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 2026: 28/30
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
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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[Blain]

Crosby potential is being another Spencer Leniu. The questions is whether he can mature into a big minutes forward which is still a question mark over Leniu

Hmm I wouldn't compare his skillset to Leniu, maybe impact wise off the bench. I was actually thinking a smaller version of Dave Taylor, pace and skill in a props body. Just didn't have the motor or drive, I think Toby has drive though.

 

[Theking267]

Hmm I wouldn't compare his skillset to Leniu, maybe impact wise off the bench. I was actually thinking a smaller version of Dave Taylor, pace and skill in a props body. Just didn't have the motor or drive, I think Toby has drive though.

He’s as explosive as Dave Taylor. Problem with Dave Taylor is he thought he was half. You won’t have that problem with Toby he just wants to run through you

 

[Neo]

I don’t understand all the stress over Crosby. He isn’t even on a development deal. He has been free to be approached all year and hasn’t finalised a deal somewhere else. If he does good luck to him, but the crop of youngsters we have coming through doesn’t allow you to spend roster spaces on “projects”. His numbers in Cup aren’t dominant, but are getting better as his minutes grow. He has had some Zyon Maiu’u type moments in games but hasn’t consistently produced results that suggest he is a top 30 NRL squad member, let alone drawing comparisons with origin players. The fact that people think he needs to swap positions to realise results probably isn’t a good indicator

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I don’t understand all the stress over Crosby. He isn’t even on a development deal. He has been free to be approached all year and hasn’t finalised a deal somewhere else. If he does good luck to him, but the crop of youngsters we have coming through doesn’t allow you to spend roster spaces on “projects”. His numbers in Cup aren’t dominant, but are getting better as his minutes grow. He has had some Zyon Maiu’u type moments in games but hasn’t consistently produced results that suggest he is a top 30 NRL squad member, let alone drawing comparisons with origin players. The fact that people think he needs to swap positions to realise results probably isn’t a good indicator

You raise a really good point, its the highlight reels that get me excited about him. But you are right, consistency!

When I look at the signing of Fatialofa, hes been a top consistent performer for this cup side this year, Toeava in the same boat.

And when we look at the NRL side, we need guys that are durable and are consistent in thier performances.

 

[WHB]

Who is this number 3 at the Sharks today
Good player commentator says he only get a one Fg game a year stuck in a log jam behind Ramien Talakai etc

Mawene does a good job when called up to top side.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Why are people on crosbys nut so hard? Apart from a couple of good runs & a decent highlight package, he’s a bench prop in cup, hasn’t once entered our first grade extended squad despite the plethora of middle forwards going down & hardly has the stats to back up the froth people are having.

He’s a rugby union convert that is strong & powerful, but is still learning the game. Hes yet to nail down a starting spot in our feeder team but people are acting like he’s the next big thing. If another club is stupid enough to throw 400k at a nsw cup bench prop be my guest. I can’t see him being close to our 17 in the next two years, let alone demanding a salary equivalent to Leka, Demi & Laban. We’re going to lose some athletes due to the cups success but Crosby is not one I’m overly concerned with losing.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I don’t understand all the stress over Crosby. He isn’t even on a development deal. He has been free to be approached all year and hasn’t finalised a deal somewhere else. If he does good luck to him, but the crop of youngsters we have coming through doesn’t allow you to spend roster spaces on “projects”. His numbers in Cup aren’t dominant, but are getting better as his minutes grow. He has had some Zyon Maiu’u type moments in games but hasn’t consistently produced results that suggest he is a top 30 NRL squad member, let alone drawing comparisons with origin players. The fact that people think he needs to swap positions to realise results probably isn’t a good indicator

Preach man, I don’t get it.

 

[Blain]

People talk about him because he is pure potential with bugger all league under his belt. He's not NRL level right now no doubt, but no one can deny his potential as an explosive X factor prop, something we lack at the moment. He's exciting.

I would love to see him on a development deal next year. Top 30, he's not there yet. But if he keeps improving, this time next season he might be sniffing NRL.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Doesn't Rocco Berry playing his 50th game, activate a 3 year extension?

I hope he leads the boys out this weekend!

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Doesn't Rocco Berry playing his 50th game, activate a 3 year extension?

I hope he leads the boys out this weekend

What lol

 

[sup42]

People talk about him because he is pure potential with bugger all league under his belt. He's not NRL level right now no doubt, but no one can deny his potential as an explosive X factor prop, something we lack at the moment. He's exciting.

I would love to see him on a development deal next year. Top 30, he's not there yet. But if he keeps improving, this time next season he might be sniffing NRL.

It is weird.

People comparing his situation to life long Rugby league juniors just don't get the 'has never played before' bit.

He has something those others do not, Raw power.

And that comes from Union forward development.

He does not get dominated in the contact in the way that your Lekas or whom evers do when they take a boring ass pig run straight at a prepared and waiting bunch of middle forwards in a wall in front of them.

And then he can step dudes and score trys in cup with footwork inside the red zone. And he can score run away Try's on the burst from outside the forty.

He is a great athlete, just the wrong kind, which the Warriors are rectifying.

