Recruitment 2019 Warriors Recruitment NEWS & RUMOUR

[Stalefish540]

VODAFONE WARRIORS SECURE PAPALI’I UNTIL 2020

Vodafone Warriors 2018 NRL Rookie of the Year Isaiah Papalii has capped a memorable week in his career by re-signing with the club until the end of the 2020 NRL season.

On Monday the promising second rower, just turned 20, was named in the Kiwis’ squad for the coming four-Test campaign against Australia and England as well as being selected for the Junior Kiwis for their clash against the Junior Kangaroos in the Trans-Tasman Triple Header at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday, October 13.

Today he signed a deal which will take him through to a fourth NRL campaign with the Vodafone Warriors after impressing throughout his first full first-grade season.

He joins other young Vodafone Warriors products David Fusitua, Ken Maumalo, Jazz Tevaga and Bunty Afoa who have all recently re-signed.

“Isaiah is a great young prospect who has quickly established himself at NRL level,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney.

“He’s a wonderful example to players aiming to make it into the NRL coming through our system. He really impresses with his attitude and resilience.”

Papali’i finished his first full NRL season with 20 appearances taking his career tally to 25 after making his debut last year.

Used mainly as a starting second rower on the left edge, Papali’i averaged an impressive 64 minutes a game this year plus 78 metres and 29 tackles along with five try assists.

He made his international debut for Toa Samoa in this year’s Pacific Test against Mate Ma’a Tonga.

He'set to join the Kiwis in camp in Auckland this weekend.

I really hope our bench next year consists of a hooker, 2 props and Papali'i. I feel like he has a higher ceiling than Tevaga, and hopefully will end up our fulltime lock once Blair is shuffled along.

 

[razzrillinger]

Do you think the club also offered him 2 and 3 year options and he's taken 1 instead to back himself and potentially get a bigger deal next time round?

Or would the club only offer him a short extension because he's still young/inexperienced and there's still a level of uncertainty there?

 

[fizurg]

Do you think the club also offered him 2 and 3 year options and he's taken 1 instead to back himself and potentially get a bigger deal next time round?

Or would the club only offer him a short extension because he's still young/inexperienced and there's still a level of uncertainty there?

He’s signed a two year contract.

 

[razzrillinger]

He’s signed a two year contract.

He was already signed for 2019

 

[Fonzie]

Do you think the club also offered him 2 and 3 year options and he's taken 1 instead to back himself and potentially get a bigger deal next time round?

Or would the club only offer him a short extension because he's still young/inexperienced and there's still a level of uncertainty there?

This takes him to end of 2020. End of 2020 is when Blair (and Pulu) rolls off so this makes sense on both sides I think. He has either stepped up and takes Blair's money or he hasn't and we find someone else.

 

[warriorsfan92]

He was already signed for 2019

So a one year extension? Seems strange, I’d want this kid locked in for as long as possible. He’ll be a future captain.

 

[Dunedin warrior]

I think the short extension is from
Papillii’s end. Fusitua, Maumalo and Afoa have all been signed on long term contracts, so I think we would have signed him on a long term contract if we could have.

Still great news on the extension, kid is a great talent and will only get better with age.

 

[Salatape]

Far out we have been onto it with signings so far. Nothing being dragged out

 

[playdaball]

Patrick Herbert (SGI) to the Warriors, 2019?

 

[snake77]

Brian Smith was on Radio Sport discussing the Luke re-signing, Isaiah Papalii being extended. Also a brief talk on the clubs cap situation.

https://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2018.10.03-16.15.00-D.mp3

 

[razzrillinger]

Brian Smith was on Radio Sport discussing the Luke re-signing, Isaiah Papalii being extended. Also a brief talk on the clubs cap situation.

https://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2018.10.03-16.15.00-D.mp3

Some really straight up answers from Brian Smith.

Pretty adamant that the club will only be extending Issac Luke by one year increments and only if he warrants it. "Could get lucky with another 2 or 3 year deal somewhere else but it won't be here"

Confident that Roache and Lawton have bright futures at the club.

