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	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
21	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
22	Adam Pompey	✔
23	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
24	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
25	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
26	Dylan Walker	✔
27	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Faitialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Sio Kali	S
S5	Patrick Moimoi	S
S6	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	T
-	Motu Pasikala	T

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 27/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 27/30
Unconfirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 22/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker

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[Tookey 2.0]

His biceps the size of my head obviously

Just ask Jake the Muss bro, size ain't everything

 

[Noitall]

Sounds a bit like in that interview on the 2025 team thread that we’re always looking for the right player but not looking at anyone either for next season though keeping a spot open. Sounds too like we’re not chasing Kini, Hughes or Brown or some so called delusional target but I wonder what position we’d look to upgrade in 2026 or who we’d grab if they became available to fill that 30th spot? Think it looks unlikely that we see Tohu or Dylan Walker in 2026, so is lock one position? Surely a good amount of money freed up? Erin Clark potentially recruited as 13 from 2026 on? Demitric Vaimauga future lock?

 

[Teets]

The elites are obvious, Cleary, ponga, haas, Tedesco, turbo, Murray. These guys are 24/7 athletes, diet, training, recovery, everything is tuned to a dial.

All of those dudes get on the piss (a couple have sworn off it in-season recently), half of them have made the papers after a night on the grog gone wrong pretty recently. And everyone smashes a burger and fries from time to time.

Bit apples and oranges too given NRL players are in a week in, week out year long grind.

The mythology around winning athletes gets a bit OTT I reckon, for every hyper disciplined elite athlete, theres still pently of elite champions who made time to indulge in life.

Usain Bolt loved his McNuggets, partied with Volleyball teams, and was self admittedly probably among the laziest trainers by Olympic standards in most 100/200 finals.

Michael Jordan for all his insane work ethic still made time to gamble to early hours of morning even during the finals, drink like a fish, ate plenty of maccas, smoke cigars etc.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

All of those dudes get on the piss (a couple have sworn off it in-season recently), half of them have made the papers after a night on the grog gone wrong pretty recently. And everyone smashes a burger and fries from time to time.

Bit apples and oranges too given NRL players are in a week in, week out year long grind.

The mythology around winning athletes gets a bit OTT I reckon, for every hyper disciplined elite athlete, theres still pently of elite champions who made time to indulge in life.

Usain Bolt loved his McNuggets, partied with Volleyball teams, and was self admittedly probably among the laziest trainers by Olympic standards in most 100/200 finals.

Michael Jordan for all his insane work ethic still made time to gamble to early hours of morning even during the finals, drink like a fish, ate plenty of maccas, smoke cigars etc.

What you’re referring to is confirmation bias. Just because MJ & usain werent nailing their commitment does not discount the benefits they’d have seen if they did. I also don’t remember seeing these nrl guys make the papers for drunken antics? Also, you’re saying that Olympic athletes aren’t training as much as nrl players? Are you sure about that? I’ve been in both systems & I know for a fact they do, they have local comps which qualify them for national comps which qualify them for World Series, all around the globe - far more travel than just Australia and nz.

Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time, and MJ. So for starters, usain is an absolute freak, his body dimensions mean he shouldn’t be that quick, but he is. The McNuggets thing, whilst bizarre, doesn’t discount the decades of training he’d put in to be the best there is. So too, MJ. He has an addictive personality. He was addicted to basketball, he was addicted to gambling.

Anyway this is stupid. The evidence shows that by getting the off field stuff right, performance dramatically increases. I’m also not saying the nrl athletes need 100% commitment, no one wants to live like that. If you read my post, I said these guys could elevate from average to above average, in regards to off field discipline and their performance would skyrocket, which is true.

 

[Noitall]

What you’re referring to is confirmation bias. Just because MJ & usain werent nailing their commitment does not discount the benefits they’d have seen if they did. I also don’t remember seeing these nrl guys make the papers for drunken antics? Also, you’re saying that Olympic athletes aren’t training as much as nrl players? Are you sure about that? I’ve been in both systems & I know for a fact they do, they have local comps which qualify them for national comps which qualify them for World Series, all around the globe - far more travel than just Australia and nz.

Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time, and MJ. So for starters, usain is an absolute freak, his body dimensions mean he shouldn’t be that quick, but he is. The McNuggets thing, whilst bizarre, doesn’t discount the decades of training he’d put in to be the best there is. So too, MJ. He has an addictive personality. He was addicted to basketball, he was addicted to gambling.

Anyway this is stupid. The evidence shows that by getting the off field stuff right, performance dramatically increases. I’m also not saying the nrl athletes need 100% commitment, no one wants to live like that. If you read my post, I said these guys could elevate from average to above average, in regards to off field discipline and their performance would skyrocket, which is true.

Interesting when you hear a player say they’re laying off the grog and their form is really showing that something is working whatever they’re doing? Then you have the old stories of how Cliff Lyons would be smoking in the dressing room before a game. Think players would struggle to that these days with the speed of the game but wouldn’t be surprised if some players have a sneaky vape?

 

[Noitall]

Think 6 is the maximum for development contracts.

Didn’t know where to put this but some clarification on how the systems work



Top 30
NRL's 1st November requirement 25 players to be listed in Top 30,- (Next requirement is 28 players for R1) then (30 players on the 30th June)
(Note Top 30 Minimum wage $130,000/year)

Supplementary list
(Maximum 6 players)
Can be used to play in the top grade from round 1 (with following conditions)
* If you have injuries in a position that can't be filled within your top 30
* Approval from NRL
(the Supplementary Player is then entitled to $3,000 per game on top of his contract) Max earn is $80.000/year
A Supplementary Player can be elevated into the top 30 if there is a vacant spot

Train and Trail List
(No limit on number of players on this list)
Only earn $1200/week and $3,000 per game in the NRL,
l. Can be used after Round 10
2. Train and Trial can also be elevated into the top 30 if there is a vacant spot

NSW CUP / Junior Reps / Pathways etc
Can be elevated into the top 30 if there is a vacant spot
Can be elevated into the Train and Trial if they qualify
Developed players can be elevated into Supplementary List if they qualify

Level of the cap
2023: $11.05m
2024: $11.25m
2025: $11.4m
2026: $11.55m
2027: $11.7m

Minimum $120,000 including Super in 2023, $130,000 in 2024 rising incrementally to $145,000 in 2027.

Each club can offer $100,000 on motor vehicle allowance (up to five, valued at $20,000) and has a $300,000 veteran/developed player allowance. A veteran is valued at 10 percent of salary cap value after nine years at one club and 5 percent after 10 years. A developed player is 10 percent of salary cap value if contracted for two or more years before their top 30 contract. I guess that’s subject to the $300,000 cap.

Clubs must spend 97.5 per cent of their cap each year from 2004, rising from the current 95 per cent.

Developed players (juniors) cannot be signed before Round 6 of a player’s final contract year. A developed player is a player who has been contracted for at least two years in junior grades and has played less than six NRL or State Cup matches. This is to help development clubs retain players and give them more time to assess players. (Raiders pushed for this, along with Panthers and Cowboys.)

Clubs must have 24 top 30 players by 5pm November 1. By Monday of Round 1 they must have 28 players in the top 30. 30 by 30 June (no mid season transfers after that).

Development player contracts replaced by “Supplementary list”. $650,000 cap for at least four, maximum six players, paid $80,000, can play from Round 1. Bonus of $3,000 for any NRL game.

Training contracts (train and trial). To rise to $1200 in 2024, $3,000 bonus for any NRL game, can only play NRL from Round 11 (ie after Round 10).

Clubs can promote players aged 17 to top 30 squads but can’t play until age 18.

Top 30 players can seek a release from their contract if dropped below State Cup level.

Relocation allowances outside the cap, eg 28 days temporary accommodation, one way travel for player and spouse, children, one month storage costs, removalists.

Milestone games. Debut, 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th and final games for players who’ve played 100 games and one full season at a club. Transport and accommodation for two family members, 10 tickets, the match worn jersey.

Any games. Six tickets for players in any game day top 18 player, two for other top 30 players.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Interesting when you hear a player say they’re laying off the grog and their form is really showing that something is working whatever they’re doing? Then you have the old stories of how Cliff Lyons would be smoking in the dressing room before a game. Think players would struggle to that these days with the speed of the game but wouldn’t be surprised if some players have a sneaky vape?

