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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Ever Hopeful]

No chance at Haas, but I still struggle to work out how the 2025-2026 Brisbane side is going to be cap compliant.

 

[Dippa]

Sounds like an unlikely thing to happen re; Payne Haas, but it was the Warriors who introduced him to the professional life of a footballer. I believe Haas credited the Warriors for paving the way for him into the professional world of League. Andrew McFadden was the man to do this.

If Haas was to consider a new club/environment venture, it’s not ridiculous to think that a Warriors reunion could happen. However, with the family complexities it could make the path challenging.

 

[Blain]

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.

It's only skinny if you don't back any of our young talent to be up to NRL standard. Vaimauga, Laban, Halasima and Mai'u have all had a taste and look ready to make a leap. I would back (and by the sounds of it so does the club, from what CG was saying) these guys to break through this season, rather than getting a fringe Aussie in the top 30 as a 4th in line second rower. Lock can be filled by Barnett if Clark and Walker are injured. Going and Ford would do a job if needed.

 

[Aman 2.0]

It’s sad that Tohu has retired but couldn’t this have been foreseen a few weeks ago when Leo Thompson was on the market??

 

[Tony Martin]

It’s sad that Tohu has retired but couldn’t this have been foreseen a few weeks ago when Leo Thompson was on the market??

We don’t need anymore forwards. Tohu also deserved every chance to come right

 

[chrisnz]

honestly believe and would be shocked if the tohu news hasn't been well known for months highly likely before erin signing and there is a plan behind why he is leaving and who we have our sights on.

 

[Aman 2.0]

honestly believe and would be shocked if the tohu news hasn't been well known for months highly likely before erin signing and there is a plan behind why he is leaving and who we have our sights on.

Yes that’s what a normal club would do

 

[tajhay]

honestly believe and would be shocked if the tohu news hasn't been well known for months highly likely before erin signing and there is a plan behind why he is leaving and who we have our sights on.

IF that was the case, the news would have been announced at seasons end or before Nov 1. As it stands, the club would have paid him (from the 2025 cap) 1/4 of his salary for season 2025 (if the payments are still still done a quarterly basis). Medical retirement will cover the remaining unpaid cycles outstanding.

Judging by all reports, he tried to give himself as much time as possible to get right and it was still impacting him so made the decision very recently. Its not an injury that is affecting him during games, but his everyday life so the decision would not have been made lightly. He is a true Warrior and should be celebrated as such.

 

[Five&Last]

honestly believe and would be shocked if the tohu news hasn't been well known for months highly likely before erin signing and there is a plan behind why he is leaving and who we have our sights on.

lol absolutely not.

You don't just have 800k+ tied up like that.

They would've given him every chance to come right and he just didn't come right or got injured again in pre-season. It happens.

 

[Lance155]

Always remember Lance 155 saying Haas signing was a real chance when he was wanting a release that last time and never knew if he was taking the piss or not?

He was definitely taking the piss. Unless true, that guy is a genius!

 

[Warriorsfan92]

honestly believe and would be shocked if the tohu news hasn't been well known for months highly likely before erin signing and there is a plan behind why he is leaving and who we have our sights on.

That’s why he was training at bethells aye

 

[Noitall]

He was definitely taking the piss. Unless true, that guy is a genius!

That prick sounds like a Payne in the haas

 

[Fizurg]

It’s sad that Tohu has retired but couldn’t this have been foreseen a few weeks ago when Leo Thompson was on the market??

As far as Thompson is concerned it wouldn’t have made a difference since he was only available for 2026

 

[Defence]

No chance at Haas, but I still struggle to work out how the 2025-2026 Brisbane side is going to be cap compliant.

They could always offload someone- maybe someone with only a year to run on their current deal- staggs for example…. The timing of his visit seems a bit more curious now.
Here’s a scenario that could rebalance the side-
Staggs to center, Pompey to an edge, Marata to middle forward.

 

[Bushman]

As far as Thompson is concerned it wouldn’t have made a difference since he was only available for 2026

 

[run_it_str8_again]

My poor heart won't be able to take it if this is true.

Even after getting Fish. I can't see this making our team. Addin and Barney did great at getting us field position but it was our inability to score that failed their efforts.

We need........Tanah Boyd

 

[Noitall]

Interesting the story running with Carrigan picked to be shifting to front row and Hethrington 13 over at broncos. Jensen does a good job and young guns coming through in Willison and Te Kura with Taupau as the stalwart to install the ethic makes me wonder if they could see fit to part with Haas’ $1.1 million salary?

 

[Drake_83]

Are the roosters still looking at letting go of cheese could be an alright 13.

 

[juju]

Apologies if this is wrong, but saw this and thought it might be of interest. View attachment 10766

The guy doing the original tweet is just online trolling.
It's a "comedy" bit he does to try and wind Broncos fans up.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Are the roosters still looking at letting go of cheese could be an alright 13.

You would have to think that if there were any possibility of Cheese ever coming here, it would have to be now.

Surprise retirement for Tohu, Cheese being told hes not wanted at the Roosters, and Dyl Walker likely not being here next year...

If it's ever going to happen, now is literally the perfect time.

Can Webby, JFH and Barney keep him in line tho...