Isaiah Papali'i could well get extended again next year on a longer term deal (mentioned 3 or 4 years).

 

[warriors4eva]

i think 2 years for Papallii is spot on

still a bench player next year so see how he goes in his 2nd full year

 

[Sammyw11]

Some really straight up answers from Brian Smith.

Pretty adamant that the club will only be extending Issac Luke by one year increments and only if he warrants it. "Could get lucky with another 2 or 3 year deal somewhere else but it won't be here"

Confident that Roache and Lawton have bright futures at the club.

Isaiah Papali'i could well get extended again next year on a longer term deal (mentioned 3 or 4 years).

thats interesting, Lukes tweet after re-signing indicated he is hoping to "get another couple years out with them".. he must be fine with the 1 year increments or is still holding out hope of securing another 2 year deal at the end of next season

 

[razzrillinger]

thats interesting, Lukes tweet after re-signing indicated he is hoping to "get another couple years out with them".. he must be fine with the 1 year increments or is still holding out hope of securing another 2 year deal at the end of next season

Smart from the club's perspective, hopefully it gets the best out of him and he's driven to prove the club wrong.

 

[mt.wellington]

Not quite a record but didn't take long to turn this into a Shaun Johnson V2.0 thread . For continued discussion on him please use his thread. He is signed long-term and should never be mentioned in this particular thread. First OT poster has been banned from this thread short term.

https://www.nzwarriors.com/threads/shaun-johnson.40212/

If you see a player having a holiday in NZ and think it might be a good idea to sign him please use the following thread.

https://www.nzwarriors.com/threads/2019-warriors-recruitment-discussion.61321/

THIS THREAD IS FOR NEWS AND RUMOURS. Official club releases, news, rumours, leaks and inside word. The good shit. Anything else either goes in player discussion threads or the one above.

As an example:

ISAIAH PAPALI'I RE-SIGNED

Great signing

Length of contract is blah blah blah

I think he is better suited to lock than second row

My team for 2020 is...

BTW, if you were actually dumb enough to mark the wrong box in the poll above you have all been banned as requested ...

 

[mt.wellington]

So a one year extension? Seems strange, I’d want this kid locked in for as long as possible. He’ll be a future captain.

Most likely the club just enforced a club option on his contract so sort of re-signed but not really. Makes for good PR though...

 

[1995Warriorsfan]

From the Mole:

Up-and-coming Roosters heads across the ditch

The Roosters have lost promising centre Brendan Frei to the Warriors next year.

Frei has sport in his blood - his dad Harry played Sheffield Shield cricket for Queensland while brother Mitchell also played for the Roosters.

Unable to break into the Roosters’ crack backline, he has made the shift to the Warriors, who are far less formidable out wide.

The 22-year-old played for Roosters feeder club Wyong in the NSW Cup this year, and to be fair he didn’t set the world on fire, scoring just two tries in 19 games.

But he’s big and fast and a move to the Warriors’ fulltime squad could see him come of age in 2019.

 

[flying coconut]

From the Mole:

Up-and-coming Roosters heads across the ditch

The Roosters have lost promising centre Brendan Frei to the Warriors next year.

Frei has sport in his blood - his dad Harry played Sheffield Shield cricket for Queensland while brother Mitchell also played for the Roosters.

Unable to break into the Roosters’ crack backline, he has made the shift to the Warriors, who are far less formidable out wide.

The 22-year-old played for Roosters feeder club Wyong in the NSW Cup this year, and to be fair he didn’t set the world on fire, scoring just two tries in 19 games.

But he’s big and fast and a move to the Warriors’ fulltime squad could see him come of age in 2019.

Another Aussie import Kearney will never give a look in. Yay

 

[Gizzyfan]

Isnt it nice to be looking forward to another season with a squad that is building rather than re building.

 

[#robbiemears]

Just got confirmation that the Warriors are talking with a 'couple of smokeys' for 2019 but no one with any profile.