They definitely do. All blacks do too. The whole premise for this discussion was a false perception That they’re elite athletes, because they’re not. And my point was because of this fact, it wouldn’t take much more dedication to really move the needle, and that the players recruited are capable of the culture shift required to do this

 

[Teets]

I also don’t remember seeing these nrl guys make the papers for drunken antics? Also, you’re saying that Olympic athletes aren’t training as much as nrl players?

You dont remember KP getting in trouble for drinking after being concussed aka toilet gate?

The Haas drunken fight with Kelly? Or the goof around with Walsh while on the beers?

Teddy being fined by the NRL for drunken and disorderly conduct?

All my point is you can be an elite athlete and still enjoy a beer and a cheat meal which is what the original poster talked about. As shown by many of the all time great athletes.

Also I never said Olympians dont train as hard. I said it's apples and oranges because it is. Completely different challenges, schedules, dynamics.

 

[Noitall]

You dont remember KP getting in trouble for drinking after being concussed aka toilet gate?

The Haas drunken fight with Kelly? Or the goof around with Walsh while on the beers?

Teddy being fined by the NRL for drunken and disorderly conduct?

All my point is you can be an elite athlete and still enjoy a beer and a cheat meal which is what the original poster talked about. As shown by many of the all time great athletes.

Also I never said Olympians dont train as hard. I said it's apples and oranges because it is. Completely different challenges, schedules, dynamics.

Since 2023 the NBA hasn’t penalised marijuana use. Some of those ones you listed seem more like behavioural issues

 

[Fizurg]

What you’re referring to is confirmation bias. Just because MJ & usain werent nailing their commitment does not discount the benefits they’d have seen if they did. I also don’t remember seeing these nrl guys make the papers for drunken antics? Also, you’re saying that Olympic athletes aren’t training as much as nrl players? Are you sure about that? I’ve been in both systems & I know for a fact they do, they have local comps which qualify them for national comps which qualify them for World Series, all around the globe - far more travel than just Australia and nz.

Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time, and MJ. So for starters, usain is an absolute freak, his body dimensions mean he shouldn’t be that quick, but he is. The McNuggets thing, whilst bizarre, doesn’t discount the decades of training he’d put in to be the best there is. So too, MJ. He has an addictive personality. He was addicted to basketball, he was addicted to gambling.

Anyway this is stupid. The evidence shows that by getting the off field stuff right, performance dramatically increases. I’m also not saying the nrl athletes need 100% commitment, no one wants to live like that. If you read my post, I said these guys could elevate from average to above average, in regards to off field discipline and their performance would skyrocket, which is true.

The nuggets thing means nothing too. Elite athletes consume massive calories. As long as it’s balanced it’s fine.
SBW was gifted physically, but he was known for always going above and beyond all the other players. Imagine that work ethic with Fifitas frame.

 

[Fizurg]

I think those elite guys factor in every thing. Including having a life outside of sport. A blowout here and there can be good. There’s the famous story of the Bulls letting Rodman party, because for him he actually needed it.
This is very different to the NRL where players aren’t monitored the same way and it’s a lot easier to have standards slip.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Its a matter of percentages. If you are always at 99-100% with every little detail, then a single instance of -1% for alcohol or a cheat meal is inconsequential. The issue arises when you only put in 75%, and have constant -1%'s that compound. Poor diet, poor sleep, drugs, alcohol etc.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I think those elite guys factor in every thing. Including having a life outside of sport. A blowout here and there can be good. There’s the famous story of the Bulls letting Rodman party, because for him he actually needed it.
This is very different to the NRL where players aren’t monitored the same way and it’s a lot easier to have standards slip.

Shhh mate you're giving Reece Walsh ideas haha.

 

[Teets]

The nuggets thing means nothing too. Elite athletes consume massive calories. As long as it’s balanced it’s fine.

I agree, which is why the odd feed of KFC (plenty of protein and cals) or night on the beers doesn't stop anyone being considered an elite athlete.

 

[Noitall]

Shhh mate you're giving Reece Walsh ideas haha.

