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

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance for off-topic chat.

 

[Dannevegas]

Think an experienced outside back could be handy because I’d hate anyone to block Leiataua, surely he’s not far away? Them putting him on the left before he he disappeared would indicate he will potentially replace Pompey at some point, be I really thought he looked so much better on the right in the early stages of the season. They’re being patient with Metcalf and his injuries so perhaps they do the same with Berry and look for a good depth centre and try ride out his unlucky run?

Leiataua getting early ball off of Martin in that storm trial, had me thinking he’d have a breakout season and potentially be a top 5 centre. injuries and our lack of unlocking our outside backs has halted his development a bit, still backing him in to be 1st choice centre next year tho

 

[Dannevegas]

It’s been mentioned a few times..

But Berry needs to start training at fullback and wear the number 1 jersey for us next year

I think everyone can agree that neither CNK or TT is the answer next year (although probably the best with what’s available). I can’t imagine a team winning the GF with either CNK or TT at the back..

We are a better team when we have Berry’s ball playing and his kick pressure. He’s great under the high ball.

It would also reduce the workload, traffic and collisions he has put his body through which reduces chance of injury.

I don’t mind that idea. I do agree we can’t be going into next year with Taine and Charnze as our first choice fullbacks.
But I’d be chasing Diane Laurie or Jake Averillo to play fb.
Charnze just doesn’t offer enough and is aging. And Taine is like a temu version of every other small fb in the comp. Walsh, Fuller, Gray, Kini etc

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

It would also reduce the workload, traffic and collisions he has put his body through which reduces chance of injury.

Less tackling at fullback maybe but with the Webster battering ram and multiple hit ups model, wouldn’t his overall work rate would increase?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

It’s been mentioned a few times..

But Berry needs to start training at fullback and wear the number 1 jersey for us next year

I think everyone can agree that neither CNK or TT is the answer next year (although probably the best with what’s available). I can’t imagine a team winning the GF with either CNK or TT at the back..

We are a better team when we have Berry’s ball playing and his kick pressure. He’s great under the high ball.

It would also reduce the workload, traffic and collisions he has put his body through which reduces chance of injury.

I dont mind this idea.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

It’s been mentioned a few times..

But Berry needs to start training at fullback and wear the number 1 jersey for us next year

I think everyone can agree that neither CNK or TT is the answer next year (although probably the best with what’s available). I can’t imagine a team winning the GF with either CNK or TT at the back..

We are a better team when we have Berry’s ball playing and his kick pressure. He’s great under the high ball.

It would also reduce the workload, traffic and collisions he has put his body through which reduces chance of injury.

Currently can’t handle 5 tackles and 5 hit ups.

 

[juju]

It’s been mentioned a few times..

But Berry needs to start training at fullback and wear the number 1 jersey for us next year

I think everyone can agree that neither CNK or TT is the answer next year (although probably the best with what’s available). I can’t imagine a team winning the GF with either CNK or TT at the back..

We are a better team when we have Berry’s ball playing and his kick pressure. He’s great under the high ball.

It would also reduce the workload, traffic and collisions he has put his body through which reduces chance of injury.

I kind of get it...

But fear it would be a Temu Made of Glass Joey Manu

 

[Boston Boy]

In the past I have often worn Warriors glasses. We hear a player does well in NSW cup, or maybe a player who has come from a new team and has a strength in an area. I have started to think that he will develop into th

Currently can’t handle 5 tackles and 5 hit ups.

The guy falls on his face and dislocates his shoulder, concusses himself without touching someone. I think he needs to go to NSW. If he can't string 8-10 games together in cup we need to move on and develop some young talent. He is an illusion.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Its just about over for Berry unless he completely transforms this offseason. Ben Henry, Nate Roache, it sucks, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

One of the back rowers, not capewell, too old, needs to do a stack of training at center to cover for his absences.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Currently can’t handle 5 tackles and 5 hit ups.

But he will double his run metres to 100m a week.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Its just about over for Berry unless he completely transforms this offseason. Ben Henry, Nate Roache, it sucks, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

One of the back rowers, not capewell, too old, needs to do a stack of training at center to cover for his absences.

I think if Fatialofa plays centre we will be okay.

Berry
Pompey
Leiataua
CNK
Fatialofa

 

[Theking267]

I don’t think Berry will be playing Fullback next year. Taine won’t play any wing next year due to the signing of Mellars and the progress Kali has made this year on the wing, they will be the primary back ups on the wing. They will definitely have to choose between Leiataua and Berry because both can’t play left centre so will be competing for the 1 position of right centre.

 

[Noitall]

It’s interesting when you look at Tuaupiki as CNK’s backup because as players in their positions, they’re so different. Doyle in nsw cup I see as quite similar as a depth player to CNK but not really Tuaupiki. The interest in a player like Chevy Stewart is also interesting as to where they would play him? I see him as a similar player to Tuaupiki and wonder if a speedy fullback is the direction we’re looking to head in? Really not sure where they see Tuaupiki and there were rumours of Perth bears in 2027?

 

[Noitall]

I don’t think Berry will be playing Fullback next year. Taine won’t play any wing next year due to the signing of Mellars and the progress Kali has made this year on the wing, they will be the primary back ups on the wing. They will definitely have to choose between Leiataua and Berry because both can’t play left centre so will be competing for the 1 position of right centre.

I think Leiataua would make a great fullback. I think he’s likely going to make a great centre too though

 

[WAH MAN]

Can Berry carry water bottles?

 

[CWC]

Can Berry carry water bottles?

Might drown tripping over

And ya he should be playing a couple of months of Cup to prove he can stay on the field for more than 1-2 games at a time, it's almost child abuse, Webby

 

[WAH MAN]

Might drown tripping over

And ya he should be playing a couple of months of Cup to prove he can stay on the field for more than 1-2 games at a time, it's almost child abuse, Webby

During earlier injury layoffs it was suggested he eat taro and corned beef and KFC to get some mass on his frame but it appears it's his frame that is the issue

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Can Berry carry water bottles?

Don't need to risk a back injury.

 

[Damo]

I think if Fatialofa plays centre we will be okay.

Berry
Pompey
Leiataua
CNK
Fatialofa

Not sure where this fascination with Fatialofa being a centre has come from. He has never started there in Cup, and has hardly filled in there either.

 

[Riz]

Not sure where this fascination with Fatialofa being a centre has come from. He has never started there in Cup, and has hardly filled in there either.

He was a centre at age group level, and just looking at him, his play style has centre written all over him IMO.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Not sure where this fascination with Fatialofa being a centre has come from. He has never started there in Cup, and has hardly filled in there either.

We hes certainly not ahead of

Capewell
Halasima
Laban
Toeava
Gannon

Just seems logical because hes explosive, a good defender, to develop better than our current centres. More importantly, hes durable so far.