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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[MrFrankWhite]

The others at least had some pedigree. 850k is the new 650k in the current cap anyway, I don't see it as being outrageous.

What the fuck does pedigree matter? Winning is everything.

 

[Damo]

What the fuck does pedigree matter? Winning is everything.

In terms of price obviously, being a premiership winner will affect that.
Tohu had won premierships, Capewell etc.

 

[Noitall]

Raiders or Bulldogs

So who do we target now?

He met with dragons a few days ago and it’s believed that they might be the club offering $900k per season? When someone said over there it was between raiders and bulldogs yesterday, another poster replied you might get a surprise. Could see rabbits too throwing an offer? Plenty of teams after front rowers, dolphins another

 

[Boston Boy]

I think L Thompson would do well next to Fish. He’s a heart player. Could be a Smokey for the warriors.

 

[juju]

He met with dragons a few days ago and it’s believed that they might be the club offering $900k per season? When someone said over there it was between raiders and bulldogs yesterday, another poster replied you might get a surprise. Could see rabbits too throwing an offer? Plenty of teams after front rowers, dolphins another

His agent has played the clubs off masterfully.

Now he just needs to deliver on the field from 2026 onwards to command that money. No pressure.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

He met with dragons a few days ago and it’s believed that they might be the club offering $900k per season? When someone said over there it was between raiders and bulldogs yesterday, another poster replied you might get a surprise. Could see rabbits too throwing an offer? Plenty of teams after front rowers, dolphins another

Lots of clubs. Even we can afford him given the amount of off contract players we have in 2026.

 

[Noitall]

Lots of clubs. Even we can afford him given the amount of off contract players we have in 2026.

Yeah we could but our cap is ridiculously out of whack towards the forwards if so. If he was to come over, I still think taking over Tohu in 2026 is the best outcome. We’ve got JFH on big bucks, Niukore on a decent contract, Capewell nor Barnett would be cheap. Walker likely goes, so there’s $700k reportedly a season. I think some of our cap needs to go towards a solid halfback or a threatening fullback

 

[Milking!]

Yeah we could but our cap is ridiculously out of whack towards the forwards if so. If he was to come over, I still think taking over Tohu in 2026 is the best outcome. We’ve got JFH on big bucks, Niukore on a decent contract, Capewell nor Barnett would be cheap. Walker likely goes, so there’s $700k reportedly a season. I think some of our cap needs to go towards a solid halfback or a threatening fullback

I don’t see it as a problem cash-wise - basically takes over Tohu’s cap space - or Walker with a bit more thrown in. With the payoff of potentially boosting our pack to one of the elite packs in the comp - not the worst spot to be in.
Fullback / half would be nice, but with the Wahs’ challenges of recruitment, I’d imagine it’s likely earmarked for either one of the youngsters coming through or if one of our established guys really pops off in 2025.

 

[Noitall]

I don’t see it as a problem cash-wise - basically takes over Tohu’s cap space - or Walker with a bit more thrown in. With the payoff of potentially boosting our pack to one of the elite packs in the comp - not the worst spot to be in.
Fullback / half would be nice, but with the Wahs’ challenges of recruitment, I’d imagine it’s likely earmarked for either one of the youngsters coming through or if one of our established guys really pops off in 2025.

Really hard to know where we sit cap wise? We could probably afford Thompson with perhaps the Tohu money if he’s not extended, and spend the Walker money if he departs on an upgrade in the spine. Definitely think Metcalf figures in their plans in the halves but hard to say the direction with CNK and TMM not extended yet? Sounds like recruitment is for 2026, so still time for some to impress in 2025 and secure their position

 

[ROCCO]

Leo Thompson young middle forward good engine and workrate. I prefer Griffin Neame.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Yeah we could but our cap is ridiculously out of whack towards the forwards if so. If he was to come over, I still think taking over Tohu in 2026 is the best outcome. We’ve got JFH on big bucks, Niukore on a decent contract, Capewell nor Barnett would be cheap. Walker likely goes, so there’s $700k reportedly a season. I think some of our cap needs to go towards a solid halfback or a threatening full back

Unless Niukore blows up, 2026 is his last season as will be Capewells. I doubt Walker gets resigned with Erin coming. With Tohu that’s 4 biggish contracts.