Not sure if there’s any truth to it but apparently Walsh has come back massively out of shape. Apparently finishing way down on all the time trials. Learned yesterday that he has a 3rd party deal with Ralph Lauren too

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Not sure if there’s any truth to it but apparently Walsh has come back massively out of shape. Apparently finishing way down on all the time trials. Learned yesterday that he has a 3rd party deal with Ralph Lauren too

Lol at the Ralph Lauren part.

The old saying 'its hard to get out of bed at 5am when you have silk sheets' might have a bit of relevance for RW in the next few years.
He's signed that huge deal and is a massive heart throb and has the Ralph Lauren deal, I'll be interested to see how motivated he is to push on and become one of the games elite

 

[Viking]

All of those dudes get on the piss (a couple have sworn off it in-season recently), half of them have made the papers after a night on the grog gone wrong pretty recently. And everyone smashes a burger and fries from time to time.

Bit apples and oranges too given NRL players are in a week in, week out year long grind.

The mythology around winning athletes gets a bit OTT I reckon, for every hyper disciplined elite athlete, theres still pently of elite champions who made time to indulge in life.

Usain Bolt loved his McNuggets, partied with Volleyball teams, and was self admittedly probably among the laziest trainers by Olympic standards in most 100/200 finals.

Michael Jordan for all his insane work ethic still made time to gamble to early hours of morning even during the finals, drink like a fish, ate plenty of maccas, smoke cigars etc.

Bolt might have been a reluctant trainer but definitely not a lazy trainer at all. There’s plenty of videos showing him training hard to the point of throwing up on the side of the track.

All those Jamaicans like to party though. His coach Glen Mills would schedule training at 5am and 3pm, 6 days a week so Bolt and his team mates wouldn’t be able to party late. Other Jamaican coaches do the same.

The chicken nuggets thing is common with Jamaican sprinters, they get them from roadside stalls as a quick form of post training protein. I doubt they’re buying McNuggets, too expense.

It’s all relatable to league, it’s a power endurance sport, those that coast on natural talent get found out if they don’t maintain their endurance. But if they put the work in, the X factor players don’t need to be at the front of the pack in training drills etc or they risk burnout quicker than the less talented players who made it to the top with their competitiveness. Coaches need to understand the balance required, it’s easy to coach the footy out of players.

Drinking and eating smart, not strict is good enough. My issue with athletes drinking is the time and sleep lost, not the alcohol itself.

 

[Noitall]

Lol at the Ralph Lauren part.

The old saying 'its hard to get out of bed at 5am when you have silk sheets' might have a bit of relevance for RW in the next few years.
He's signed that huge deal and is a massive heart throb and has the Ralph Lauren deal, I'll be interested to see how motivated he is to push on and become one of the games elite

Maguire has enforced no shirtless trainings at broncos and obviously trying to bring them back down to earth. Think Walsh will be his biggest test though

 

[Fizurg]

Bolt might have been a reluctant trainer but definitely not a lazy trainer at all. There’s plenty of videos showing him training hard to the point of throwing up on the side of the track.

All those Jamaicans like to party though. His coach Glen Mills would schedule training at 5am and 3pm, 6 days a week so Bolt and his team mates wouldn’t be able to party late. Other Jamaican coaches do the same.

The chicken nuggets thing is common with Jamaican sprinters, they get them from roadside stalls as a quick form of post training protein. I doubt they’re buying McNuggets, too expense.

It’s all relatable to league, it’s a power endurance sport, those that coast on natural talent get found out if they don’t maintain their endurance. But if they put the work in, the X factor players don’t need to be at the front of the pack in training drills etc or they risk burnout quicker than the less talented players who made it to the top with their competitiveness. Coaches need to understand the balance required, it’s easy to coach the footy out of players.

From what I’ve read. The trainings times were often based around when the drug testers showed up. Apparently it was quite common that they just happened to be camping in the bush and were uncontactable when the testers happened to show up.

 

[Viking]

From what I’ve read. The trainings times were often based around when the drug testers showed up. Apparently it was quite common that they just happened to be camping in the bush and were uncontactable when the testers happened to show up.

There could be some of that. Those Jamaican coaches are mostly heavy set too so beating the heat must be a factor.