Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

-	Player	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
1	Bunty Afoa	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔
4	Rocco Berry	✔	✔
5	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Tohu Harris	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
20	Te Maire Martin	✔
21	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	C
29	Dylan Walker	✔
30	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kalani Going	S
S2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
T1	Jett Cleary	T	S	S

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)

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders could have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button.

 

[John Nick]

I just don't get the 'routine' speculation on this forum that Metcalf will be our 7 next year. For me he has shown nothing skills wise to justify that honour. He was only selected at 6 by the powers that be in 23/24. (for me he was only adequate but nothing more in this position)

TMM performed admirably at 7 when asked to do so. His primary shortcoming (lack of long kicking game) is matched by LM. His short kicking game is superior. His try assists far exceed LM's. And I don't see him riding off into the sun when (if) he makes a name for himself given the relative security of regular selection.

Hopefully TMM wants to stay and is offered a decent deal to enable that to happen. His heart seems to be firmly in NZ.

Has he been offered a contract yet

 

[Wah's Up]

I just don't get the 'routine' speculation on this forum that Metcalf will be our 7 next year. For me he has shown nothing skills wise to justify that honour. He was only selected at 6 by the powers that be in 23/24. (for me he was only adequate but nothing more in this position)

TMM performed admirably at 7 when asked to do so. His primary shortcoming (lack of long kicking game) is matched by LM. His short kicking game is superior. His try assists far exceed LM's. And I don't see him riding off into the sun when (if) he makes a name for himself given the relative security of regular selection.

Hopefully TMM wants to stay and is offered a decent deal to enable that to happen. His heart seems to be firmly in NZ.

Our biggest downfall this year (apart from missed goal kicks) has been a lack of genuine pace. When LM is playing he splits the defensive line but rarely has someone alongside to offload. When Egan makes a break LM is always there. Unfortunately Egan had a few bad injuries this year. LM being right handed is also better suited as a half as his natural pass is to the right. I personally would like to see Tuapiki at six as he has that explosive burst like LM.

 

[CWC]

Our biggest downfall this year (apart from missed goal kicks) has been a lack of genuine pace. When LM is playing he splits the defensive line but rarely has someone alongside to offload. When Egan makes a break LM is always there. Unfortunately Egan had a few bad injuries this year. LM being right handed is also better suited as a half as his natural pass is to the right. I personally would like to see Jane Tuapiki at six as he has that explosive burst like LM.

Jane is gonna blow open the defensive line

 

[Mr Drag]

Our biggest downfall this year (apart from missed goal kicks) has been a lack of genuine pace. When LM is playing he splits the defensive line but rarely has someone alongside to offload. When Egan makes a break LM is always there. Unfortunately Egan had a few bad injuries this year. LM being right handed is also better suited as a half as his natural pass is to the right. I personally would like to see Jane Tuapiki at six as he has that explosive burst like LM.

Been saying It for years, WE NEED SPEED!!!

 

[John Nick]

Been saying It for years, WE NEED SPEED!!!

Been saying the exact same thing about how desperately need speed.
Not many agree but hey..

 

[BigUCE]

Been saying It for years, WE NEED SPEED!!!

Go ask Bronson Xerri. He knows where to find some

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Been saying It for years, WE NEED SPEED!!!

There are options. But this Forum doesn't want speed on coke. Speed that can't tackle in union, Hows he going to tackle in league. Or speed that comes first on the sand dune challenge during pre season. They want Marcello Montoya back

 

[UpTheWahs]

Jane is gonna blow open the defensive line

Jane is guilty of getting ragdolled sometimes.

 

[~Navigator~]

Been saying It for years, WE NEED SPEED!!!

Maybe we need to talk to Ezra or Reece I'm shore they would know where to gain some

 

[JaggedJ]

I just don't get the 'routine' speculation on this forum that Metcalf will be our 7 next year. For me he has shown nothing skills wise to justify that honour. He was only selected at 6 by the powers that be in 23/24. (for me he was only adequate but nothing more in this position)

TMM performed admirably at 7 when asked to do so. His primary shortcoming (lack of long kicking game) is matched by LM. His short kicking game is superior. His try assists far exceed LM's. And I don't see him riding off into the sun when (if) he makes a name for himself given the relative security of regular selection.

Hopefully TMM wants to stay and is offered a decent deal to enable that to happen. His heart seems to be firmly in NZ.

Metcalf has a significantly better long kicking game than TMM.

He just can't kick it more than 6-7 times a game without doing a hammy.

