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

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

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 23/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith

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[Inruin]

Giggled at that, I'd forgot all about Jono.

To be fair to Tanah - the bloke was an Aussie school boy so he clearly has talent.
Just hoping his separated-at-birth father Andrew Webster can unlock his talent.

Maybe explain to Tanah the reasons he left for that pack of smokes 22 years ago and never came back....

Once you see the resemblance it's impossible to forget it

Look, I hope he goes well. I think he is a better player than what was shown for long periods at the Titans. Can his dad unlock a more consistently good Tanah Boyd remains to be seen.

 

[Jonesy69]

Once you see the resemblance it's impossible to forget it

Look, I hope he goes well. I think he is a better player than what was shown for long periods at the Titans. Can his dad unlock a more consistently good Tanah Boyd remains to be seen.

Many of our players have had career best seasons while playing under Webby. Provided his attitude is right I'm sure his development will thrive as he's a good fit for what we need in our squad.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

With Tohu retiring , what does this mean for Going??

He's gone!

 

[Wrighty]

My discussion with Chat GPT

He was on about $800K out of the $12M salary cap. Do the warriors have an obligation to spend 95% of their salary cap (I think I read that) each year. Will we need to acquire a new player immediately

ChatGPT said:​

Yes, NRL teams are required to spend at least 95% of the salary cap each year under league regulations. This rule ensures that clubs maintain competitive rosters and avoid hoarding salary cap space unnecessarily. For the 2025 season, with a total cap of $12 million, teams must spend at least $11.4 million on player salaries.

Implications for the Warriors​

1. Replacing Harris's Salary:
   • If Tohu Harris’s $800K is freed up, the Warriors may need to reallocate this amount. However, the requirement to spend 95% applies to the entire cap, not necessarily to individual freed-up salaries.
   • The Warriors might have already budgeted most of their cap, so they may not urgently need to spend the exact amount freed by Harris.
2. Timing of Replacement:
   • Teams don’t need to immediately acquire a player. The 95% rule applies over the course of the year, so the Warriors could wait to sign a high-quality midseason recruit or make upgrades before the June 30 deadline.
   • If no marquee player is immediately available, they could promote younger players or re-sign existing squad members on upgraded contracts to meet cap obligations.
3. Potential Recruitment:
   • With Harris’s absence, they could:
     • Target another marquee forward, such as a seasoned lock or back-rower, to fill the leadership and on-field gap.
     • Use the funds strategically for depth signings or a big signing ahead of the June 30 trade deadline.
4. Roster Management:
   • Players like Dylan Walker and James Fisher-Harris (new signing) may cover Harris's role in the short term. However, Harris's leadership and versatility will be harder to replace, so recruitment may focus on finding a comparable leader.

Conclusion​

The Warriors are likely to meet their 95% obligation through careful planning, and there’s no immediate rule forcing them to sign someone right now. However, given the significance of Harris’s role, they might look to secure an impactful player soon to strengthen their squad.

 

[Jonesy69]

My discussion with Chat GPT

He was on about $800K out of the $12M salary cap. Do the warriors have an obligation to spend 95% of their salary cap (I think I read that) each year. Will we need to acquire a new player immediately

ChatGPT said:​

Yes, NRL teams are required to spend at least 95% of the salary cap each year under league regulations. This rule ensures that clubs maintain competitive rosters and avoid hoarding salary cap space unnecessarily. For the 2025 season, with a total cap of $12 million, teams must spend at least $11.4 million on player salaries.

