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

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

Trey Mooney?
Sione Fainu?
Shaq Mit?
Thomas Mikaele?
Klese Haas?

these are some big usos who are off contract

 

[sup42]

Dragons, bulldogs and Warriors all interested apparently. Would that be Jazz’s potential replacement, bench second row/middle? Or perhaps transitions to front row full time like Barnett?

Interesting.
He is the Aussie Jazz type.
Smaller forward, runs hard, is awkward to tackle, gets good leg drive in the contact, has little pop up offload out the back.

You could argue that the more of these fit Aussies we sign, the more log jammed the options are for NSW cup stars to try make the squad?

That not my take, I can just see the comments though about why are we not promoting some of the flash young bucks.

I hope we sign him personally, I think there needs to be more competition in the pack, (not for the role a NSW cup local is being groomed for) I see Williams as creating competition vs Ford and Capewell, which can only be a good thing.

Right now Ford and Capewell have no natural predators, they are on auto select because of the their engine minutes. The Warriors have never had fit Aussie backrowers creating competition internally, traditionally your Michael Lucks/Ryan
Hoffman's etc, never had like for like competition driving them....as such they got free passes every game.

 

[WahsUltras]

Trey Mooney?
Sione Fainu?
Shaq Mit?
Thomas Mikaele?
Klese Haas?

these are some big usos who are off contract

Would rather Kane Evans than the bottom 4.

 

[JaggedJ]

I think a second rower is more likely than a prop. I think Webby is comfortable with our propping options and wants to cover second row without taking from the middle.

After Capewell and Ford there's Laban (19) and Halasima (not top 30 until 2026).

Could easily take on an extra second rower without interrupting the development pathways in that position.

 

[Damo]

I think a second rower is more likely than a prop. I think Webby is comfortable with our propping options and wants to cover second row without taking from the middle.

After Capewell and Ford there's Laban (19) and Halasima (not top 30 until 2026).

Could easily take on an extra second rower without interrupting the development pathways in that position.

Sifakula as well.
I'd see Williams as another fit and mobile middle like Barnett, albeit a bit smaller.

 

[JaggedJ]

Sifakula as well.
I'd see Williams as another fit and mobile middle like Barnett, albeit a bit smaller.

Feel like Sifakula has been earmarked as a long term lock (but could play second row in the meantime), initially taking over the Tevaga role (or maybe that's the role we envision for Williams). Alot probably depends on how he comes back from the ACL and how Laban develops. It doesn't hurt to have depth, but looking at the below it feels like there's no room for Jazz even if we don't sign a guy like Williams - a signing would almost definitely mean it's the end of the line for the Jazz Hands.

8. Barnett
9. Egan
10. Bunty/Niukore
11. Ford
12. Capewell
13. Harris

14. CHT/Lussick
15. Bunty/Niukore
16. Sifakula/Laban
17. Walker

19. Sifakula/Laban
20. Ale
21. Zyon Maiu’u

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Feel like Sifakula has been earmarked as a long term lock (but could play second row in the meantime), initially taking over the Tevaga role (or maybe that's the role we envision for Williams). Alot probably depends on how he comes back from the ACL and how Laban develops. It doesn't hurt to have depth, but looking at the below it feels like there's no room for Jazz even if we don't sign a guy like Williams - a signing would almost definitely mean it's the end of the line for the Jazz Hands.

8. Barnett
9. Egan
10. Bunty/Niukore
11. Ford
12. Capewell
13. Harris

14. CHT/Lussick
15. Bunty/Niukore
16. Sifakula/Laban
17. Walker

19. Sifakula/Laban
20. Ale
21. Zyon Maiu’u

Would you keep Bunty over Jazz?

 

[Damo]

Would you keep Bunty over Jazz?

I probably would. I love Jazz but he isn't as reliable as Bunty is in many areas.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I probably would. I love Jazz but he isn't as reliable as Bunty is in many areas.

Totes, where else will we find a prop in his 8th year of NRL who will make those 46m a game that Bunty does

Nah I get it, you still need solid NRL props who can come in as your 4th/5th prop and complete their defensive tasks, while being on minimum $$, so I'm not mad at that

 

[Lets Eat (YeahNah)]

Totes, where else will we find a prop in his 8th year of NRL who will make those 46m a game that Bunty does

Nah I get it, you still need solid NRL props who can come in as your 4th/5th prop and complete their defensive tasks, while being on minimum $$, so I'm not mad at that

Your last paragraph is 100%, not only is it on field performance, but need to look at the overall business side, that’s where things balance out.

Experienced prop
Roots in NZ
Club man
Does a role (most likely as advised by coaching staff)
Contract that helps balance other areas of the cap
Strong trainer
Mentor for young kids

All variables taken into account smart business

 

[Beastmode]

John Shuster.
sheesh. 800K for a 21/22 yr old kid.
Who are making these decisions???
Totally irresponsible.
Hes been given an endless buffet to eat?!


View: https://youtu.be/MF_sI9HBem4?si=hkarlahONOKgHeO3

 

[Up the guttz]

John Shuster.
sheesh. 800K for a 21/22 yr old kid.
Who are making these decisions???
Totally irresponsible.
Hes been given an endless buffet to eat?!


View: https://youtu.be/MF_sI9HBem4?si=hkarlahONOKgHeO3

Apparently this deal pumped up the salary demands from the rest of the squad as well

 

[JaggedJ]

Would you keep Bunty over Jazz?

Different players but similar value imo, so it really comes down to Jazz being off contract and Bunty isn't.

Ideally someone steps up and takes Jazz's spot and when Bunty is off contract next the same happens to him.

 

[sup42]

Big unknown Islander seen backing away from Warriors owner to the comfort of his wife and family in a Sydney Bar.

Apparently the random huge dude with a leg Tat saw the Warriors owner and backed off....a potential Warriors signing would never leave the table at a meet with a boss.

Big unknown Islander was apparently over heard muttering to his wife "do you know who that was?"

Wife: "that little old palangi with the hair Gel funny hair cut? nah who is he?"

Big Island dude of unknown origin: "that's Jesse Pinkman, the Alpha that bashed Matt Loge with a cash machine".

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Jack Williams would be a fantastic signing! Would give the young bucks time to work on thier craft but also keep Niukore and Barnett out of the backrow.

We need Barnett and niukore in the middle more than ever when we lose AFB, we can't sign any middles right now so it's a great get if we can get it.

If not I'd even consider Luke Garner from penrith?

 

[Damo]

Jack Williams would be a fantastic signing! Would give the young bucks time to work on thier craft but also keep Noukore and Barnett out of the backrow.

We need Barnett and niukore in the middle more than ever when we lose AFB, we can't sign any middles right now so it's a great get if we can get it.

If not I'd even consider Luke Garner from penrith?

Jack Williams has been playing prop for the Sharks off the bench the past two seasons, more of a middle than a 2nd rower these days.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Jack Williams has been playing prop for the Sharks off the bench the past two seasons, more of a middle than a 2nd rower these days.

Then he fits the mould doesn't he.

 

[Damo]

Then he fits the mould doesn't he.

Your post made it sound like you were expecting an out and out 2nd rower.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Your post made it sound like you were expecting an out and out 2nd rower.

I am

 

[The Warrior Waka]

We must be aiming to have the shortest forward pack of all time if we're going after Jack Williams.
Jack, Jazz , Ale , Bunty , Dylan , Addin & Barnett? - we just need to sign Snow White to complete the set.