Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa✔
2Tom Ale✔
3Mitchell Barnett✔✔✔
4Rocco Berry✔✔
5Tanah Boyd✔✔
6Kurt Capewell✔✔
7Erin Clark✔✔✔
8Wayde Egan✔✔✔
9James Fisher-Harris✔✔✔✔
10Jackson Ford✔✔✔
11Leka Halasima✔✔✔
12Tohu Harris✔
13Chanel Harris-Tavita✔✔
14Sam Healey✔✔✔
15Edward Kosi✔
16Jacob Laban✔✔
17Ali Leiataua✔✔✔
18Freddy Lussick✔✔
19Zyon Maiu’u✔✔
20Te Maire Martin✔
21Luke Metcalf✔✔
22Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad✔
23Marata Niukore✔✔
24Motu Pasikala✔✔✔
25Adam Pompey✔
26Taine Tuaupiki✔✔
27Roger Tuivasa-Sheck✔✔
28Demitric Vaimauga✔C
29Dylan Walker✔
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak✔✔✔
S1Kalani GoingS
S2Tanner Stowers-SmithS
T1Jett ClearyTSS
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract (Formerly, Development), T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Unconfirmed Supplementary 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 21/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (S), Tanner Stowers-Smith (S), Demitric Vaimauga (C)


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Tookey 2.0 said:
Do you reckon he plateued, or was a victim of the whole team doing quite poorly at the time?

My only issue with Berry this year was that he had a few poor misses in defence, and I think a few times he didn't wrap the arms up and the opposing player got an offload away and they scored.

To me, it feels like each year he looks like he's going to have a break out year and then he never does haha. Still early days and he's tracking in the right trajectory, but he just never seems to reach that potential that so many see in him.

Nek year maybe?
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I thought he had a few really good games this year and is still relatively new to league (a bit like Wrighty Wrighty). I think Ali Leataua has to be one centre. RTS will be forced in the team and it may as well be on the wing for Montoya. DWZ has the other wing. So that just leaves full back and a centre spot to be picked out of TT, CNK, Pompey and Berry. I want TT at fullback at present so it comes down to centre out of the other 3. I think it's pretty similar out of them. All have slightly different strengths and weaknesses. I'd lean towards CNK.
 
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Warriorsfan92 said:
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Suliasi Vunivalu has been linked with a switch back to rugby league, after the Queensland Reds flyer was left out of Joe Schmidt’s Autumn Nations Series squad.

The big-money signing will also be absent as his Reds teammates travel to Japan for a doubleheader against Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.

If the former Melbourne Storm star is to return to the 13-player code, where could he land?

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New Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has again brought out the broom with Mika Sivo heading to the Super League, so there could be a fit with the Eels. The addition of Vunivalu could help kickstart Ryles’ rebuild at CommBank Stadium, with Zac Lomax joining the club in 2025 and potentially more tinkering with the backline to be done as Clint Gutherson faces an uncertain future.

Set to re-sign star halfback Sam Walker, Trent Robinson may view Vunivalu as a good option to further bolster his backline for 2025 and beyond after the departures of Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukoso Suaalii to rugby union. Daniel Tupou and code hopper Mark Nawaqanitawase are options for the wing spots but the latter may be set to play in the centres to cover Suaalii.

Craig Bellamy would no doubt savour a reunion at the Storm but would surely need to facilitate a salary cap reshuffle to fit in the former Melbourne star. Bellamy’s backline is already one of the best in the NRL but if Will Warbrick made a move to the centres and Jack Howarth switched to the forwards, there would be a spot for Vunivalu on the wing.

Kristian Woolf could be keen to make a splash in the market as he prepares for his first season in charge of the Dolphins and of all the potential landing spots, the expansion side have salary space available without needing to tinker with the squad too much.



Suliasi Vunivalu (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
St George Illawarra would be an intriguing landing spot as Shane Flanagan has intimated he will open the chequebook for the right player, with Bulldogs speedster Josh Addo-Carr another potential target for the Red V.

Canberra are another possibility as Ricky Stuart searches for a Jordan Rapana replacement, as are the Canterbury Bulldogs who will open up a fair chunk of their salary cap if Addo-Carr does depart the club after the off-field incident that overshadowed their finals week one defeat to Manly.

Lacking try-scoring ability, the Knights would surely be interested in the 28-year-old’s talents as another outlet for points to help Kalyn Ponga, who does much of the heavy lifting for Adam O’Brien’s attack.

Other sides looking for strike out wide include New Zealand and North Queensland, who have seen Marcelo Montoya and Valentine Holmes respectively head for the exit door.
 
Inruin said:
I thought he had a few really good games this year and is still relatively new to league (a bit like Wrighty Wrighty). I think Ali Leataua has to be one centre. RTS will be forced in the team and it may as well be on the wing for Montoya. DWZ has the other wing. So that just leaves full back and a centre spot to be picked out of TT, CNK, Pompey and Berry. I want TT at fullback at present so it comes down to centre out of the other 3. I think it's pretty similar out of them. All have lightly different strengths and weaknesses. I'd lean towards CNK.
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Would like to see the best Berry at centre.
More upside but needs a great off season and hit the ground running from round 1.
CNK is not a proven centre and is running out of time.
Similarly RTS is not a winger.
Both have been very good in the past but only at FB.
 
