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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[Falcon]

So a lot of talks for need for speed so who are we wanting to replace exactly? Next year anyway. CNK? Taine has speed but people think he’s too small, any free agent on the market?

Linnane and Metcalf would be pretty F1 like, if they don’t crash Nobody asking Cameron to throw bank at Herbie?

I’m def asking Cameron to throw the ca$h at Herbie!

 

[Milking!]

Some backs worth a titiro for next year who have speed. In order of preference.

1. Sam Stonestreet - He's 6'4/98kgs. Def got some toe and we'd have 2 aerial threats on the wing with him and Mellars.
2. Daine Laurie - plays well at FB. Can play wing and in the halves. Good utility value.
3. Tommy Talau - quiet year this year with not as much game time compared to last year when he racked up 18 tries in 18 games. Genuine centre/wing.
4. Semi Valemei - can find the tryline and pretty zippy

A bit surprised Laurie and Stonestreet are unsigned at this point. Would have them in a heartbeat. Stonestreet might still be having dramas with his ankle after surgery?

I’m a big Daine Laurie fan, but not sure he’d offer much more as a backup fullback/five-eighth than Te Maire or Taine do presently.
The rest are interesting enough, buuut - other than a healthy Stonestreet - would they be that much better than what we have in the top 30 or looming from the NSW cup side?

 

[Noitall]

I’m a big Daine Laurie fan, but not sure he’d offer much more as a backup fullback/five-eighth than Te Maire or Taine do presently.
The rest are interesting enough, buuut - other than a healthy Stonestreet - would they be that much better than what we have in the top 30 or looming from the NSW cup side?

As teams seasons are over, there’ll be players released for various reasons. Someone will become available, if we’re not already talking with someone

 

[Dannevegas]

Some backs worth a titiro for next year who have speed. In order of preference.

1. Sam Stonestreet - He's 6'4/98kgs. Def got some toe and we'd have 2 aerial threats on the wing with him and Mellars.
2. Daine Laurie - plays well at FB. Can play wing and in the halves. Good utility value.
3. Tommy Talau - quiet year this year with not as much game time compared to last year when he racked up 18 tries in 18 games. Genuine centre/wing.
4. Semi Valemei - can find the tryline and pretty zippy

A bit surprised Laurie and Stonestreet are unsigned at this point. Would have them in a heartbeat. Stonestreet might still be having dramas with his ankle after surgery?

Laurie’s the only guy I’d go after on that list. Talau’s a downgrade on Pompey imo.
Stonestreet far too weak in contact

 

[WHB]

I'm a big NPC fan (prefer it to Super), Manson is good, but untested at the next level. It would be a hell of a gamble.

He is an untested kid but talent is talent.
Had them same thoughts on Carter crossing over to the Chiefs.
He proved to be one of the buys of the season.

 

[Noitall]

EXCLUSIVE: Another team enters the race for Rabbitohs forward

He has already been linked to the Cowboys and Eels.

www.zerotackle.com

Warriors latest team to show interest in Davvy Moale joining eels and cowboys

 

[CWC]

EXCLUSIVE: Another team enters the race for Rabbitohs forward

He has already been linked to the Cowboys and Eels.

www.zerotackle.com

Warriors latest team to show interest in Davvy Moale joining eels and cowboys

Is his family still in NZ?
Better release Marata if we're signing him, 70 FG games at 22.
We need backs lol

 

[Noitall]

Is his family still in NZ?
Better release Marata if we're signing him, 70 FG games at 22.
We need backs lol

Not sure? Just like Kosi and MGT announced as leaving and Mellars signs, I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes here with Bunty and Ale confirmed as not being extended

 

[Falcon]

Not surprised to be linked with this type of player.
Clearly the need for a front row reinforcement that is 50+ games deep / 3years + NRL experience who is physically imposing.
We are not quite there when matching it with the top teams physically

 

[Noitall]

Not surprised to be linked with this type of player.
Clearly the need for a front row reinforcement that is 50+ games deep / 3years + NRL experience who is physically imposing.
We are not quite there when matching it with the top teams physically

He was offered a 2 year extension by the rabbits so I reckon there’s a good chance he knows where he’s going

 

[CWC]

Not sure? Just like Kosi and MGT announced as leaving and Mellars signs, I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes here with Bunty and Ale confirmed as not being extended

That is one stacked forward pack next year though lol
Afoa/Ale are de facto non-existent now
Probably insurance for Barney too, hope it's for Marata either 26 or 27

 

[Noitall]

