Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
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-​	Player​	2024​	2025​	2026​	2027​	2028​
1	Bunty Afoa	✔	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔
4	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔	✔
6	Wayde Egan	✔	✔
7	Addin Fonua-Blake	✔
8	Jackson Ford	✔	✔
9	Tohu Harris	✔	✔
10	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔	M
11	Shaun Johnson	✔
12	Edward Kosi	✔	✔
13	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔
14	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔
15	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔	✔
16	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔	✔
17	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
18	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔	✔
19	Marcelo Montoya	✔	✔
20	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔
21	Marata Niukore	✔	✔	✔
22	Adam Pompey	✔	✔
23	Demitric Sifakula	✔	✔	T
24	Jazz Tevaga	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔	✔
27	Dylan Walker	✔	✔
28	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔
D1	Ben Farr	D
D2	Etuane Fukofuka	D
D3	Leka Halasima	D	D	✔
D4	Patrick Moimoi	D
D5	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
-	James Fisher-Harris	-	✔	✔	✔	✔

key: T = Team option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 5/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 26/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: James Fucking Fisher-Harris baby! (Panthers)
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
2025 Off Contract: Shaun Johnson, Jazz Tevaga

 

[chrisnz]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Departing/departed players | #253 Bayley Sironen, #254 Ben Murdoch-Masila, #261 Taniela Otukolo, #264 Viliami Vailea, Valingi Kepu, Otukinekina Kepu

One New Zealand Warriors debuts:
NRL | #279 Taine Tuaupiki, #280 Demitric Sifakula, #282 Ali Leiataua, #283 Kalani Going, #284 Paul Roache
One New Zealand Warriors | #273 Brayden Wiliame, #274 Te Maire Martin, #275 Mitchell Barnett, #276 Jackson Ford, #277 Marata Niukore, #278 Dylan Walker, #281 Luke Metcalf

From our awards ceremony departing siro ... that settles that then

 

[Noitall]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Departing/departed players | #253 Bayley Sironen, #254 Ben Murdoch-Masila, #261 Taniela Otukolo, #264 Viliami Vailea, Valingi Kepu, Otukinekina Kepu

One New Zealand Warriors debuts:
NRL | #279 Taine Tuaupiki, #280 Demitric Sifakula, #282 Ali Leiataua, #283 Kalani Going, #284 Paul Roache
One New Zealand Warriors | #273 Brayden Wiliame, #274 Te Maire Martin, #275 Mitchell Barnett, #276 Jackson Ford, #277 Marata Niukore, #278 Dylan Walker, #281 Luke Metcalf

From our awards ceremony departing siro ... that settles that then

Lingi Kepu too. That frees up a spot in the top 30, wouldn’t free up much coin though.

 

[Since95]

10 missed tackles and 3 ineffective this weekend but don’t think that same player that left the eels isn’t still in there, on the flip side that same player that looked like he couldn’t be arsed in his final season here is probably still in there too. We’d be mad not to put that same eels second row combination together that was the best in the comp if the opportunity arises though I reckon.

Yeah I agree.

But he's predominantly playing the defensive side of the ball and on the attacking side they basically shovel the proverbial.

If it was a bit more balanced probably be a better output. I mean very few can run into a wall and make meters so many times. And he's usually effective with great service at the line one on one with opposing player.

But Brooks passing game is about 75% accurate. Wakeham maybe less? Skill wise Tigers are well below other NRL teams across the park.

I mean slump in form could be good. We be in a eels situation. Pick him up for a steal.

 

[chrisnz]

I believe we have a big money signing coming this was meant to be the year we get the lodge funds back and I think siro would of been on a decent deal our spine is on peanuts compared to most I know we got a bit of cash tied up in AFB and Tohu but surely there's got to be a bit left to play with I'm sure rts come back on a good packet but you would have to think it's a lot less than his previous stints

 

[Jonno13]

Yeah I can see something happy in the off season as well. Maybe once the finals series is over so it doesn’t disrupt our boys and potential a player whose teams also still in contention

 

[chrisnz]

Agar has deep ties with Mikolaj Oledzki and there was talk a while back of targeting super leauge talent would be happy if we got him.

 

[Noitall]

Agar has deep ties with Mikolaj Oledzki and there was talk a while back of targeting super leauge talent would be happy if we got him.

There was talk of Micheal Chee Kam a few months ago.

 

[tyrael]

A good prop would be nice

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Does Tohu make the move in to the prop rotation next year? He's looking very tired and often does stints there anyways.
Imagine having him and AFB as our starting props with Barnett and Ale/Bunty coming off the bench.

Jazz, Sifukula, Curran, Ale (a few have mentioned) could all slot in at that 13 spot. Even if it's not for 2024, we need to start planning for life without Tohu as he surely hasn't got many years left in those legs. Pretty sure he's only contracted til the end of next year, so maybe one last year after that?

