'd have to think the writing's on the wall for Ale

 

[kos]

Bizarre that Bunty has had 7 games this year to Ales 0. You'd have to think the writing's on the wall for Ale

Ale was out injured for a few weeks then guess came back worked his fitness up

Jfh is six months older than Bunty.

 

[Makasene]

Bizarre that Bunty has had 7 games this year to Ales 0. You'd have to think the writing's on the wall for Ale

Unfortunate for Ale that he got injured the week before he may have been called on.

 

[kos]

Unfortunate for Ale that he got injured the week before he may have been called on.

Yeah it was rotten luck for Ale
He will be picked up by an Aus club and play fg there
People from other clubs will have studied our players in our NSW cup team - our players drive that team to first spot in the NSW cup comp.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 13508

Gives me the impression of a small second rower in the vein of Briton Nikora and seems to play with that same fearless attitude he does. Yet to see how he copes with first grade but he’s smashed nsw cup. Would be keen to keep him but hard to see where he fits with how the squad seems to be building itself

 

[j_p]

View attachment 13508

We're going to see more of this as our pathways systems continue improving...

 

[Tookey 2.0]

View attachment 13508

Bit of a nothing article imo. We have good young players, other teams will certainly be interested in them, but as long as we continue to win and show the young fullas faith and a pathway to FG then I don't see how we lose them.

We can't keep them all, and some teams will offer really good money, or the player might think he has a better opportunity elsewhere. In that case, good luck to ya

 

[Theking267]

This is the problem with signing Capewell through to the end of 26 why would you want to stick around if you are young 2nd rower.