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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[nzwarriorsfaithful]

And yet he coached his team to a title? Maybe the parents are being overprotective and too sensitive, perhaps that's why kiwi kids develop better in Aussie..

No he didn’t.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Terrell May to the tigers for 3 years, what a signing for them

 

[Riz]

Who's in line for the remainder of these? Will Moimoi get another opportunity after an injury affected 2024? Surely Sio Kali & Eddie Ieremia-Toeava have ones lined up. Tobias Crosby or Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea a chance?

Could Raphael Sio be a smokey to get a spot? He reminds me a bit of Ronaldo Mulitalo.

 

[juju]

And yet he coached his team to a title? Maybe the parents are being overprotective and too sensitive, perhaps that's why kiwi kids develop better in Aussie..

They came 9th out of 16 teams the year he coached.

 

[hornbybrown]

One thing is he’s gone from the club, and secondly he’s gone from the commentary no more jobs for mates.

This is big for me. No more jobs for the old boys he don’t deserve it. Happens way to much in the Warriors and Kiwis.

If a former player actually deserves a job then brilliant give them one, but every job at the Warriors and kiwis needs to be on merit and merit only

 

[shuffle]

Adam Blair was a terrible Maori All Stars coach too! That team had no direction or flair!

 

[Boston Boy]

Could Raphael Sio be a smokey to get a spot? He reminds me a bit of Ronaldo Mulitalo.

He seemed nice and quick, wouldn’t say he has the xfactor of Mulitalo yet.

 

[Riz]

He seemed nice and quick, wouldn’t say he has the xfactor of Mulitalo yet.

Similar physique and most importantly looks be instinctive.

 

[Blain]

Terrell May to the tigers for 3 years, what a signing for them

Love May as a player. But the Mays have a horrible reputation off the field, and the rumours of why he was booted from the Roosters circulating, I don't think he's exempt. All or nothing play by the Tigers, I think it's fair to say they have the talent to succeed next season, will be interesting to see how it all plays out. A lot of strong but questionable personalities in that team and a rookie coach with a wooden spoon in his back pocket. A real make or break year for them.

 

[PhilsySH35]

Love May as a player. But the Mays have a horrible reputation off the field, and the rumours of why he was booted from the Roosters circulating, I don't think he's exempt. All or nothing play by the Tigers, I think it's fair to say they have the talent to succeed next season, will be interesting to see how it all plays out. A lot of strong but questionable personalities in that team and a rookie coach with a wooden spoon in his back pocket. A real make or break year for them.

I suppose any player has value, as long as you die for the jersey (the great BUNTY), tho I wish we could make a play for Nauwhahu Whyte, he's a beast, the body of a prop but the silky passing skills of a standoff, I'll even go as far to say same skillset as shane cooper (yeah nah not as good as yet - he's still young).

 

[Makasene]

I'm not too worried about our lack of activity since Nov 1. I agree with the approach that is to first strengthen for next year - Immediate gets in Healey and Clarke are positive, Boyd too I will admit is a savvy move with virtually nothing to lose. We are not looking too far ahead.

That being said, our best business these days is done in secret. We will definitely be talking to a 2026 big fish but the reality is they are so bloody hard to land.

We did a lot of business early in extensions - that is the reality of having depth, you need to extend. Certainly I would agree that there are some players they would like to move on but can't.

Just be thankful we are not making some of these awful deals - Gutherson for 3 years on $2.5m? wtf?!!?

 

[Five&Last]

Similar physique and most importantly looks be instinctive.

hmm i wouldn't say so, he'd only be a touch over 6 ft (if that). Mulitalo is 6'3

Raph has speed though, which we struggle to find.

 

[Five&Last]

Who's in line for the remainder of these? Will Moimoi get another opportunity after an injury affected 2024? Surely Sio Kali & Eddie Ieremia-Toeava have ones lined up. Tobias Crosby or Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea a chance?

Looks like:

1. Kalani Going (confirmed)
2. Tanner Stowers Smith (confirmed)
3. Luke Hanson (reported)
4. Eddie Ieremia (nothing reported but almost a sure thing given his NSW cup appearances last year)
5. Sio Kali (nothing reported but too talented to not include, made of glass but if we don't offer him it someone else might?? Plus we need to start our wing succession planning)

The last spot hopefully they leave open and let pre-season decide. My guess it goes to one of the hookers Tafua or Auloa.

There's a lot of guys at pre-season who could compete for it though, Moimoi, Durbin, Tuipulotu-Vea all look good.

 

[hornbybrown]

Looks like:

1. Kalani Going (confirmed)
2. Tanner Stowers Smith (confirmed)
3. Luke Hanson (reported)
4. Eddie Ieremia (nothing reported but almost a sure thing given his NSW cup appearances last year)
5. Sio Kali (nothing reported but too talented to not include, made of glass but if we don't offer him it someone else might?? Plus we need to start our wing succession planning)

The last spot hopefully they leave open and let pre-season decide. My guess it goes to one of the hookers Tafua or Auloa.

There's a lot of guys at pre-season who could compete for it though, Moimoi, Durbin, Tuipulotu-Vea all look good.

I really really want us to hold onto Toby Crosby. He looks impressive

 

[Boston Boy]

I really really want us to hold onto Toby Crosby. He looks impressive

Yes, don't lose this one.
I wouldn't be surprised if RU had a sniff at him as well as a few league clubs.
He is full of untapped potential.

 

[CWC]

Crosby looks a future lock, apparently came from union just for the warriors, hopefully they don't mess this one up

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Love May as a player. But the Mays have a horrible reputation off the field, and the rumours of why he was booted from the Roosters circulating, I don't think he's exempt. All or nothing play by the Tigers, I think it's fair to say they have the talent to succeed next season, will be interesting to see how it all plays out. A lot of strong but questionable personalities in that team and a rookie coach with a wooden spoon in his back pocket. A real make or break year for them.

Im assuming that Benji thinks if he can get Luai and May to get the boys to buy in, he can lift them off the bottom of the table.

 

[Boston Boy]

Im assuming that Benji thinks if he can get Luai and May to get the boys to buy in, he can lift them off the bottom of the table.

I don’t think they will get the spoon. They got good go forward now. The boys are abit more experienced. Would have been nice to keep Papalii but I see them coming somewhere 8-14. Great work by Benji, this is finally his team. If they don’t drastically improve and get to say 11-12 he’s gotta go.

 

[Wrighty]

Terrell May to the tigers for 3 years, what a signing for them

I

I don’t think they will get the spoon. They got good go forward now. The boys are abit more experienced. Would have been nice to keep Papalii but I see them coming somewhere 8-14. Great work by Benji, this is finally his team. If they don’t drastically improve and get to say 11-12 he’s gotta go.

You could have a reasonable team next year and get the spoon

 

[MrFrankWhite]

If they don’t drastically improve and get to say 11-12 he’s gotta go.

Are you crazy? Rookie coach with the permanent cellar dweller team? 16th will be seen as a pass. 14th a success. 12th would be a wet dream for the Tigers.