Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
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: 25/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: Nil
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
 
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Is that just recently today? As it hasn't been reported anywhere I can see?
Manly’s season may have just ended but their roster shake-up has already begun with five contracted players told they are free to leave the club.

It is understood Ben Condon, Kaeo Weekes, Zac Fulton, Kelma Tuilagi and Karl Lawton have had talks with the club and will be able to leave if they find better offers elsewhere.

None of the players are being forced out and, if they cannot secure a better deal at rival clubs, they will report to Sea Eagles pre-season training in November.

The Sea Eagles do not need to move any players on because of salary cap constraints, instead it is about getting a better-balanced roster.

Despite having not announced new deals, it can be revealed that Raymond Vaega, Ethan Bullemor, Jamie Humphreys and Gordon Chan Kum Tong have all re-signed for next season and have spots in the top 30.

Manly also want to upgrade and extend boom back-rower Haumole Olaka’uatu.

Brad Parker is off-contract but he will be the first player to be given a top-30 deal if a spot becomes available. The Sea Eagles also want to give Matt Lodge a contract for next season.

Lodge is expected to come into the top 30 at some point next season despite a long stint on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Veteran prop Aaron Woods is another player the Sea Eagles would consider keeping next year.

Tuilagi and Weekes have been given permission to talk to other clubs to push for regular first-grade opportunities.

Tuilagi has completed just one season of a three-year contract. The back-rower is expected to attract plenty of interest in the open market given he has been a mainstay in the past two seasons at the Tigers and Manly.

Weekes only re-signed for a further 12 months earlier this year.

Manly’s desire to tie down Olakau’atu and the impending positional switch of Josh Schuster to the second row could result in Tuilagi leaving. Ben Trbojevic was also favoured in the back row in the latter stages of the season.

Lawton is recovering from shoulder surgery which may delay his exit from the club, although he has attracted interest from UK Super League clubs. The Sea Eagles have agreed to allow Lawton to leave if he can secure a multi-year deal in England.

Condon has played just four games since joining the club last year while Fulton has featured in just one game – the pride jersey fiasco clash last season and is well down on the pecking order

The Sea Eagles failed to make the finals but finished the season with strong back-to-back wins against Canterbury (42-24) and the Tigers (54-12).

Manly have signed Tigers pair Luke Brooks and Tommy Talau, and Sydney Roosters winger Jaxson Paulo for next season.
 
Ethan Bullemor anyone? Low penalties and errors, averages over 100m a game from the bench and seems decent defensively. Doesn't have a contract for next year.

Honestly seems like the hardworking underacheiver Webby could do wonders with
Yeah I like that option too, St Joseph's Nudgee College is a hard RL school to get into here in QLD
 
Couldn’t give a shit, it’s a young guy signed long term according to the article. Take it for what it’s worth.
I still remember reading a tiny article in the NZ herald about a St Pauls college wunderkind called Stacey Jones.

Back then I wasn't jaded by the Warriors, I literally got goose bumps because it was the first time ever a Rugby League school kid was mentioned in the NZ Herald....
 

New Zealand Warriors sign 15-year-old halfback prospect​

He is the long term successor to Shaun Johnson.​


While the New Zealand Warriors get ready to face the Penrith Panthers on Saturday, that hasn't stopped them from securing a long-term successor to Shaun Johnson.

The Mole from The Wide World of Sports has reported that the Warriors have secured the signature of Bay of Plenty juniors skipper Tyson Hansen on a long-term deal.

Hansen is a promising halfback and has shown his skills and potential throughout the New Zealand junior competition. Only 15, he has a long way to go before he reaches the NRL, but all signs so far are promising.

Currently, Shaun Johnson is the club's first-choice halfback, however, the Warriors have Ronald Volkman (21), Luke Metcalf (24) and Paul Roache in the wings for when he eventually retires.

The signing of Tyson Hansen will likely see the 15-year-old come up through the junior ranks, such as the SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup, before he makes his maiden NRL debut.
 
I listened to that on a ferry from Bali to Lombok earlier today. Very interesting. Shame they lost the audio talking about his time at the Warriors. Hopefully Monty gets an interview with him too
He's so articulate and wise for a prop who pissed himself on the field and smoked while playing for the Warriors.
He squandered his talent with us... but part of the journey with us sadly I guess.
 
