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	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
19	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
20	Te Maire Martin	✔
21	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
25	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
29	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: 29/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

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

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with others clubs from 01/11/25 (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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[CWC]

New signing Linnane joins club early ahead of 2026 preseason

Jye Linnane joins One New Zealand Warriors early ahead of taking up three-year NRL contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

Are we forming an ACL rehab support group Jye, Luke, Barney...

It'll be fun watching him and Jett duke it out, I have a feeling if this kid stays fit he'll be a star in 27/28

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

New signing Linnane joins club early ahead of 2026 preseason

Jye Linnane joins One New Zealand Warriors early ahead of taking up three-year NRL contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

Another halfback with glass for legs, wow I can’t wait to watch him develop.

 

[sup42]

I watched him at Mt Smart two weeks back and didn't see what the hype is about. Busyish for a few minutes not big impact but solid and then puffed out after 10. Only one game though so I don't really know shit but that's what I saw.

He is too muscle bound atm. Ä carry over from Union, especially his legs and core.
He is having trouble with the speed of the off the ball work.

All expected for a Union forward with a squat build.

He does have the attributes to be a great League forward. We have seen glimpses in other games of it.

His conversion to league on paper should always have been anticipated as a two year project.

I imagine he is well on the way to understanding leaner is better.

 

[roguei]

Are we forming an ACL rehab support group Jye, Luke, Barney...

It'll be fun watching him and Jett duke it out, I have a feeling if this kid stays fit he'll be a star in 27/28

Isn't jye a 6? So it'd be a future combination of cleary and jye in NSW cup. And then it'd be them duking it out with who ever lasts in our merry go round of byod, CHT, TMM and Metcalf.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Are we forming an ACL rehab support group Jye, Luke, Barney...

It'll be fun watching him and Jett duke it out, I have a feeling if this kid stays fit he'll be a star in 27/28

I guess the cool thing is he gets to rub shoulders with the captain and metcalf.

This is such an interesting signing. I hear he was in Cappys black book a few years ago, and cappy jumped at the signing when it became possible.

Cappy said " same class as Galvin and Sanders".

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Isn't jye a 6? So it'd be a future combination of cleary and jye in NSW cup. And then it'd be them duking it out with who ever lasts in our merry go round of byod, CHT, TMM and Metcalf.

Add Jack Thompson to the mix.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

And then it'd be them duking it out with who ever lasts in our merry go round of byod, CHT, TMM and Metcalf.

I hope Jack Thompson throws a spanner in the works too. I rate the kid highly.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Add Jack Thompson to the mix.

Took my time replying didn't see this with the same comment lol. His footwork and speed is as good as Metcalf

 

[Noitall]

With Metcalf requiring more rehab for his injury, would now be a good time for both parties to consider their futures? Might seem callous but to put all the resources into him and he not stick around would be tough. Think if he’s in their plans they need to extend him soon and it would good for him to commit or be straight up with the club and let them know if he intends going to market in November to see what he can get on the market

 

[Makasene]

With Metcalf requiring more rehab for his injury, would now be a good time for both parties to consider their futures? Might seem callous but to put all the resources into him and he not stick around would be tough. Think if he’s in their plans they need to extend him soon and it would good for him to commit or be straight up with the club and let them know if he intends going to market in November to see what he can get on the market

He was on the cusp of probably a 4 year extension

I don't see that happening at the moment.

I wonder whether the best thing for both parties is a one year extension (on good money). This allows him to get back on the park next year and have most of the season before the big call is made by Nov 1 next year.

 

[Wrighty]

He was on the cusp of probably a 4 year extension

I don't see that happening at the moment.

I wonder whether the best thing for both parties is a one year extension (on good money). This allows him to get back on the park next year and have most of the season before the big call is made by Nov 1 next year.

He's contracted for 2026 already and then off contract 2027

I am sure he warriors would love to delay extending him until mid season next year but the likes of Perth will be knocking on his door Nov 1 2025

 

[forwardpass!]

He was on the cusp of probably a 4 year extension

I don't see that happening at the moment.

