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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[Ref]

Healey/EIT/Demi/Fats should be pretty gangster, I don’t think Gannon’s going to be there until Barney or Fish wanes and we move Demi or Clark to prop. Ford should be first drop prop especially in 2027. TSS looks to be a career good depth forward like Bunty or Jazz, not a first 17 trying to win a title

But maybe Webby will play Healey/Gannon/Ford/Demi and keep EIT and Fats in reserves

You forgot Laban.
He’s a middle for me simply because not only would he be awesome there, but we are stacked enough with edges.

Gannon has to prove himself in pre season first and he will get a trial or 2.
Our NSW Cup team with their best players available would be super competitive in the ESL.
I’m happy with the signing.
There’s a lot of proven and up and coming players already at the club.
If he makes the starting 17 in round 1 2026 it means he’s gotta to be pretty decent.

 

[Five&Last]

I very much doubt that happened for 8 games.

I said majority. I literally posted a comment last week with one of his highlights with him scoring tries out at center with a bench number on his back

 

[Five&Last]

Where is the EIT to prop stuff coming from? Dude is lanky asf. Laban is about the same height and he must have 10 kg on him, I can kinda maybe see Laban making prop next year but EIT seems like a forum pipe dream.

Yeah I was skeptical for the same reasons.

But he has the largest motor in the team easily, which is used best in the middle.

I’m doubtful Laban has the motor to play prop, that’s his biggest weakness right now is drifting in and out of games. That move probably comes much later

EIT does need to to put another 5-8kg on to play prop at an elite level which will be difficult but not impossible given he’s 6’3

But I think the best approach will be keep him as a hybrid type player. Who knows he might even develop into our long term number 13.

 

[Brightman]

EIT does need to to put another 5-8kg on to play prop at an elite level which will be difficult but not impossible given he’s 6’3

His build reminds me of a young Utoikamanu, obviously EIT has a better engine and will likely be a better player too..

 

[Five&Last]

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

I don't think that's a Webster model, its just CNK doesn't offer anything else besides that so it's what we are accustomed to.

TT certainly doesn't play that way.

 

[Cces]

I very much doubt that happened for 8 games.

NSWRL differs from RLP, with just 7 games off the bench to go with his start in Round 12 at Centre.
In those 7 bench games he came on to replace Zyon Maiu’u, Going, Tu, Going, Doyle, Tupouniua & EIT. Who knows what reshuffles occurred but at first glance it looks like he was predominantly an edge.

On Berry, I seriously hope there's no thought of re-signing him before the halfway mark of next year and doubt there'd be many approaches come November 1st for a guy that failed to finish 44% of the games he started this season, got himself suspended in another & has only 2 try assists in his last 26 game (0 in last 14)

 

[CWC]

Where is the EIT to prop stuff coming from? Dude is lanky asf. Laban is about the same height and he must have 10 kg on him, I can kinda maybe see Laban making prop next year but EIT seems like a forum pipe dream.

He’s been playing middle or lock in basically his whole short FG career… Cape/Leka/Marata were the edges when he was on

You forgot Laban.
He’s a middle for me simply because not only would he be awesome there, but we are stacked enough with edges.

Gannon has to prove himself in pre season first and he will get a trial or 2.
Our NSW Cup team with their best players available would be super competitive in the ESL.
I’m happy with the signing.
There’s a lot of proven and up and coming players already at the club.
If he makes the starting 17 in round 1 2026 it means he’s gotta to be pretty decent.

I had him as a starting edge in 2027 for his aerial threat but yes he’s been awesome in the middle until the dog shot. He and EIT have the frames to be in the middle and EIT has the hands of a lock or backs

 

[Jaffa J]

Berry as a FB would be a sight he’d be off after his first hitup and we’d have to carry a FB on the bench lol if we can’t get a youngster (Stewart) or manage to get a top tier fb like Ponga then probably best to stick with CNK for another year as frustrating as that would be

 

[Playdaball]

I’m sure The Warriors have done their homework on Gannon and they believe that he’ll be a good player.
Remember a few years ago when Dean Bell signed two English lads? They ended up at Pt Chev ( I think). I can’t recall their names - Harrison and Mason ????

 

[John Nick]

I’m sure The Warriors have done their homework on Gannon and they believe that he’ll be a good player.
Remember a few years ago when Dean Bell signed two English lads? They ended up at Pt Chev ( I think). I can’t recall their names - Harrison and Mason ????

Karl Harrison was one that I recall .Cant think of the other sorry.

 

[Spence]

I’m sure The Warriors have done their homework on Gannon and they believe that he’ll be a good player.
Remember a few years ago when Dean Bell signed two English lads? They ended up at Pt Chev ( I think). I can’t recall their names - Harrison and Mason ????

Jordan Baldwinson and Mason Tonks.

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

Karl Harrison was one that I recall .Cant think of the other sorry.

Tanks and Madon. Karl Harrison was a world class property for Halifax, Hull FC. He also played for GB in the series where they should have won the ashes.

 

[Theking267]

I’m sure The Warriors have done their homework on Gannon and they believe that he’ll be a good player.
Remember a few years ago when Dean Bell signed two English lads? They ended up at Pt Chev ( I think). I can’t recall their names - Harrison and Mason ????

