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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[Noitall]

Not sure they will go that way with CNK at centre. Surely the centres will be between Berry, Pompey, and Ali.

AKP one wing and if they keep RTS on the wing it will be CNK or TT at the back.

Something like

1. CNK/TT
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. RTS

Or if they do consider RTS at fullback and they give Kali a crack next year (maybe too early)

1. RTS
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. Kali

Thought Leiataua and Tuaupiki struck up a good partnership to start the season. Leiataua could need to become super fit if he takes right centre for that kick chase but AKP speed would be invaluable for this too. Keep RTS on the left for the many carries that he has and can score tries too. Could look something like
CNK
AKP
Leiataua
Pompey
RTS
CHT
Metcalf

 

[1995warriorsfan]

I hear Jono Wright is available.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

I hear Jono Wright is available.

The peoples champ. We haven't had a mascot like him for a long while

 

[slime]

He seemed better when he was paired with Metcalf. Be interesting to see his stats with Metcalf vs with Boyd.
But then everyone was going better then with less injuries

Games	Halfback	Tries	Try Assists	Linebreaks	Tackle Breaks	Receipts	Running Ms	Kicking Ms	Forced Drop Outs
15	Metcalf	0.33 (5)	0.87 (13)	0.27 (4)	1.07 (16)	44	64	221	0.13 (2)
7	Boyd	0.43 (3)	0.71 (5)	0.29 (2)	0.43 (3)	54	64	125	0.29 (2)

I went and found CHT's stats and averaged them out per game (with the totals in brackets).
Looks pretty consistent regardless of the halfback, other than the kicking metres.

 

[CWC]

Not sure they will go that way with CNK at centre. Surely the centres will be between Berry, Pompey, and Ali.

AKP one wing and if they keep RTS on the wing it will be CNK or TT at the back.

Something like

1. CNK/TT
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. RTS

Or if they do consider RTS at fullback and they give Kali a crack next year (maybe too early)

1. RTS
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. Kali

Hmm the problem is Berry can't stay on the field, I see you've dropped Dallin right out
The reason I have CNK there (we will find out if he plays there again this week), is for his kick chase ethics/workhorse, and he seems to understand he needs to pass/kick instead of ball hog based on last week's game. We will see, lots of combos with AKP added in

 

[CWC]

AKP back in NZ with family support and in our culture probably helps with the "attitude" issues, Fifita's not the senior leaders here

 

[Dannevegas]

Could be looking at

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf
or
1. TT
2. AKL
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf

Depth - CHT/Linnane, Boyd, Jett, Ali, Berry, Mellars, Kali

That's pretty good to compliment the pack

Rts
Khan-Pereira
Pompey
Leiataua
Kali
Linnane
Metcalf

Pompey would start to become a real asset in this backline, we could afford his slow motion because of the rest of the pace in this backline

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I hear Jono Wright is available.

For anyone interview with Monty Betham?

 

[Fufu]

AKP would be no worse than Dallin on D and just as good in attack with the benefit of being 7 or 8 years younger. Absolutely we should try and get him. It provides depth at Wing, because really no matter how bad DWZ played this year, he wouldnt be dropped for Kosi. If AKP was waiting in the wings its a different story.

Wing depth:
RTS
DWZ
AKP
Mellars

 

[Garry Saloon]

Could be looking at

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf
or
1. TT
2. AKL
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf

Depth - CHT/Linnane, Boyd, Jett, Ali, Berry, Mellars, Kali

That's pretty good to compliment the pack

Man. RTS is never going fb

 

[Leon Black]

If it has got to the stage where the Titans are officially letting us talk to him it probably means we are are going to make him an offer.

He has pace and that is what we need. And he isn't going to be any worse than DWZ on defence. Hopefully we can get his defence and attitude right if we sign him. I haven't watched enough of him to make a firm judgement but if it's between him and DWZ, I am all for AKP! We need pace and some flair in the backline. He is only 23 as well. Plenty

53 tries in 54 games…say no more. Defence can be taught, especially when the Titans’ back five make turnstiles look solid. This bloke’s got wheels — DWZ’s replacement sorted. Kali and the Bunnies kids can punch on for RTS’ spot, and Norris can warm up in NSW Cup before being unleashed in 2027.

As for NAS — sign him up if the Storm chip in $300k and we top it up with $300 k plus incentives. If he rocks up with the same Mt Smart form he always smashes us with, it’s daylight robbery. And hey, Barney and Walker weren’t exactly choirboys before they landed either.

 

[Playdaball]

I would love to see AKP here at the Warriors - a major upgrade on Kosi and Harper .
Next target for me would be a back up front rower with a big of size

 

[Ever Hopeful]

If Mellars can stay injury free, I think he might surprise people.

 

[Horriors2013]

Not sure they will go that way with CNK at centre. Surely the centres will be between Berry, Pompey, and Ali.

AKP one wing and if they keep RTS on the wing it will be CNK or TT at the back.

Something like

1. CNK/TT
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. RTS

That's the backline alright. RTS is not going to FB. He's going to rugby in 27 if not 26. My only worry is having TT and AKP in the same backline could look like Hobbiton. But a fit Leiatau, Berry, AKP, Metcalfe backline behind a gangster pack like ours could be very interesting. Just need to add Kini at FB

 

[Horriors2013]

Seems unlikely that he’d come over as a depth winger? I wonder if DWZ or RTS are departing the club early?

I would not be surprised if DWZ goes into medical retirement - his forearm/wrist is fucked. He's always holding it. The rest of his body is moving slower too. He's lost that sharpness. But the rumours about RTS moving to Rugby360 next year have been strong .

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I would not be surprised if DWZ goes into medical retirement - his forearm/wrist is fucked. He's always holding it. The rest of his body is moving slower too. He's lost that sharpness. But the rumours about RTS moving to Rugby360 next year have been strong .

Id put more stock into Roger going to Saudi Rugby tbh.

And why wouldnt you go make bank at his age and stage of career.

 

[Horriors2013]

If Mellars can stay injury free, I think he might surprise people.

Yeah? What have you seen or heard? He looks like a clone of his old man: holds his own in the strength department, but not much speed or attacking flair. But I can't tell much from the clips.

 

[Five&Last]

If it has got to the stage where the Titans are officially letting us talk to him it probably means we are are going to make him an offer.

He has pace and that is what we need. And he isn't going to be any worse than DWZ on defence. Hopefully we can get his defence and attitude right if we sign him. I haven't watched enough of him to make a firm judgement but if it's between him and DWZ, I am all for AKP! We need pace and some flair in the backline. He is only 23 as well. Plenty of time to improve deficiencies.

Deju of the forum proclaiming Tannah Boyd to be our next game managing messiah.

DWZ has pace as well. He's still shit.

AKP is not what we need.

Can you explain how he's better than Kali?

Assuming if you've never watched him play, do you not think if the Titan's don't want him that's a pretty major red flag?

 

[Wrighty]

6 foot 85kg turns 24 in November

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

DWZ has pace as well.

Is Dallins pace in the room with us, right now?

The brother can't make corners anymore.

We need a new winger.