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	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

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

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

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[Inruin]

Dallin needs somebody to challenge him for his spot, the unfortunate thing is, Ed Kosi is crap and the others aren't there just yet. So we will keep seeing DWZ being picked.

The only one at the club that could challenge him is Tuaupiki, but his best position is fullback.

They must go to the market for an NRL ready winger, particularly a right sided winger.

Iron sharpens iron is a wonderful mantra but it only works if there is competition for places and a threat of someone taking your spot. Even if there was someone other than Kosi pushing for a spot, we have seen, much like 'next man up' that Cuddle s is seemingly reluctant to drop certain players regardless of injury or form.

 

[John Nick]

Iron sharpens iron is a wonderful mantra but it only works if there is competition for places and a threat of someone taking your spot. Even if there was someone other than Kosi pushing for a spot, we have seen, much like 'next man up' that Cuddle s is seemingly reluctant to drop certain players regardless of injury or form.

If he was to drop someone it's only going to be for a player who will be better in the particular position.
Fact is we don't have anyone that is ready from what I have seen

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Dragons front runners to land Chevy Stewart. Could be released at the end of the season

 

[Damo]

Iron sharpens iron is a wonderful mantra but it only works if there is competition for places and a threat of someone taking your spot. Even if there was someone other than Kosi pushing for a spot, we have seen, much like 'next man up' that Cuddle s is seemingly reluctant to drop certain players regardless of injury or form.

Who would you drop? Dallin even with the poor form he is in, is by far our best winger (other than RTS). The season is still well in hand, and not worth risking blooding a rookie or risking more Kosi meltdowns.

 

[John Nick]

Who would you drop? Dallin even with the poor form he is in, is by far our best winger (other than RTS). The season is still well in hand, and not worth risking blooding a rookie or risking more Kosi meltdowns.

No sense in dropping someone for the sake of it
Need to play the best guy where ever and who ever is available.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

lighter and more mobile front rowers are now and the future, we’re heading in the right direction

Best props in the game , Payne Haas - 194cm 119kg - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 197 110kg - AFB 189 123kg - Joe Tapine 190 - 110kg.

Compare that to our props
JFH - 187 104kg - Jackson Ford 187 100kg - Demetric Vaimauga 183 104kg - 187 104kg.

We get beat up by top 8 sides. The bigger sides.
Its all good & well having small mobile fit props. Until we meet big , mobile & fit opposition.

And to top it off, Apart from Demetric & Barney(Who is out for the season) Our props lack the aggression that smaller props like Leota , Leniu bring.

We could do with a legit big man to come off the bench when we're getting beat up by the opposition & getting pushed back on attack. Instead , We are relying on a 19 year superstar on the rise to get us out of trouble.

Doesn’t hurt to have a Xavier Willison or a Utoikamanu in the forwards.

 

[Damo]

Best props in the game , Payne Haas - 194cm 119kg - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 197 110kg - AFB 189 123kg - Joe Tapine 190 - 110kg.

Compare that to our props
JFH - 187 104kg - Jackson Ford 187 100kg - Demetric Vaimauga 183 104kg - 187 104kg.

We get beat up by top 8 sides. The bigger sides.
Its all good & well having small mobile fit props. Until we meet big , mobile & fit opposition.

And to top it off, Apart from Demetric & Barney(Who is out for the season) Our props lack the aggression that smaller props like Leota , Leniu bring.

We could do with a legit big man to come off the bench when we're getting beat up by the opposition & getting pushed back on attack. Instead , We are relying on a 19 year superstar on the rise to get us out of trouble.

Doesn’t hurt to have a Xavier Willison or a Utoikamanu in the forwards.

Now do Penrith, the 4 x reigning champions.

 

[Pop Dukez]

Best props in the game , Payne Haas - 194cm 119kg - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 197 110kg - AFB 189 123kg - Joe Tapine 190 - 110kg.

Compare that to our props
JFH - 187 104kg - Jackson Ford 187 100kg - Demetric Vaimauga 183 104kg - 187 104kg.

We get beat up by top 8 sides. The bigger sides.
Its all good & well having small mobile fit props. Until we meet big , mobile & fit opposition.

And to top it off, Apart from Demetric & Barney(Who is out for the season) Our props lack the aggression that smaller props like Leota , Leniu bring.

We could do with a legit big man to come off the bench when we're getting beat up by the opposition & getting pushed back on attack. Instead , We are relying on a 19 year superstar on the rise to get us out of trouble.