I think Taine does well and same with Metcalf, so id be looking at someone to partner him. Problem is there’s zero halves on the market.

 

[Muddogz]

Prop is hardly an area of weakness with the kiwis captain and an Australian international there. We were near on the best team in the comp last year in controlling territory.

We’ve got a pair of aging wingers, a spine that lacks firepower and largely unproven but promising centres. Those would be the areas I would be looking to spend money on rather than big money on another prop who may end up on the interchange bench.

 

[BigUCE]

Prop is hardly an area of weakness with the kiwis captain and an Australian international there. We were near on the best team in the comp last year in controlling territory.

We’ve got a pair of aging wingers, a spine that lacks firepower and largely unproven but promising centres. Those would be the areas I would be looking to spend money on rather than big money on another prop who may end up on the interchange bench.

Could he be played at lock? I haven’t really followed him closely to see his ball playing ability

 

[Noitall]

Unless Niukore blows up, 2026 is his last season as will be Capewells. I doubt Walker gets resigned with Erin coming. With Tohu that’s 4 biggish contracts.

I think Taine does well and same with Metcalf, so id be looking at someone to partner him. Problem is there’s zero halves on the market.

Club said they were keen to extend
Walker when there was differing stories about him heading back to Australia. The fact it hasn’t happened makes me think he’ll stay for his final season then depart?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

in 2026 we realistically have

JFH - elite
Barnett - elite/old
Ford - mid
Erin Clark - mid
Halasima - young
Nuikore - mid/last year
Capewell - mid/old/last year
Laban - young/last year

Id definitely be trying to acquire a mid to elite prospect forward for 2026/2027. Im also biased because I see our prem shot being 2026 if we play Taine, Metcalf, Halasima, Laban, Ali etc next year.

 

[Noitall]

Could he be played at lock? I haven’t really followed him closely to see his ball playing ability

Played lock for Kiwis against Tonga I think? Didn’t look like his best spot but was his first game back too. Whyte should have stayed lock and Thompson off the bench. If we got him, I’d play him front row with JFH and Barnett with a bigger motor at lock. Angry middle

 

[roguei]

in 2026 we realistically have

JFH - elite
Barnett - elite/old
Ford - mid
Erin Clark - mid
Halasima - young
Nuikore - mid/last year
Capewell - mid/old/last year
Laban - young/last year

Id definitely be trying to acquire a mid to elite prospect forward for 2026/2027. Im also biased because I see our prem shot being 2026 if we play Taine, Metcalf, Halasima, Laban, Ali etc next year.

I think you could add Demitric Vaimauga to that list. For me i think he has a much higher potential than Leo Thompson. Both very similar builds, with leo being about 3cm taller. Demitric had his first NRL game at 19 vs leo at 21, with demitric growing up in league vs leo in union. Means he'll likely end up having better instincts for the game. Both have played prop, second row and lock.

IDK, if you end up siging leo you may block out our best prospect who we've just signed for quite a while. Considering just how similar they are. Best to spend the money on someone else IMO.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I think you could add Demitric Vaimauga to that list. For me i think he has a much higher potential than Leo Thompson. Both very similar builds, with leo being about 3cm taller. Demitric had his first NRL game at 19 vs leo at 21, with demitric growing up in league vs leo in union. Means he'll likely end up having better instincts for the game. Both have played prop, second row and lock.

IDK, if you end up siging leo you may block out our best prospect who we've just signed for quite a while. Considering just how similar they are. Best to spend the money on someone else IMO.

Oop you are right. Forgot him

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Raiders or Bulldogs

So who do we target now?

Willison!

 

[Noitall]

Five-way battle heats up for Thompson as another team enters the race

He has yet to confirm his future beyond next season.

www.zerotackle.com

Dragons latest team with an offer for Thompson. 5 clubs so far interested