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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[MrFrankWhite]

TMM is big news, and welcome news.

It puts to bed all the fan angst and anti Webster slurs.

The club knows what they are doing, to coin a Warriorism, try having a little faith.

Smart deal, one year extension.

Well done Warriors. Perfect contract length, right player, right time, and it will be for the right price.

Dont know about all of that. We clearly dont want him, just forced into another year

 

[juju]

Dont know about all of that. We clearly dont want him, just forced into another year

You don't sign someone you clearly don't want for a year.

Is he in the long term plans. Clearly no.

 

[sup42]

Dont know about all of that. We clearly dont want him, just forced into another year

Do you seriously believe that Webster would have anyone at this club that he doesn't really want after the way he held TMM out of FG? After the way Webster releases players, won't bring in NSW cup players for the sake of it?

 

[Blain]

I think he could be seen as a stop gap for Cleary, potentially they don't see him as a viable option next season so TMM provides a nice bridge to Jett? I have been bagging CHT a bit the last couple days - but I haven't seen enough out of him to say he's our number 6 for the next 3+ years.

Jye Linnane with his known running game could be a CNK/fullback replacement, but I really don't know much about him yet.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

You don't sign someone you clearly don't want for a year.

Is he in the long term plans. Clearly no.

We didnt "sign" him, we extended his contract for the minimum time possible. Not convinced he's in any plans outside of emergencies. Which is strange considering we are in a crisis in the halves.

Its all very bizarre.

 

[Matiunz]

Happy with the TMM resigning. Metcalf is injury prone, CHT isn’t the answer and it’s too soon for the young guys

 

[Muddogz]

I dont think we would have re-signed Martin if it wasnt for Metcalfs injury. Linnane has come off back to back ACL injuries and Cleary isnt ready yet.

Martin gives us half cover for next season while Metcalfs out and can do the utility bench job, which given our injury prone backs we badly need.

My only problem with it is that we need outside back cover given our injury prone centres and a pair of aging wingers. Its probably a bit more halves cover than I would ideally like.

 

[kos]

I had a feeling the club was just holding off on TMM partly so they could sign him cheap knowing TMM loves the land here etc
TMM could well retire end of 2026.

 

[juju]

We didnt "sign" him, we extended his contract for the minimum time possible. Not convinced he's in any plans outside of emergencies. Which is strange considering we are in a crisis in the halves.

Its all very bizarre.

Extending a deal is signing a new contract.
The circumstances (Metcalf's injury) & his attitude & versatility got the new one year deal in front of him.

 

[Noitall]

I had a feeling the club was just holding off on TMM partly so they could sign him cheap knowing TMM loves the land here etc
TMM could well retire end of 2026.

Great to keep him on a reduced salary, but holding a top 30 spot is a big factor too

 

[Noitall]

New Zealand playmaker makes call on playing future

The Warrior is one of rugby league's top players without a deal for 2026.

www.zerotackle.com

Again, not the most reliable of sources but this implies that CHT and Boyd are yet to take up their options?

 

[BlackToko88]

New Zealand playmaker makes call on playing future

The Warrior is one of rugby league's top players without a deal for 2026.

www.zerotackle.com

Again, not the most reliable of sources but this implies that CHT and Boyd are yet to take up their options?

I thought boyd opted in for next year, turning down interest from cowboys? Might be wrong though

 

[Noitall]

I thought boyd opted in for next year, turning down interest from cowboys? Might be wrong though

Yeah I’m sure that’s wrong? With those two added to that list of players signed, does that mean we’ve got 28 signed for next year?

 

[Cces]

Yeah I’m sure that’s wrong? With those two added to that list of players signed, does that mean we’ve got 28 signed for next year?

If you go by NRL website it's 27. ZeroTackle 28 with Motu Pasikala the difference

 

[Hazza]

here is the article on Tanah Boyd

Tanah Boyd makes big call on NRL future amid Cowboys interest

He has been linked with a move away from New Zealand.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

It’s not a coincidence that all 4 of our main playmakers are signed till the end of 2026.

How does anyone know that TMM wasn’t wanted?
How do you know it wasn’t TMM that wanted to sign a 1 year deal and not the club?

All things considered, he is in a reasonable strong negotiating position. Metcalf has another major injury.
Many on here don’t seem to rate CHT. Personally, I don’t really rate Boyd. He decent, but not much else IMO.

If TMMs manager is worth his salt. And if he’s a betting man. I bet he’s looking at 2027 with expansion coming up with great interest. Not necessarily for TMM. But for Boyd and Metcalf. Which in a roundabout way, increases TMMs value. (I’d bet almost anything that one of them takes a big offer from Australia)

What are really the sticking points with TMM?
1. He seems settled and wants to stay in NZ (negative from his negotiating position)
2. Money.
That’s really it.
If you could sign TMM on say…… 300k. You’d do it right? Well if either Boyd or Metcalf or heaven forbid both leave at the end of 2026. His value goes up.

Was the club really in that strong position?

 

[tyrael]

Are we throwing Maratas money and some to get Tino?

 

[Noitall]

It’s not a coincidence that all 4 of our main playmakers are signed till the end of 2026.

How does anyone know that TMM wasn’t wanted?
How do you know it wasn’t TMM that wanted to sign a 1 year deal and not the club?

All things considered, he is in a reasonable strong negotiating position. Metcalf has another major injury.
Many on here don’t seem to rate CHT. Personally, I don’t really rate Boyd. He decent, but not much else IMO.

If TMMs manager is worth his salt. And if he’s a betting man. I bet he’s looking at 2027 with expansion coming up with great interest. Not necessarily for TMM. But for Boyd and Metcalf. Which in a roundabout way, increases TMMs value. (I’d bet almost anything that one of them takes a big offer from Australia)

What are really the sticking points with TMM?
1. He seems settled and wants to stay in NZ (negative from his negotiating position)
2. Money.
That’s really it.
If you could sign TMM on say…… 300k. You’d do it right? Well if either Boyd or Metcalf or heaven forbid both leave at the end of 2026. His value goes up.

Was the club really in that strong position?

Been thinking about Sam Walker going to a million a season in the next year or two. It’s made me consider that Metcalf could well be a million dollar player, but needs to be managed. He’s gotten us to top 4 in 2 seasons when healthy but not managed to stay healthy into playoffs. I think someone like TMM would be ideal as a backup and he’s even said he’s happy to play nsw cup. He’d be handy to start the season with until Metcalf is healthy, or they potentially become a duo?

 

[Noitall]

Are we throwing Maratas money and some to get Tino?

I’ve been thinking about this. That would be a great outcome

 

[Milking!]

Been thinking about Sam Walker going to a million a season in the next year or two. It’s made me consider that Metcalf could well be a million dollar player, but needs to be managed. He’s gotten us to top 4 in 2 seasons when healthy but not managed to stay healthy into playoffs. I think someone like TMM would be ideal as a backup and he’s even said he’s happy to play nsw cup. He’d be handy to start the season with until Metcalf is healthy, or they potentially become a duo?

With expansion and demand, Metcalf is a million-dollar player for a lot of clubs - so it depends on if the Wahs want to pay that price. I think they do, otherwise who else is there as a marquee half?
And if they are, TMM would be a great complement in the halves.