Implications for the Warriors​

1. Replacing Harris's Salary:
   • If Tohu Harris’s $800K is freed up, the Warriors may need to reallocate this amount. However, the requirement to spend 95% applies to the entire cap, not necessarily to individual freed-up salaries.
   • The Warriors might have already budgeted most of their cap, so they may not urgently need to spend the exact amount freed by Harris.
2. Timing of Replacement:
   • Teams don’t need to immediately acquire a player. The 95% rule applies over the course of the year, so the Warriors could wait to sign a high-quality midseason recruit or make upgrades before the June 30 deadline.
   • If no marquee player is immediately available, they could promote younger players or re-sign existing squad members on upgraded contracts to meet cap obligations.
3. Potential Recruitment:
   • With Harris’s absence, they could:
     • Target another marquee forward, such as a seasoned lock or back-rower, to fill the leadership and on-field gap.
     • Use the funds strategically for depth signings or a big signing ahead of the June 30 trade deadline.
4. Roster Management:
   • Players like Dylan Walker and James Fisher-Harris (new signing) may cover Harris's role in the short term. However, Harris's leadership and versatility will be harder to replace, so recruitment may focus on finding a comparable leader.

Conclusion​

The Warriors are likely to meet their 95% obligation through careful planning, and there’s no immediate rule forcing them to sign someone right now. However, given the significance of Harris’s role, they might look to secure an impactful player soon to strengthen their squad.

Yes Wrighty, we must use at least 97.5% of the salary cap. Interesting times ahead. Do we upgrade from within, or look to the market?

 

[Hughes2026]

Giggled at that, I'd forgot all about Jono.

To be fair to Tanah - the bloke was an Aussie school boy so he clearly has talent.
Just hoping his separated-at-birth father Andrew Webster can unlock his talent.

Maybe explain to Tanah the reasons he left for that pack of smokes 22 years ago and never came back....

We always hear the Aussie schoolboys thing, but so was Lachie Lam, and SOS, and Jock Madden, and Sexton, and Cogger, and Hastings, and Elgey, and a bunch of other mediocre first grade halves...

Not saying you're wrong - and I still hold out hope for him - but it's not the be all, end all.

 

[Wrighty]

I used the Tohu Harris thread to thank him and honour his memory. In terms of discussing his departure. This is pure speculation but it feels like he was pushed out or they dropped hints for him to go. The announcing in the media they were re-evaluating who to give the captaincy to only 4 days ago was part of the pressure that broke his camels back. The cold hearted truth is he had to retire now even if he wasn't chronically injured as Father Time has caught up with him. I am not going to say anything else I am thinking as the news has just dropped, But will leave those thoughts at that.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

How's that!!? Isaah Yeo replaces Tohu!!? Fucken O for Owesome!! ....Source- Dream Fairies






Just something kaka to tide us over until some real signings in 2027.

 

[Inruin]

I used the Tohu Harris thread to thank him and honour his memory. In terms of discussing his departure. This is pure speculation but it feels like he was pushed out or they dropped hints for him to go. The announcing in the media they were re-evaluating who to give the captaincy to only 4 days ago was part of the pressure that broke his camels back. The cold hearted truth is he had to retire now even if he wasn't chronically injured as Father Time has caught up with him. I am not going to say anything else I am thinking as the news has just dropped, But will leave those thoughts at that.

He told them last Thursday that he was retiring according to Cam George so the time line makes sense regarding talking about captaincy 4 days ago

 

[Wrighty]

He told them last Thursday that he was retiring according to Cam George so the time line makes sense regarding talking about captaincy 4 days ago

OK happy to be corrected.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

OK happy to be corrected.

Whose your choice to replace him Wrighty? Clark over the young bucks - Vaimauga - Halasima or Laban? Perhaps Eddie Ieremia-Toeava comes into the conversation?

 

[Wrighty]

Whose your choice to replace him Wrighty? Clark over the young bucks - Vaimauga - Halasima or Laban? Perhaps Eddie Ieremia-Toeava comes into the conversation?

Wrighty's forward pack given this retirement

8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Barnett
11 Niukore
12 Capewell
13 Clark

14 Walker
15 Vaimauga
16 Halasima (I think Webster will pick Ford in this spot as a bench prop)
17 Lussick

That leaves us only the following as injury cover
Ale
Laban
Bunty
Ford
Zyon Maiu’u

That is not enough injury cover We will need to either promote someone into the 30 who is a forward or somehow get another 2025 recruit now.