Inruin said:
I thought he had a few really good games this year and is still relatively new to league (a bit like Wrighty Wrighty). I think Ali Leataua has to be one centre. RTS will be forced in the team and it may as well be on the wing for Montoya. DWZ has the other wing. So that just leaves full back and a centre spot to be picked out of TT, CNK, Pompey and Berry. I want TT at fullback at present so it comes down to centre out of the other 3. I think it's pretty similar out of them. All have lightly different strengths and weaknesses. I'd lean towards CNK.
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Thats exactly how my logic plays out too.
 
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John Nick said:
Would like to see the best Berry at centre.
More upside but needs a great off season and hit the ground running from round 1.
CNK is not a proven centre and is running out of time.
Similarly RTS is not a winger.
Both have been very good in the past but only at FB.
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RTS is not a winger
Has proved he is not a centre (so therefore not a 2nd rower)
Is not todays Fullback
SO HE IS NOT NEEDED. Get rid of him and use the money for a real winger
 
peewee said:
RTS is not a winger
Has proved he is not a centre (so therefore not a 2nd rower)
Is not todays Fullback
SO HE IS NOT NEEDED. Get rid of him and use the money for a real winger
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Pretty much my thoughts.
When he came back from Kick and Clap he was pretty much promised the fullback possie. Bad mistake imo.
Every player no matter their history should be made to earn a fg spot.
Not picking on him but NRL isn't a given for anyone
 
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It looked like a tactic to attack Berry on his outside to draw out his grasscutter tackle, which would produce a quicker PTB….
As mentioned above, he needs to strengthen his 1st up contract as safe tackles aren’t rewarded period…..
NRL should be balancing out the tackling by promoting a handicap (4-5sec hold down of 1 on 1 safe tackles) as our club see’s zero benefit from blatant high shots which are constantly ignored…..
 
John Nick said:
Pretty much my thoughts.
When he came back from Kick and Clap he was pretty much promised the fullback possie. Bad mistake imo.
Every player no matter their history should be made to earn a fg spot.
Not picking on him but NRL isn't a given for anyone
Click to expand...
I'm a bit puzzled by your comment that RTS was guaranteed the fullback spot - seemed the opposite to me, Webby guaranteed the spot to CNK instead and did everything possible to downplay talk of moving RTS there. He only reluctantly played him there when CNK and TT weren't available. Perhaps you meant to say RTS was guaranteed the centre spot?

In any case, it does seem a bit of a headache regarding what to do with him. His footwork and tackle breaking ability are still elite and it would be a shame not to be able to use that, but in every position it also seems like there is a good argument against playing him there. I think I am down with using him on the wing next year if only because there is no one I would rather play there that he would be blocking.
 
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JustVisiting82 said:
I'm a bit puzzled by your comment that RTS was guaranteed the fullback spot - seemed the opposite to me, Webby guaranteed the spot to CNK instead and did everything possible to downplay talk of moving RTS there. He only reluctantly played him there when CNK and TT weren't available. Perhaps you meant to say RTS was guaranteed the centre spot?

In any case, it does seem a bit of a headache regarding what to do with him. His footwork and tackle breaking ability are still elite and it would be a shame not to be able to use that, but in every position it also seems like there is a good argument against playing him there. I think I am down with using him on the wing next year if only because there is no one I would rather play there that he would be blocking.
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My mistake and I meant centre.
Every player should be made to earn their position.
We had AW saying previously that CNK is our fullback .
 
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It is interesting to look at the promising rookies of 2012 (RTS's year). So many are long gone or at the very twilight of their careers.

Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Josh Jackson, Daniel Tupou, James Tedesco, Aiden Sezer, Marika Koroibete, Jack Wighton, Dale Finucane, Josh Mansour, Jorge Taufua, Konrad Hurrell, Edridck Lee, Curtis Sironen, Adam Docker, Ben Henry, Lachlan Maranta, Tautau Moga, Matt McIwrick, Shannon Boyd, Jordan McLean, Omar Slaimankhel.

No real point to this, just thought it was interesting lens to put on RTS' career.

Of those left, they have really honed in their game smarts and solid basic organisational skills.
 
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John Nick said:
Was a sensational fb before swapping to Union no doubt. Played some great games for us also
Never been able to find the same form since returning back to league
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RTS returned with a different body shape. Still consistently beats the first man, can save more tries than he scores, and puts as much heart into it as Jazz. A full off season and a bit leaner... we'd all love to see him at his best. Even then, I thought we looked our best this season with RTS at FB. But that may have been because CNK seemed to be carrying a few niggles this year - love his effort, my favourite player but we didn't see the 2023 model this year right?

I'm glad it's not on me to pick who plays where, because they are both FBs, and not awesome anywhere else. RTS to wing is probably the only way we accommodate both, but seems a bit of a waste tbh, and we don't get the sharp pace we want & he is getting a bit twitchy under the bomb.

Don't mind TT but i fear he's just too little for regular FG and I don't see a level of attack that offsets an unavoidable inability to stop big blokes. A really good backup, not FG imo.
 
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