 

[CWC]

Luke has been kicking well can’t recall shockers or passing the ball to the touch judge after making a line break

He is probably 2-3 years away from trying to be a leader as a 7 though, if our team has high aspirations instead of avoiding the wooden spoon

 

[Noitall]

Gaz
Gaz
NRL Captain Contributor
Yesterday at 11:13 AM
#2,244
Rumour Shaun Johnson to Brisbane on 12 mth deal

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Leo Thompson has saif he'd really like to play with his brother at some point.
I feel if we have any chance of signing him well need to pick up his brother too.
Leta keep it in the fam, fam

 

[roguei]

Leo Thompson has saif he'd really like to play with his brother at some point.
I feel if we have any chance of signing him well need to pick up his brother too.
Leta keep it in the fam, fam

I cannot for the life of me find any details on his brother actually signing for the knights. No news pieces from the knights nor anything on the signings tracker. All i have is leo saying "My brother is starting preseason this week. He will be part of my thinking but also, he's his own man, I'm my own man.".
So he obviously is, but i'd love to know any details about the contract if there is one.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I cannot for the life of me find any details on his brother actually signing for the knights. No news pieces from the knights nor anything on the signings tracker. All i have is leo saying "My brother is starting preseason this week. He will be part of my thinking but also, he's his own man, I'm my own man.".
So he obviously is, but i'd love to know any details about the contract if there is one.

Me too bro! You quoted the only thing I've seen about him haha.

Good enough for me!

 

[Inruin]

Kiwis hardman Thompson eyes reunion with brother, weighs NRL options

Both Thompson twins are currently contracted with Newcastle Knights — but for how long?

www.1news.co.nz

 

[roguei]

Kiwis hardman Thompson eyes reunion with brother, weighs NRL options

Both Thompson twins are currently contracted with Newcastle Knights — but for how long?

www.1news.co.nz

Same article that just contains the quote. We'll be pretty shit outta luck if he is signed for > 2 years imo. But if its just a devlopment thing then im sure we can grab em. Makes me wounder tho, if they have not announced anything offically, is it his contract tied directly to his brother's? Is it a normal stipulation to tie one contract to another.

 

[Noitall]

Same article that just contains the quote. We'll be pretty shit outta luck if he is signed for > 2 years imo. But if its just a devlopment thing then im sure we can grab em. Makes me wounder tho, if they have not announced anything offically, is it his contract tied directly to his brother's? Is it a normal stipulation to tie one contract to another.

Only place I was able to find out on the development deal for Tyrone was ever the knights forum, it looks as though he is though. I’ve mentioned on here a few times whether knights would see it worthwhile to persevere with Tyrone on a development deal for one year if his future was to shift on the following season with his brother, and whether they could cut their losses? Bulldogs and raiders sound like they’re openly interested, I’m picking more are but won’t register interest until November? Bulldogs linked to everyone, was Ben Hunt but now Papenhuyzen on their radar so could cost too much for Thompson? Raiders is interesting as he came from there to knights, and citing not having a leader at knights like under JFH in Kiwis camp, Tapine could be that for him at raiders? He could end up attracting better offers than what Warriors are willing to spend?

 

[Inruin]

Same article that just contains the quote. We'll be pretty shit outta luck if he is signed for > 2 years imo. But if its just a devlopment thing then im sure we can grab em. Makes me wounder tho, if they have not announced anything offically, is it his contract tied directly to his brother's? Is it a normal stipulation to tie one contract to another.

Yes, confirms that he has signed for the Knights though.

"The decision over his next destination may come down to twin brother Tyrone Thompson, who has joined the Knights."

And this article is behind a paywall says he has signed for 1 year on development contract

Twin peaks: Tyrone Thompson set to join Leo at Newcastle Knights

'We're excited about his potential.'

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Newcastle Knights Juniors on Instagram: "Tyrone Thompson: Identical twin brother of incumbent Knights front rower Leo Thompson. Has signed with the mighty Knights for 2025 on a supplementary list contract (fka as development contracts). Comes over

28 likes, 1 comments - newcastle_knights_juniors on August 20, 2024: "Tyrone Thompson: Identical twin brother of incumbent Knights front rower Leo Thompson. Has signed with the mighty Knights for 2025 on a supplementary list contract (fka as development contracts). Comes over from union with...

www.instagram.com

 

[Noitall]

'Safety clause' lingers as Eels fight to 'win over' Brown

The Mole's mid-week scoops

www.nine.com.au

Still some conjecture on the future of Dylan Brown. Has until round 10 next season to decide his future, though he’s out for the start of the season with injury. Eels have picked up Dean Hawkins from the rabbits and are favourites at this point to pick up Volkman