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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[kos]

I reckon that’s partly because the titans and Hasler are trying to figure out where they can play 3 fullbacks in their backs with Kini, Campbell and Brimson

Yeah well at the Warriors it’s all about moving players out and around to accomodate RTS who has been bog average.

 

[peewee]

Yeah well at the Warriors it’s all about moving players out and around to accomodate RTS who has been bog average.

Best thing for the Warriors would be for RTS to go and play rugby in Japan.
Solve all the problems

 

[hornbybrown]

Best thing for the Warriors would be for RTS to go and play rugby in Japan.
Solve all the problems

Who are you putting on the left wing if that happens

 

[Noitall]

Yeah well at the Warriors it’s all about moving players out and around to accomodate RTS who has been bog average.

Yeah not his best season but I reckon he’s earned the benefit of the doubt to give him next season in a settled position without shifting him around from centre, wing and fullback. Centre is out for me though, has to be wing or fullback going forward with RTS

 

[CWC]

Taine was the MVP against the panthers, got knocked out early vs Raiders, then he was great again vs Sharks, and has the composure at clutch in general play + goalkicking. That’s with sporadic game times.

Like others said the line breaks issue could be a mental thing, he tend to hesitate then the moment is gone, but wasn’t he breaking the panthers left and right? Even if he never breaks the line going forward, he is elusive enough to draw and pass with enough game time and combo building.

Give him the No.1 jersey and have 2 seasoned back ups we’ll be well served in that position

 

[CWC]

Who are you putting on the left wing if that happens

Kosi

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Kosi

Who is better? Kosi or Rts? We may laugh, But Kosi may be the better winger right now Lol.

 

[CWC]

IDK, can Kosi not drop the ball at hit ups 1-2x per game, turn around fast, and step 5 defenders per game in space?

 

[Zaggo]

Who is better? Kosi or Rts? We may laugh, But Kosi may be the better winger right now Lol.

I reckon I'd be a better winger than Kosi right now, and I'm fat and old.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

IDK, can Kosi not drop the ball at hit ups 1-2x per game, turn around fast, and step 5 defenders per game in space?

I mean, You've just explained Rts as well. Steps 5 defenders while going backwards.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I reckon I'd be a better winger than Kosi right now, and I'm fat and old.

Hmmm......I'm not a Kosi fan. But you'd probably be a better winger than Rts too.

If you were a playstation game character

 

[Teets]

Taine did have that 40-50m linebreak from our own 10 metre line that got called back for a penalty against the Sharks.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Who are you putting on the left wing if that happens

Can I ask whether Webster has stated that RTS is on the left wing? I just would not be surprised if Webster keeps him at Centre.

 

[Teets]

Can we turn Fukofuka into a Havili hybrid 9/13

 

[peewee]

Who are you putting on the left wing if that happens

A real winger

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I really can’t see cnk playing 13.
We have some great young forwards coming through.

Yeah not going to happen.

However Dylan Walker did transition from a wing, centre, fullback into a pretty effective 13 so it can be done......probably the exception not the rule tho.

Just on Tauapiki, i felt he definitely warrented a few more games this season, particulary given how stagnant our attack looked and the form he showed in the games he did play.

 

[WA Warrior]

Yeah not going to happen.

However Dylan Walker did transition from a wing, centre, fullback into a pretty effective 13 so it can be done......probably the exception not the rule tho.

Just on Tauapiki, i felt he definitely warrented a few more games this season, particulary given how stagnant our attack looked and the form he showed in the games he did play.

Yeah agreed.
Walker had a bit of X factor that Charnze lacks imo.
In his younger days Walker was a strike weapon with strength and speed which to a certain degree he still has.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Yeah agreed.
Walker had a bit of X factor that Charnze lacks imo.
In his younger days Walker was a strike weapon with strength and speed which to a certain degree he still has.

Also adding to this I do not really see Walker as a starting Lock. He does the job but he really is an impact bench player and one of the better ones.

 

[WA Warrior]

Also adding to this I do not really see Walker as a starting Lock. He does the job but he really is an impact bench player and one of the better ones.

Totally agree, he’s a hybrid and a new impact type player made up over the last few years.

 

[CWC]

So we agree CHT is not a lock right? I am seeing advocates for CHT as a project at lock but nah for Charnz