Gannon just needs to be like Tanah Boyd this year and be patient playing Cup eventually he will get an opportunity

 

[John Nick]

Tanks and Madon. Karl Harrison was a world class property for Halifax, Hull FC. He also played for GB in the series where they should have won the ashes.

Another was the Samoan International Hutch Maiava

 

[sup42]

The Gannon glaze is too much! Where TF is the proof he is ahead of anyone? His highlights are alright. Doesn't make your pringle tingle.

The rest is word of mouth, In a comp that would sit 2nd to NSW Cup.

The proof is we went outside our own stellar nursery and outside the NRL to sign someone in a position we are stacked in.

I think that if you look at the ESL objectively, it is a competition which can only foster between two and four really good team rosters a season. So rather than being wholesale weaker than the NSW cup as a competition, it is instead grossly inconsistent with the gap between its best and its worst.

The ESL have beaten the NRL champions more times than the Aussies have won the end of season clashes.

There are various excuses made for why the Aussies lose, but you cannot say that the ESL is a lesser competition to the NSW cup. If this were a challenge between the winning NSW cup sides and the NRL champs, no amount of excuses would account for the results were the NRL to trail that comp.

Lastly Gannon has just made the England side at aged 21 which just reinforces that the Warriors have backed the right horse in the eyes of more than just the Warriors recruitment.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

The proof is we went outside our own stellar nursery and outside the NRL to sign someone in a position we are stacked in.

Just because we went outside of NZ & Aus to sign someone is proof of what? What are we talking about here? We need an eye test. What I've seen is ok. Not earth shattering OMG ish.

We signed 2 english kids a few years ago that had huge wraps on them. Someone Jordan & another kid. Didn't turn out very well and they went home.

I don't have a problem with the signing. I have a problem with people slotting him straight in to the top 17 ahead of our other promising Juniors without even playing a game for us.

Prove himself via NSW Cup. And if he earns a way to the top i am 1 hundy percent in support of the kid.

As for Superleague, I've seen enough to know i don't want to watch anymore English Touch RL is boring.

 

[JaggedJ]

Just because we went outside of NZ & Aus to sign someone is proof of what? What are we talking about here? We need an eye test. What I've seen is ok. Not earth shattering OMG ish.

We signed 2 english kids a few years ago that had huge wraps on them. Someone Jordan & another kid. Didn't turn out very well and they went home.

I don't have a problem with the signing. I have a problem with people slotting him straight in to the top 17 ahead of our other promising Juniors without even playing a game for us.

Prove himself via NSW Cup. And if he earns a way to the top i am 1 hundy percent in support of the kid.

As for Superleague, I've seen enough to know i don't want to watch anymore. English Touch RL is boring.

He'll get a chance to show what he can do in the off season. If he's named in the 17 round 1 then he's earnt it. NSW Cup shouldn't be a prerequisite.

Just like if people believe he will earn it then no problem with them putting him in their starting 17. If they're wrong, they're wrong. No biggie.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Just because we went outside of NZ & Aus to sign someone is proof of what? What are we talking about here? We need an eye test. What I've seen is ok. Not earth shattering OMG ish.

We signed 2 english kids a few years ago that had huge wraps on them. Someone Jordan & another kid. Didn't turn out very well and they went home.

I don't have a problem with the signing. I have a problem with people slotting him straight in to the top 17 ahead of our other promising Juniors without even playing a game for us.

Prove himself via NSW Cup. And if he earns a way to the top i am 1 hundy percent in support of the kid.

As for Superleague, I've seen enough to know i don't want to watch anymore. English Touch RL is boring.

People go on about the glazing that some players like Gannon may get, but I feel he also seems to get a fair bit of the anti-glaze, like he must be super shit to come from Super League or because we haven't had many positives from England (not saying that's the case specifically with your post Waka!).

The kid could be anything. Has played for the English Knights as a youngen and has made the England squad for the end of year. Fairly impressive for a bloke thats 21 years old and took a year off to get his body right.

Yes, he'll probably need to start off in NSW Cup to get his bearings when he's over here, but it sounds like he's a big body and is skillfull enough to find himself in the first grade team as some point next year.

With a bit of luck he could be a 10 year + Warrior and become a fan favourite. Here's hoping!

 

[Inruin]

Sam Tomkins was suppose to be the second coming according to some posters on here.

I don't think it's unreasonable for people to question why Gannon would be an automatic pick for the top 17 from day one. He may very well be there round 1 but it's also a step up in week to week intensity moving from the Super League to the NRL.

Either way, it's great we are looking at all available options and not just relying on our own development pathways 100%

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Sam Tomkins was suppose to be the second coming according to some posters on here.

I don't think it's unreasonable for people to question why Gannon would be an automatic pick for the top 17 from day one. He may very well be there round 1 but it's also a step up in week to week intensity moving from the Super League to the NRL.

Either way, it's great we are looking at all available options and not just relying on our own development pathways 100%

And if we want to replicate the Panthers style which Webby seems keen on we will need a ball playing 13 like Yeo