Doesn’t hurt to have a Xavier Willison or a Utoikamanu in the forwards.

Off the bench for sure, I guess Bunty could’ve been that

 

[Noitall]

Best props in the game , Payne Haas - 194cm 119kg - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 197 110kg - AFB 189 123kg - Joe Tapine 190 - 110kg.

Compare that to our props
JFH - 187 104kg - Jackson Ford 187 100kg - Demetric Vaimauga 183 104kg - 187 104kg.

We get beat up by top 8 sides. The bigger sides.
Its all good & well having small mobile fit props. Until we meet big , mobile & fit opposition.

And to top it off, Apart from Demetric & Barney(Who is out for the season) Our props lack the aggression that smaller props like Leota , Leniu bring.

We could do with a legit big man to come off the bench when we're getting beat up by the opposition & getting pushed back on attack. Instead , We are relying on a 19 year superstar on the rise to get us out of trouble.

Doesn’t hurt to have a Xavier Willison or a Utoikamanu in the forwards.

Who would be a player you think could add some value as bigger body?

 

[Noitall]

Now do Penrith, the 4 x reigning champions.

They definitely tend to be a more mobile pack they favour, they did have Kikau in the second row at one point too as a big unit. They’ve often played Matt Eisenhuth off the bench as a big middle and Luron Patea is in the bigger mould as a prop. Morgan Gannon gives me the impression we’re hoping he can somewhat emulate Yeo in his height, mobility and ball playing?

 

[Victor_Radley's_Scrotum]

Who would be a player you think could add some value as bigger body?

Kane Evans.

 

[Inruin]

Who would you drop? Dallin even with the poor form he is in, is by far our best winger (other than RTS). The season is still well in hand, and not worth risking blooding a rookie or risking more Kosi meltdowns.

That wasn't what I said and my comment was in response to going to market for another winger and assuming he would be picked over DWZ when we have seen AW reluctant to change from his original picks.

 

[kos]

Off the bench for sure, I guess Bunty could’ve been that

To complicate that
Tino plays at lock more for the Titans than prop
Plays prop if injuries dictate
Bunty is 113 kg
Ale is 109 kg

Stats produced say we win more games with Bunty in the fg side than out of it
And Ale is having a whale of a time in Cup

Maybe coach Webster has a 107 kg maximum limit on his first grade team

 

[Noitall]

Kane Evans.

Don’t know if he folds cunts now? Might be folding napkins?

 

[kos]

Don’t know if he folds cunts now? Might be folding napkins?

Got a coffee shop hasn’t he?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Now do Penrith, the 4 x reigning champions.

If you read it properly. I have Moses Leota down as a smaller body that brings way more aggression on attack and defense. Hence the reason they beat up our similar sized pack. I want balance. If our small fit & mobile pack can't dent the line. Then find someone who can. Doesn't necessarily have to be a giant. But a prop in the mould of Leota or a Leniu. Or a big in the mould of a Willison or a Utoikamanu.

Jason Seu Salalilo looks the most likely at our club.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Kane Evans.

Stop it Victor!

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Who would be a player you think could add some value as bigger body?

Willison would of been nice. Taniela Paseka, A Saifiti, A Tapine (Dream) Different body shape to what we already have.

Lucian Mikaele would be one to look out for. But apparently he is gone next year?

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Is Dallin the issue, or the constant changing of his centre pairing? He probably hasn’t played with the same centre more than 3 games in a row, leading to indecisiveness & miscommunication/connection. We have 3 quality centres; pomps, Ali, Berry. The issue is, Berry can’t string more than 5 games together & Ali is in unproven rookie, who’s been injured more often than he’s available.

Our issue is at centre. A decent nrl ready winger is obviously desirable too as it’s obvious Kosi isn’t nrl quality & kali is a year or 2 away, but our most urgent recruitment needs to be centre imo.

 

[CWC]

Is Dallin the issue, or the constant changing of his centre pairing? He probably hasn’t played with the same centre more than 3 games in a row, leading to indecisiveness & miscommunication/connection. We have 3 quality centres; pomps, Ali, Berry. The issue is, Berry can’t string more than 5 games together & Ali is in unproven rookie, who’s been injured more often than he’s available.

Our issue is at centre. A decent nrl ready winger is obviously desirable too as it’s obvious Kosi isn’t nrl quality & kali is a year or 2 away, but our most urgent recruitment needs to be centre imo.

That Gagai rumor makes sense now, he’s more durable on one knee than our young centres