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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[John Nick]

Zero tackle reports Tino to Catalans

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

193cm/100kg/21yr old athletic winger. Souths forum seem pissed that he wasn’t re-signed so that is a good sign. Has a pretty bleak injury history apparently..

 

[tajhay]

Zero tackle reports Tino to Catalans

HIs brother NOT Tino...

 

[Blain]

My Souths Journey, Pathways Edition - Haizyn Mellars – South Sydney Rabbitohs

Sit down with Haizyn Mellars as he talks about his journey to South Sydney.

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Some background on him. Seems like a good talent, only 9 NSW cup games so far, probably a seen as a potential RTS replacement on the left in 2027. Development deal next year maybe? Height and pace. Must have big wraps on him for a 3 year deal, even if one is a development deal.

To be clear, I don't know if he's top 30 next year.

 

[Blain]

Do you reckon the club should have a shot at NAS if he became available and try sorting some deficiencies?

Na not for me, past his prime and comes with a lot of ego, think he could be disruptive. If he was happy to come on $400k and he's happy not to be a top dog, just a 30 minute of the bench guy, maybe. But can't see Webby going for him. Seems like a Tigers signing, or Japan Rugby if he can get the cash.

 

[Sammyw]

his dad being Vince Mellars makes me feel really fkn old

 

[The Warrior Waka]

View: https://youtu.be/0nk0xeng-tE?si=eOpU6BXMCg67ONaj

Tall and athletic. I like the look of him
Commentators do mention he hasn't played much in the last few years due to injury

I don't mind the signing. Vince Mellars son. He was handy. 3 years , Enough time to prove he is a good replacement for RTS

 

[John Nick]

HIs brother NOT Tino...

Okay cheers tajhay

 

[The Warrior Waka]

his dad being Vince Mellars makes me feel really fkn old

Right!? Lol. I felt like we just watched Vince a couple of years ago lol.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Cappy loves his big wingers

 

[Dannevegas]

Good signing what we’ve all been asking for, youth and speed

 

[Leon Black]

It's from zero tackle so take it with a grain of salt, however.

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors interested in off-contract Rabbitohs winger

The Auckland-born talent is yet to make his NRL debut.

www.zerotackle.com

Warriors announced it on socials, confined but hear ya

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Until now the Warriors have never had an instance of a father and son playing for the club at NRL level.

Whaaat.. We had Mother & Son, then Father & Daughter, before a Father/Son combo? Wild stuff

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Have zero Tackle ever broken a signing?

his dad being Vince Mellars makes me feel really fkn old

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Is Mellars in the top 30?

With that frame he could be a centre.

 

[Wrighty]

From Haiyzin's NSW cup stats, notwithstanding the small sample size, he pumped out a try at strike rate of 77% of his games. By contrast Ed Kosi at NSW cup is 73% so in Ed's ball park. But better than Ed as a defender. Haiyzin with an 85% tackle efficiency vs Eds 73%. Also by way of contrast Tamale a top NRL rookie this year was the top winger in NSW cup last year with a strike rate close to 100% so Haiyzin is not going to be a Tamale but he could be a better option than Kosi. Which does beg the question why Souths wanted Ed over Haiyzin. But I am not Souths so who knows. He was a top 30 player for Souths so you have to think he is coming here as a top 30 player. That is speculation though.

 

[Cces]

 

[Leon Black]

Having sat through plenty of Flegg games, - a few too many- I’m convinced Paea Sikuvea will be our long-term No.13. He’s an exceptional player in what’s otherwise been a fairly average side. In their defence, the last month has been heavily disrupted by injuries and constant call-ups to NSW Cup.

From the current group, Brandon Norris, Putoko, Jacob Auloa, Moimoi, and Tepatasi Laumalili stand out. If Laumalili and Tuipulotu Vea can lift their fitness levels, they, along with the others, could push for NSW Cup potential in 2026.

One problem we do have, is a log jam of exceptional back row talent. Not a bad problem, but hope we keep the right ones! Kills me seeing Eli Katoa.

Right now though, Sikuvea and Norris are clearly the pick of the crop.

 

[Lance155]

Is he actually fast though???? We really need a top 10 fastest winger

 

[Playdaball]

Is Mellars in the top 30?

If so, what does this mean for other potential signings such as Khan, Simonsson, Koli etc ?

Is RTS hanging around next year ?