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)

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[Makasene]

He would be an awesome get! Depending on the money of course

You would swap RTS out for Mulitalo on left wing 2026 - probably the same coin.

Edit: damn still have Roger 2026

 

[Defence]

Should swap rts or cnk for mulitalo- sounds like Kennedy is on the outter at the sharks so they can have a dally m winner at fullback and slip stonestreet straight into that vacant wing spot.
Get it done tracksuit

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Should swap rts or cnk for mulitalo- sounds like Kennedy is on the outter at the sharks so they can have a dally m winner at fullback and slip stonestreet straight into that vacant wing spot.
Get it done tracksuit

Think a few would prefer we swap Kosi instead.

 

[Ferdie]

I can’t see CNK being here past 2025

With the situation with his kids, I can't see CNK being anywhere but here.

 

[Noitall]

With the situation with his kids, I can't see CNK being anywhere but here.

That might be the situation for his personal life but with Tuaupiki and RTS at fullback, or vice versa and plenty of options at centre, where do you see him playing if he’s extended past his current contract?

 

[Ferdie]

That might be the situation for his personal life but with Tuaupiki and RTS at fullback, or vice versa and plenty of options at centre, where do you see him playing if he’s extended past his current contract?

I think even if he wasn't offered a top 30 contract he wouldn't leave. He appeared to go through an emotional roller coaster that last year or 2 in Canberra.
But IMO he seemed to adapt better when being put in different positions than RTS did last season, and he's likely to become Mr fixit to cover injuries next year instead of RTS.
I'm predicting he'll be the first choice fullback, but TT will replace him at fullback as soon as one of the other backs gets injured- which if 2025 is anything like 2024, will be at least half the season.

 

[Noitall]

I think even if he wasn't offered a top 30 contract he wouldn't leave. He appeared to go through an emotional roller coaster that last year or 2 in Canberra.
But IMO he seemed to adapt better when being put in different positions than RTS did last season, and he's likely to become Mr fixit to cover injuries next year instead of RTS.
I'm predicting he'll be the first choice fullback, but TT will replace him at fullback as soon as one of the other backs gets injured- which if 2025 is anything like 2024, will be at least half the season.

If there was any truth to the Warriors looking at Mulitalo, or any other winger I can’t see where CNK fits in

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

If there was any truth to the Warriors looking at Mulitalo, or any other winger I can’t see where CNK fits in

Not sure Roger wants to finish his career as an aging NRL winger taking a million hit ups and getting burnt by young guys, easier ways to make a living, Japanese rugby would still be there for him. Could see a straight release for 2026 if Ronaldo did want to come.

 

[Ferdie]

If there was any truth to the Warriors looking at Mulitalo, or any other winger I can’t see where CNK fits in

Again, even if you're right, I could see CNK signing a NSW cup contract before he leaves his kids again.
Heck, I could see him pumping gas at a gas station before leaving his kids again.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

If there was any truth to the Warriors looking at Mulitalo, or any other winger I can’t see where CNK fits in

I think he's on around 500k right now, roughly?
Given that he'll be 30 next year, I'd be happy if we moved Pompey on and then CNK became that centre/wing/fb cover, first drop when someone gets injured. Offer him 300k, which is a bit of a drop for him but probably enough where it wouldn't be worth him uprooting his family and going back to Australia for say an extra 50-100k he might get somewhere else

 

[Noitall]

I think he's on around 500k right now, roughly?
Given that he'll be 30 next year, I'd be happy if we moved Pompey on and then CNK became that centre/wing/fb cover, first drop when someone gets injured. Offer him 300k, which is a bit of a drop for him but probably enough where it wouldn't be worth him uprooting his family and going back to Australia for say an extra 50-100k he might get somewhere else

Thing is he’s not being extended, which doesn’t mean he won’t be perhaps some time during the 2025 season but with Tuaupiki earning an extension before him I get the feeling he might be more in they’re plans? The ones that were extended before November came, seems to me to be the top priority for the club

 

[CWC]

If they get Ronaldo for ‘26, RTS will probably be released early.

Unless they release CNK, play RTS FB for his final year, blocking Taine in ‘26, but Berry gets to play with Pompey back up

Plan B sucks lol

 

[Ferdie]

Thing is he’s not being extended, which doesn’t mean he won’t be perhaps some time during the 2025 season but with Tuaupiki earning an extension before him I get the feeling he might be more in they’re plans? The ones that were extended before November came, seems to me to be the top priority for the club

It could be that the Warriors have offered him a low ball offer knowing he's not in a great negotiating position if he isn't willing to leave NZ, and he's in no hurry to sign it.

 

[Ref]

Now approaching his third season as head coach.
He has given limited game time to several young players who all excelled and we wanted to see more of them.
I don’t think RTS, CNK or Tohu are guaranteed a starting spot in Round 1.
Webby has used 2024 well for development.

 

[Inruin]

Now approaching his third season as head coach.
He has given limited game time to several young players who all excelled and we wanted to see more of them.
I don’t think RTS, CNK or Tohu are guaranteed a starting spot in Round 1.
Webby has used 2024 well for development.

I'm not convinced. If they are fit they will be in the 17 somewhere for round 1. I do hope that 2024 has encouraged AW to give some of the young guys more game time. It's a fine line I guess between a players development and forcing them too fast.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I'm not convinced. If they are fit they will be in the 17 somewhere for round 1. I do hope that 2024 has encouraged AW to give some of the young guys more game time. It's a fine line I guess between a players development and forcing them too fast.

I don't get this running down CNK - he's my favourite player in the team. I think we're better with him at Centre or utility and RTS at FB and yes they're both a bit slower than we dream of but huge effort players and they lift those around them.
I'm still unconvinced by Tuapiki at FB. He's quick, courageous and skilled, but he gets rag-dolled and against bigger players can look like a highschooler trying to tackle a steamroller. Good depth signing, but I don't see us making finals if he's 1st choice FG FB.

 

[Tragic]

CNK's super power is yardage. We have lost our best yardage forward. I think AW will keep CNK at FB in 2025 just because of that.

 

[Boston Boy]

CNK's super power is yardage. We have lost our best yardage forward. I think AW will keep CNK at FB in 2025 just because of that.

He is creative too. Hardworking, and all effort. I would think centre first and then fullback second. I don't think RTS does well enough at any other position than fullback.

 

[Inruin]

I don't think RTS does well enough at any other position than fullback.

Hard to teach an Old Dog new tricks. I don't think he is our best fullback option either though so what do you do with him?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Hard to teach an Old Dog new tricks. I don't think he is our best fullback option either though so what do you do with him?

Easy!
Charnz is on 500k currently, and Roger is on 600k or so.

We can't have both of them on that kind of money after 2025 (and there's probably an argument that never should have happened originally).

UNLESS Roger gets an offer from Super League or rugby and leaves before the 2025 or 2026 year, I would:

• Buy Mulitalo for 2026 for around $600k
• Let go Pompey, and sign CNK on around 300k as that back up outside back/centre
• Play Roger at fb for 2025/2026 with a view that who ever will take over (Tauapiki or new recruit) at fb will be introduced in 2025, getting more game time in 2026 before taking over from 2027.

For 2026 you've then got a back 3 of:
RTS/Tauapiki
DWZ
Mulitalo