Hopefully gives Zyon Maiu’u, Laban, Ale and the rest of the new guard time to get up to 30 games under their belt before Tohu finishes up

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Wow… guess losing the other Kepu was on the cards after the bro was shown the door.

 

[Since95]

Wow… guess losing the other Kepu was on the cards after the bro was shown the door.

Yeah we there was huge wraps on them and then it became a non event after one got injured.

Case of not working hard? Feel bad for siro since playing his more natural spot he's been very good for our momentum.

Sticks the hard tackles make the hard runs when we need it. Has versatility on his side.

 

[Lance155]

Does Tohu make the move in to the prop rotation next year? He's looking very tired and often does stints there anyways.
Imagine having him and AFB as our starting props with Barnett and Ale/Bunty coming off the bench.

Jazz, Sifukula, Curran, Ale (a few have mentioned) could all slot in at that 13 spot. Even if it's not for 2024, we need to start planning for life without Tohu as he surely hasn't got many years left in those legs. Pretty sure he's only contracted til the end of next year, so maybe one last year after that?

Hopefully gives Zyon Maiu’u, Laban, Ale and the rest of the new guard time to get up to 30 games under their belt before Tohu finishes up

I think this will be the case and there will be a fight for 13 next year

 

[Up the guttz]

Lingi Kepu too. That frees up a spot in the top 30, wouldn’t free up much coin though.

Just as we all expected, good to have confirmation though. As you say, won’t free up much cap space but I think we need more roster spots than cap space atm with our youngsters.
Good roster management!

 

[Blain]

Kepu's are a massive let down. I think it's fair to say they were probably some of the hardest hit during COVID, both in playing time and off the pitch development. Young boys away from home for a couple years in their teenage years, given professional contracts early.. Otukolo also.

Now we have our juniors back up and running, guys like Stowers-Smith, Sifakula and Halasima already have superior numbers in reserve grade. It's great the club can move on and invest more into one of those boys.

Sironen was probably paid a decent clip to get him here, had a great year for the Bunnies and was under contract so would have been a decent contract to sign him. He's been pretty solid for us, and seems to be a great guy off the pitch to have around. Again I think his spot will be filled internally, I think a Kalani Going could offer a similar style of play to him for half the price. No he doesn't play hooker, but Sironen only played some minutes there because Tevaga has missed most the season. And if you didn't want Tevaga as a fill in hooker if needed, CHT is there to fill if Egan needs it.

 

[Cces]

I think a Kalani Going could offer a similar style of play to him for half the price. No he doesn't play hooker, but Sironen only played some minutes there because Tevaga has missed most the season.

He had a cameo there earlier in the year

 

[JaggedJ]

Could have sworn there were a few articles earlier this year where Jazz and/or Webster said that Tevaga's role had been defined and it wouldn't be hooker. I think Siro has always been that relief hooker sometimes second row/prop option that we like to carry on the bench.

As for the 13 jersey, who on our team can do what Tohu does? The ball playing/link lock is a key part of what the Panthers do and has been brought here with Webster. I'm not sure I see someone who can replicate that. Walker could, but he couldn't do the other side of Tohu's job with the hitups and tackles so I see him remaining as that bench utility

 

[sup42]

I was not expecting this feeling, but it has been so long since we made it like this that I have forgotten ab
Agar has deep ties with Mikolaj Oledzki and there was talk a while back of targeting super leauge talent would be happy if we got him.

A lot to like about getting a top english Prop before they mature and having them play their best years in the NRL.
He is very technical for such a young prop. He has the leg drive thing sorted and his post contact meters would fit in real nice to our side, good leg speed, lands on his front, good wrestler, decent defender.
Not a huge meter eater but his ability to land on his front and get up fast for a speedy advantage in the play the ball mitigates that....also have to remember he is only 24.

His game looks a lot like Mitch Barnett with better leg drive in the tackle.

Would be a great signing but when have we ever got English players at the right time in their careers?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Will be interesting to see where kepu ends up, who's to say we won't see him in a warriors jumper in the future, but the right move to open up a spot for Zyon Maiu’u.

I want to see Going elevated also.

 

[Warriors4eva95]

Will be interesting to see where kepu ends up, who's to say we won't see him in a warriors jumper in the future, but the right move to open up a spot for Zyon Maiu’u.

I want to see Going elevated also.

Manly would be good fits for them

 

[Noitall]

Bulldogs officially grant Faitala-Mariner permission to negotiate with rival clubs

The end of their season may have arrived, but the drama is far from over at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

www.smh.com.au

Will be interesting to see where RFM lands. Gould said on a show yesterday apparently the bulldogs have about 7 or 8 players to be announced as signings in the next fortnight.