There will come a moment in his growth where it clicks, and he develops extra reserves in the tank, when that comes he will be in the conversation for a good career.

 

[Cces]

People talk about him because he is pure potential with bugger all league under his belt. He's not NRL level right now no doubt, but no one can deny his potential as an explosive X factor prop, something we lack at the moment. He's exciting.

I would love to see him on a development deal next year. Top 30, he's not there yet. But if he keeps improving, this time next season he might be sniffing NRL.

I love his point of difference.
Webster's bench rotation caters for one high energy, low minute middle which suits him.
Consistency in performance is what he's missing. If he stays, I hope he continues to play off the bench rather than to try turn him into a starter

 

[3rdstriker]

Why are people on crosbys nut so hard? Apart from a couple of good runs & a decent highlight package, he’s a bench prop in cup, hasn’t once entered our first grade extended squad despite the plethora of middle forwards going down & hardly has the stats to back up the froth people are having.

He’s a rugby union convert that is strong & powerful, but is still learning the game. Hes yet to nail down a starting spot in our feeder team but people are acting like he’s the next big thing. If another club is stupid enough to throw 400k at a nsw cup bench prop be my guest. I can’t see him being close to our 17 in the next two years, let alone demanding a salary equivalent to Leka, Demi & Laban. We’re going to lose some athletes due to the cups success but Crosby is not one I’m overly concerned with losing.

Same with Jett Cleary he doesn't look Nrl at all but people stupidly want him in now...

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Same with Jett Cleary he doesn't look Nrl at all but people stupidly want him in now...

It is such a microcosm of the pressure (and opportunity) that comes from the Cleary name. The expectation that he is here to try and escape.

Not many here would be talking about him without it. They'd be pumping up the Linnane / Thompson hype.

The best thing for Cleary would be to have another couple year of development under his belt without any expectation. There is some promise, it will be interesting to see how he kicks on.

 

[Five&Last]

It is weird.

People comparing his situation to life long Rugby league juniors just don't get the 'has never played before' bit.

He has something those others do not, Raw power.

And that comes from Union forward development.

He does not get dominated in the contact in the way that your Lekas or whom evers do when they take a boring ass pig run straight at a prepared and waiting bunch of middle forwards in a wall in front of them.

And then he can step dudes and score trys in cup with footwork inside the red zone. And he can score run away Try's on the burst from outside the forty.

He is a great athlete, just the wrong kind, which the Warriors are rectifying.

There will come a moment in his growth where it clicks, and he develops extra reserves in the tank, when that comes he will be in the conversation for a good career.

You're making this union convert stuff so over-complicated.

Majority of our junior forwards play first XV and Warriors pathways until they're 18. So they too are in this mystical "union forward development" you speak of.

The only relevant point is that he's still learning the game.

He has his raw power not because of "union forward development" but because he's a gym junkie. Look at his socials; rightly or wrongly, the dude is utterly obsessed with lifting weights.

 

[Five&Last]

Not many here would be talking about him without it. They'd be pumping up the Linnane / Thompson hype.

For me, Thompson and Linnane is our halves partnership for the next decade.

Thanks Newcastle

 

[Playdaball]

Is Fatialofa in the top 30 NRL squad next year?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Is Fatialofa in the top 30 NRL squad next year?

Yes indeed!

 

[3rdstriker]

I don’t understand all the stress over Crosby. He isn’t even on a development deal. He has been free to be approached all year and hasn’t finalised a deal somewhere else. If he does good luck to him, but the crop of youngsters we have coming through doesn’t allow you to spend roster spaces on “projects”. His numbers in Cup aren’t dominant, but are getting better as his minutes grow. He has had some Zyon Maiu’u type moments in games but hasn’t consistently produced results that suggest he is a top 30 NRL squad member, let alone drawing comparisons with origin players. The fact that people think he needs to swap positions to realise results probably isn’t a good indicator

I guess the warriorHolic didn't help in this respect either allgood to love a player like Crosby or Neal but no need for any unnecessary John's like pressure on these kids, let them come of age and they may turn into a high profile player in such a tough comp.

 

[Neo]

I guess the warriorHolic didn't help in this respect either allgood to love a player like Crosby or Neal but no need for any unnecessary John's like pressure on these kids, let them come of age and they may turn into a high profile player in such a tough comp.

In the internet age it will always happen. Highlights packages will turn up and get people excited, a bit like the running joke now of Ben Simmons shooting 3’s in the off season.

It will be interesting to see if the expansion teams mean that we will see some older guys getting there debuts as the talent is spread across more teams. The Warriors are obviously heavily invested in their pathways but have kept an experienced guy like Going around as a constant. It will be interesting to see the balance, especially as more experienced depth like Bunty and Ale are seemingly being phased out for juniors.

Public perception is also a very interesting thing. Crosby has 4 tries in his 20 games this year, with one particularly standout game against the bulldogs a couple of weeks back bookended by a couple of efforts of 6 runs for 30m. Not to say the Bulldogs game won’t become the norm, but guys like Lussick and Kosi have games like that every week in Cup, yet are constantly derided while a guy who is already 22 is heralded. It just shows that expectations play a large part and what Gus has done to Galvin has created a lot of pressure