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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[Matiunz]

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.

Believe he was in the Hurricanes system. Have heard a couple of stories as to why he moved on- nothing bad just needed to grow up a bit from what I was told.
Like what I’ve seen of him though

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

View attachment 10101

Thought it was Webby at first glance

I'm quietly confident he will become a fan fave. The guy will make the most of this opportunity, he doesn't strike me as an overconfident type of person.

 

[BigUCE]

I'm quietly confident he will become a fan fave. The guy will make the most of this opportunity, he doesn't strike me as an overconfident type of person.

Fein 2.0 hopefully

 

[Canonball]

I'm quietly confident he will become a fan fave. The guy will make the most of this opportunity, he doesn't strike me as an overconfident type of person.

The potential is there if he gets a start - was a very well regarded junior, if he gets the support and the right structure around him he could be very good - don't think he'll be a star, but hey, we just need someone to unlock an edge in attack and we'll be away laughing

 

[Wrighty]

The potential is there if he gets a start - was a very well regarded junior, if he gets the support and the right structure around him he could be very good - don't think he'll be a star, but hey, we just need someone to unlock an edge in attack and we'll be away laughing

He can tackle just as well as TMM or CHT
He can positionally kick
He can goal kick
He can drop kick in golden point

 

[Inruin]

we just need someone to unlock an edge in attack and we'll be away laughing

Its not going to be TB based on his stats in his career to date. If he is 7 then expect limited attacking output from him.

 

[cock_o]

Tanah Boyd would be a great 14.
Can spell the hooker for 15-20 but also give you cover if you did lose one of the halfs during the game..
Offers more in that sense than Fred Lussick.

 

[John Nick]

The potential is there if he gets a start - was a very well regarded junior, if he gets the support and the right structure around him he could be very good - don't think he'll be a star, but hey, we just need someone to unlock an edge in attack and we'll be away laughing

Hopefully we get to see the best of TB
Shows potential that could flourish in a different environment with a new coach and strategies regardless of his previous career

 

[Boston Boy]

It’s not going to be TB based on his stats in his career to date. If he is 7 then expect limited attacking output from him.

Makes you wonder if Ilias from Souths would have been better?
You can have an ordinary ball playing half who does the basics if you have speed and strike outside him. We don’t have speed apart from Metcalf and really only strike is Ali Leiataua. Going to be an interesting year, hopefully S.J. can teach him some tricks.

 

[Canonball]

Its not going to be TB based on his stats in his career to date. If he is 7 then expect limited attacking output from him.

Yeah, reckon it'll be LM and TMM to start with - who I think are our best options at this point - just saying that he does have some potential which probably hasn't been seen yet (he'll be our most experienced half, I think, too... 50 games in that position?)

 

[Fizurg]

Makes you wonder if Ilias from Souths would have been better?
You can have an ordinary ball playing half who does the basics if you have speed and strike outside him. We don’t have speed apart from Metcalf and really only strike is Ali Leiataua. Going to be an interesting year, hopefully S.J. can teach him some tricks.

I’d be amazed if they hadn’t at least approached him.

 

[Noitall]

I’d be amazed if they hadn’t at least approached him.

Apparently Ilias has just done a medical at dragons. Hopefully no chocolate in or around his shoulder. Might still be a bit dark on Lussick too for breaking his leg

 

[Noitall]

Article out today that titans are in danger of losing Josiah Pahulu. Was a name mentioned on here but surprisingly titans are danger of losing him to bulldogs

 

[Noitall]

Papenhuyzen signing a one year extension to stay at storm for 2026. Bulldogs were offering a million a season and he stays for $750k apparently for 2026. Was a clause in Fa’alogo contract that he could look elsewhere if Papenhuyzen extended. Would be amazing if there was something to that Hughes rumour and they were letting him go on compassionate grounds

 

[Teets]

. Would be amazing if there was something to that Hughes rumour and they were letting him go on compassionate grounds

Isn't the GC home for him?

 

[Noitall]

Isn't the GC home for him?

Not sure? On his instagram page he came over to Wellington in 2022 to catch up with his old man. Not sure if he’s still in Wellington? Unlikely storm would let him go but keeping Papenhuyzen, Pezet , Fa’alogo and Wishart will take some juggling. They getting Moses Leo a year early next year but not sure he’d be on huge money?

 

[Inruin]

Article out today that titans are in danger of losing Josiah Pahulu. Was a name mentioned on here but surprisingly titans are danger of losing him to bulldogs

Now I would rather have him than Riki. I just don't get the hype around him. Good player but nothing spectacular IMO

 

[kos]

Now I would rather have him than Riki. I just don't get the hype around him. Good player but nothing spectacular IMO

Obviously Gus has noticed how good Pahulu is. I certainly rate the young man.

 

[Noitall]

Now I would rather have him than Riki. I just don't get the hype around him. Good player but nothing spectacular IMO

Yeah me too. Though as I mentioned, would love to see some height in the forwards. I think Vaimauga seems to be taller than they list him at? Not that it matters a great deal. I think Bunty definitely departs at the end of 2025 if he can’t find a home before, surely Ale needs to impress to earn an extension? Think Walker probably goes as I think he probably would have re signed if he was going to? Going to be interesting to watch what the plan is

 

[Noitall]

Obviously Gus has noticed how good Pahulu is. I certainly rate the young man.

With Bulldogs missing out on Papenhuyzen, makes you wonder whether they throw big money at Ben Hunt? Don’t think any team can pay more than roosters though? Perhaps Pahulu is a bit cheaper than Leo Thompson who they were apparently pursuing