That is one stacked forward pack next year though lol
Afoa/Ale are de facto non-existent now
Probably insurance for Barney too, hope it's for Marata either 26 or 27

Really thought we’d go after some height in the middle but I guess Gannon will add some. We lost Barnett for a big portion of 2023 as well as this year so some good depth would be handy, and like Falcon says, we haven’t quite matched it with the best teams in the middle and he could be handy in that regard too

 

[Warriorsfan92]

He’s not a very good player imo. Bennett debuted him as an 18 year old, had huge wraps but has never really kicked on, even back under Bennett. Does this block any of our juniors? Not big on this

 

[Boston Boy]

I don't mind Davy Moale, has a powerful hit up in him. I am not sure about how relentless and efficient he is defensively but I think he would be an upgrade on Bunty and Ale.

Here's a crazy view, that Hehterington from the Knights. I know he is crazy, ill disciplined etc, but wasn't Barnett? Hetherington is rough diamond. I would consider signing him if he was a few years younger. I think Webby and Barnett could help him immensely and maybe help him get into the representative conservation level.

 

[Noitall]

I don't mind Davy Moale, has a powerful hit up in him. I am not sure about how relentless and efficient he is defensively but I think he would be an upgrade on Bunty and Ale.

Here's a crazy view, that Hehterington from the Knights. I know he is crazy, ill disciplined etc, but wasn't Barnett? Hetherington is rough diamond. I would consider signing him if he was a few years younger. I think Webby and Barnett could help him immensely and maybe help him get into the representative conservation level.

Apparently the Warriors reached out about getting Hetherington for the remainder of the season when Barnett was ruled out

 

[Blain]

He’s not a very good player imo. Bennett debuted him as an 18 year old, had huge wraps but has never really kicked on, even back under Bennett. Does this block any of our juniors? Not big on this

He just hasn't shown enough, I agree. 1 or 2 years for cheap maybe, but wouldn't do anymore for him. He is very young with good experience, but I can't see him exploding. I said similar things about Isiah when he was with us however.. I would back our young boys over him for sure.

I don't mind Davy Moale, has a powerful hit up in him. I am not sure about how relentless and efficient he is defensively but I think he would be an upgrade on Bunty and Ale.

Here's a crazy view, that Hehterington from the Knights. I know he is crazy, ill disciplined etc, but wasn't Barnett? Hetherington is rough diamond. I would consider signing him if he was a few years younger. I think Webby and Barnett could help him immensely and maybe help him get into the representative conservation level.

Come on bro.. There's a guy who has never shown much more than a couple 10 minute blitz in his entire career. How would you feel about him taking NRL time off one of our young guns?

 

[RiceOwl]

I don't mind Davy Moale, has a powerful hit up in him. I am not sure about how relentless and efficient he is defensively but I think he would be an upgrade on Bunty and Ale.

Here's a crazy view, that Hehterington from the Knights. I know he is crazy, ill disciplined etc, but wasn't Barnett? Hetherington is rough diamond. I would consider signing him if he was a few years younger. I think Webby and Barnett could help him immensely and maybe help him get into the representative conservation level.

Barnett was a rough diamond but Hetherington is just an utter lunatic. I heard Gould talking about him once and he doesn’t sound like the kind of guy you could reign in too much.

 

[JaggedJ]

Hetherington was already with us once. Nutter then, and still a nutter now.

Barnett had some discipline issues, but he wasn't on the same level of "oohh something shiny, let me take it's head off" that Hetherington has always operated at.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I thought it was apparent on the weekend that we needed a decent sized guy to help bend the line. I think we have some of the better smaller forwards running around - Fish, Barnett, Ford etc, but unfortunately when that's all you have, you struggle to bend the line, which seemed to be the case heaps against Parra.

Outside of Erin Clark, I thought no one was able to punch through or get the defence backing up.

Moale is listed as 6'1 and 112kg, which would make him one of our heaviest forwards if we snagged him. If he's interested, it will be a low risk, high reward potential situation as I don't think he'd be getting paid bucket loads. And the kicker is that almost every forward has improved under Webby, so I wouldnt be too upset at this if it came through

 

[Noitall]

Come on bro.. There's a guy who has never shown much more than a couple 10 minute blitz in his entire career. How would you feel about him taking NRL time off one of our young guns

Despite needing middle forwards in the season when Barnett went down injured, Webster wasn’t prepared to play Bunty or Ale and TSS seems to be the only middle forward that’s joined Vaimauga. EIT got some time there but I can’t see the signing blocking anyone. Players like Rodney Tuipolotu Vea seem a at least a season away and this guy has first grade experience over someone like Crosby