I wonder whether the best thing for both parties is a one year extension (on good money). This allows him to get back on the park next year and have most of the season before the big call is made by Nov 1 next year.

New baby
Compassionate grounds
Big rehab coming up
Good to be around close fam in Sidknee
Wad ya reckon Wahs fans

 

[sup42]

New baby
Compassionate grounds
Big rehab coming up
Good to be around close fam in Sidknee
Wad ya reckon Wahs fans

The club will be chill about Metcalf having plenty of time off to visit Aus and frequently.

Certainly that will be the case for the first month or so, after that he has to be here for his injury recovery management.

 

[Makasene]

He's contracted for 2026 already and then off contract 2027

I am sure he warriors would love to delay extending him until mid season next year but the likes of Perth will be knocking on his door Nov 1 2025

That doesn't quite make sense to me.

Why would we want to avoid extending him until mid-next year?

 

[Noitall]

He was on the cusp of probably a 4 year extension

I don't see that happening at the moment.

I wonder whether the best thing for both parties is a one year extension (on good money). This allows him to get back on the park next year and have most of the season before the big call is made by Nov 1 next year.

With the niche cache mentioning how he’s never managed more than 15 games per season since playing nrl in 2019, there must be a bit of concern that this trend might not end? Really big period for remaining halves in Boyd who wants to show he’s the man for the role, TMM who wants a contract extension and CHT who can be negotiated with in November. If a good combination goes back to winning and continues to do so, more pressure goes on Metcalf, particularly salary wise and what he’s worth

 

[Wrighty]

That doesn't quite make sense to me.

Why would we want to avoid extending him until mid-next year?

I feel I will have to type a really wordy response to explain myself and chase my tail a bit to get my response across.
The very short version is that if we can delay re-signing him it gives us a chance to see how he pulls up from and returns from injury. As I say he is already signed for 2026.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I feel I will have to type a really wordy response to explain myself and chase my tail a bit to get my response across.
The very short version is that if we can delay re-signing him it gives us a chance to see how he pulls up from and returns from injury. As I say he is already signed for 2026.

Tbh I'm quite keen to see how Boyd goes in Webby's system. Arguably, Webby's system is tailor made for someone like Boyd. Similar to Sexton at the Dogs who's been showing the blueprint can work with a good, game managing half with a good boot. Also hoping Boyds better kicking results in more competition on our bombs, could mean Berry and DWZ come into the game more than they have been this year

Dogs have more strike with their outside backs and centres, but I guess if Boyd absolutely kills it there, the mill you were going to spend on Metcalf can help pay for some strike in the backline

 

[Warriorsfan92]

There’s no way Metcalf takes a 1 year extension, when he was leading the dally m votes before injury & has a huge ceiling, with other clubs entering the nrl desperate for a 7. It’ll be 2 years minimum, or he’ll walk. An acl is a freak injury, not a hammy, or recurring. Yes he’s snapped it before, but if you look at the mechanism of injury, it’s just pure bad luck. He needs to be retained for us to be any real threat of a premiership & he’s a priority.

2 year extension on 800k I think is fair for all parties. I’d go higher if we need to, to get him over the line. Hes settled here, we gave him an opportunity when no one would & has improved dramatically under webby.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

There’s no way Metcalf takes a 1 year extension, when he was leading the dally m votes before injury & has a huge ceiling, with other clubs entering the nrl desperate for a 7. It’ll be 2 years minimum, or he’ll walk. An acl is a freak injury, not a hammy, or recurring. Yes he’s snapped it before, but if you look at the mechanism of injury, it’s just pure bad luck. He needs to be retained for us to be any real threat of a premiership & he’s a priority.

2 year extension on 800k I think is fair for all parties. I’d go higher if we need to, to get him over the line. Hes settled here, we gave him an opportunity when no one would & has improved dramatically under webby.

Who is racing to sign a guy who wont be able to take the field for a year? At least anything more than min wage..

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Who is racing to sign a guy who wont be able to take the field for a year? At least anything more than min wage..

He’s due back early rounds. I’d say the knights, cows, dragons, who need a 7 would throw money at him.