Feel like Webster in his opening season gave the whole squad the opportunity to prove they belong but yesterday I felt there were a few areas where we need recruitment or players rising from nsw cup to go to the next level and compete with panthers, broncos etc.
Fullback- CNK all day. Tuaupiki as backup
Wings- DWZ unreal but his jamming in is becoming a problem, will he trust a strong defender like RTS inside him?
Montoya is as good as he’s going to get, think Kosi can take the spot and as an outside chance Moala Graham Taufa.
Centres- RTS, but which side? Could help DWZ stay wide, but could be beneficial on the other side if a young winger is selected. Leiataua is right there, his frame is bigger and another preseason I think he takes the other spot.
Halves- SJ, TMM. Hopefully Metcalf and Volkman stay as backup. Also CHT but I see his upside being as a utility.
Props- AFB. Think this is one area we need recruitment though, someone to help him as a starter. Could be potentially two but I think Zyon Maiu’u could play that intimidating Leniu role off the bench.
Hooker- Egan. CHT in his utility role from the bench can fill if Egan goes down. Backup Lussick.
Second row- Niukore, but needs more output for his salary. This is another area I think we need recruitment, Ford has been great for what was expected but we need someone who doesn’t give cheap penalties and restarts. Perhaps Curran?Going could play there with a strong preseason but also notice Laban has added some size, perhaps the following year though.
Lock- Harris. Ale backup and Walker off the bench. Jazz, but must admit I was disappointed when he couldn’t bend down to pick the ball up late in the game or dive on it, just back though so maybe a bit unfair for lack of match fitness.
Bench
Walker
CHT
Barnett
?
 
Centres- RTS, but which side? Could help DWZ stay wide, but could be beneficial on the other side if a young winger is selected. Leiataua is right there, his frame is bigger and another preseason I think he takes the other spot.
RTS takes the left Centre and Leiataua who seems to right Centre in NSW cup takes number 3 is where I would see it go. Will depend on how they go in preseason but RTS will grab one of those Centre spots as even if he is not as good as he use to be he will be better than Pompey.
 
Feel like Webster in his opening season gave the whole squad the opportunity to prove they belong but yesterday I felt there were a few areas where we need recruitment or players rising from nsw cup to go to the next level and compete with panthers, broncos etc.
Fullback- CNK all day. Tuaupiki as backup
Wings- DWZ unreal but his jamming in is becoming a problem, will he trust a strong defender like RTS inside him?
Montoya is as good as he’s going to get, think Kosi can take the spot and as an outside chance Moala Graham Taufa.
Centres- RTS, but which side? Could help DWZ stay wide, but could be beneficial on the other side if a young winger is selected. Leiataua is right there, his frame is bigger and another preseason I think he takes the other spot.
Halves- SJ, TMM. Hopefully Metcalf and Volkman stay as backup. Also CHT but I see his upside being as a utility.
Props- AFB. Think this is one area we need recruitment though, someone to help him as a starter. Could be potentially two but I think Zyon Maiu’u could play that intimidating Leniu role off the bench.
Hooker- Egan. CHT in his utility role from the bench can fill if Egan goes down. Backup Lussick.
Second row- Niukore, but needs more output for his salary. This is another area I think we need recruitment, Ford has been great for what was expected but we need someone who doesn’t give cheap penalties and restarts. Perhaps Curran?Going could play there with a strong preseason but also notice Laban has added some size, perhaps the following year though.
Lock- Harris. Ale backup and Walker off the bench. Jazz, but must admit I was disappointed when he couldn’t bend down to pick the ball up late in the game or dive on it, just back though so maybe a bit unfair for lack of match fitness.
Bench
Walker
CHT
Barnett
?
great post
 
RTS was the king of desperation defence, but I am really surprised by this talk of him being a strong general play defender, because he just wasn't.

I'm hoping that rugby has fixed that, as well as the preseason (though remember his is shorter due to the NPC).

My biggest concern of his comeback is his defence, and I believe we have two good defenders in Berry and Pompey (they are just weaker on the other side of the ball).
 
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