 

[Wrighty]

Looking at my post above
Prop Depth in order
1) JFH
2) Barnett
3) Vaimauga
4) Ford
5) Ale
6) Bunty
7) Zyon Maiu’u

Lock Depth
1) Clark
2) Walker

Second Row Depth
1) Capewell
2) Niukore
3) Halasima
4) Laban
5) Ford

I think Tohu leaving exposes us for depth at lock and 2nd row cover, Look for them to recruit a player with those skill sets.

 

[WA Warrior]

Looking at my post above
Prop Depth in order
1) JFH
2) Barnett
3) Vaimauga
4) Ford
5) Ale
6) Bunty
7) Zyon Maiu’u

Lock Depth
1) Clark
2) Walker

Second Row Depth
1) Capewell
2) Niukore
3) Halasima
4) Laban
5) Ford

I think Tohu leaving exposes us for depth at lock and 2nd row cover, Look for them to recruit a player with those skill sets.

I believe Barney, Vaimauga and Ale could be added to the 13 list.
But agree Clark and Walker are starting and off the bench to start the season at lock.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Wrighty's forward pack given this retirement

8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Barnett
11 Niukore
12 Capewell
13 Clark

14 Walker
15 Vaimauga
16 Halasima (I think Webster will pick Ford in this spot as a bench prop)
17 Lussick

That leaves us only the following as injury cover
Ale
Laban
Bunty
Ford
Zyon Maiu’u

That is not enough injury cover We will need to either promote someone into the 30 who is a forward or somehow get another 2025 recruit now.

Surely not persisting with Niukore at edge. We’re now short a middle with tohu, even more reason to move Niukore to the middle rotation.

 

[Hughes2026]

I believe Barney, Vaimauga and Ale could be added to the 13 list.
But agree Clark and Walker are starting and off the bench to start the season at lock.

Ford has also played lock, not that I'd condone it.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Surely not persisting with Niukore at edge. We’re now short a middle with tohu, even more reason to move Niukore to the middle rotation.

I think that what ever we decided at the beginning of preseason, we stick with that.

Niukore has a pretty decent 2023 on an edge, then got moved to middle and packed on the kg to play there, only to get moved back to edge and look slow and lethargic. Another year like that would be a waste, keep him where ever hes been training imo

 

[Canonball]

Giggled at that, I'd forgot all about Jono.

To be fair to Tanah - the bloke was an Aussie school boy so he clearly has talent.
Just hoping his separated-at-birth father Andrew Webster can unlock his talent.

Maybe explain to Tanah the reasons he left for that pack of smokes 22 years ago and never came back....

Lol as well, and before I say anything here I've got to make it understood I have not followed Boyd closely at all so could be completely mistaken... and his general reputation as a playmaker is pretty shit, and personally I recoiled when I heard the signing news... however ... and it's a big however, the GC have been perennial underachievers, who as a team are only now getting some commentators going 'hey, there's some talent there and with the right regime and coach they could be something'... well, Boyd's only solid year of starting was in '23 at half, paired with Sexton (who was also a bust in that system), while the rest of the squad was blowing hot and cold as well, so much so Holbrook was fired 2/3s of the way thru the year... therefore I really don't think the comp has seen the best of this guy, I just don't think that possible given his early identification as a talent... there is *probably* something there to work with .... that said I'd be going with Chanel and Metcalf or TMM and Metcalf first up, but Boyd is probably a lot better than he's been perceived as so far in his playing career

 

[AlwaysOptmistic]

I think that what ever we decided at the beginning of preseason, we stick with that.

Niukore has a pretty decent 2023 on an edge, then got moved to middle and packed on the kg to play there, only to get moved back to edge and look slow and lethargic. Another year like that would be a waste, keep him where ever hes been training imo

Yep niukore was in the top five edge backrowers 2021 to 2023. Put on 10kg to pay prop and didn't get much of a chance with injuries/positions being changed

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Apologies if this is wrong, but saw this and thought it might be of interest.