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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[The Warrior Waka]

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

Don't do that bro! Take it back! Lies or not, Let us marinate in this fictional moment! It's the off season fukya!

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I mean this tongue in cheek but if we got one of them we would have too many halves and would offer a half back to the eels or Storm - most likely Boyd, TMM, or CHT. I would say we would take Luke off the table.

Definitely something we should worry about if/when we sign a marquee half.

Like, were not NOT going to sign Hughes because we have 4 halves already lol.

"Yeah, hey Jahrome, thanks for showing interest in the Wahs but currently were hoping our combo of CHT and Boyd will lead us to our maiden premiership".

For what it's worth, I think if we did get a marquee half, I'd probably want to have Metcalf as our other starting half, with TMM first drop (he's fairly old now and imagine staying in NZ is high on his priority list) and then CHT as our 4th half to play 3-6 games a year when injuries hit.

 

[Wrighty]

I realise it is bullshit but if i had a choice i would take Payne Haas over Jahrome / Dylan

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Would be happy to use the Tohu and other funds towards Hughes or Dylan Brown.

Yes, aware they have contracts.

So did fish though

 

[Hughes2026]

I realise it is bullshit but if i had a choice i would take Payne Haas over Jahrome / Dylan

I'd take him over Brown, agree.

I think I'd take Hughes over almost anyone.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I'd take him over Brown, agree.

I think I'd take Hughes over almost anyone.

Any chance you could change your name to avoid confusion with the dribble I post? If you want to stick with appetite then maybe Rocket Queen?

 

[Inruin]

Any chance you could change your name to avoid confusion with the dribble I post? If you want to stick with appetite then maybe Rocket Queen?

View: https://youtu.be/WaaANll8h18?si=vQXHg61Q1bA_BJO1

 

[Hughes2026]

Any chance you could change your name to avoid confusion with the dribble I post? If you want to stick with appetite then maybe Rocket Queen?

Hahahah great minds.

Yeah no stress mate, that seems sensible.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I realise it is bullshit but if i had a choice i would take Payne Haas over Jahrome / Dylan

Straight player vs player maybe.

But for the Warriors 2025/26 season where we have good prop stocks and crap halves, you have to plug your weaknesses dont you?

Hughes all the way! With him we’re top 4 material, with Hass we’re going to dominate everyone and not capitalise again like last season.

 

[Hughes2026]

May as well put some good juju out there with the new username

 

[Noitall]

If there was a chance of Haas, I’d get him for 2025 and Hughes for 2026 if there was an opportunity to get them. Broncos seem to need to clear some space in their cap and storm have some important players all off contract around the same time in 2026. Could use the money from Harris and what’s there to get Haas, and use the money for Walker and CNK and perhaps others for Hughes. That would be a hell of a team

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Hahahah great minds.

Yeah no stress mate, that seems sensible.

It was inevitable, such a great song!! But seriously, I encourage going down the Gunners path still, just maybe not Rocket Queen

 

[Tookey 2.0]

If there was a chance of Haas, I’d get him for 2025 and Hughes for 2026 if there was an opportunity to get them. Broncos seem to need to clear some space in their cap and storm have some important players all off contract around the same time in 2026. Could use the money from Harris and what’s there to get Haas, and use the money for Walker and CNK and perhaps others for Hughes. That would be a hell of a team

Mate it's a bit early on in my weekend to be cracking a boner, could you stop please.

Just jokes keep going

 

[Noitall]

Mate it's a bit early on in my weekend to be cracking a boner, could you stop please.

Just jokes keep going

Use it wisely. Dreams are free brother. I do wonder though in that rumour whether true or false where it mentions Haas a proud Pasifika man, which he is, whether he could be interested with Auckland the Pasifika capital and him recently saying he’ll be representing Samoa from here on out internationally. I know long odds with his family situation though

 

[PNG Kiwi]

I am guessing like most of you, that Harris recovery from injury had been monitored and that it would have been a joint decision to pull up stumps.
The fact he was captain would have come into the equation.
Someone mentioned Cappy was on holiday, but I would think the chess pieces have already been positioned and any replacement announcements will be a matter of timing.
The reality is Harris was a great athlete, and quite unique for his size, so a like for like is unlikely, but more a chance to balance the roster.

 

[Noitall]

I am guessing like most of you, that Harris recovery from injury had been monitored and that it would have been a joint decision to pull up stumps.
The fact he was captain would have come into the equation.
Someone mentioned Cappy was on holiday, but I would think the chess pieces have already been positioned and any replacement announcements will be a matter of timing.
The reality is Harris was a great athlete, and quite unique for his size, so a like for like is unlikely, but more a chance to balance the roster.

Not like you can’t be in a room pretty much on a video link these days in regards to McFadden being on holiday. If it turns out to be a signing for 2025 if anything eventuates, you’d think they’d want him pronto to learn systems etc

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Would be happy to use the Tohu and other funds towards Hughes or Dylan Brown.

Yes, aware they have contracts.

Well seems like some talk about Dylan Brown. The reporter quotes a random Kiwi on Twitter so likely not very serious.

Dylan Brown in massive development at Warriors after Tohu Harris' sad retirement

Dylan Brown is free to leave the Eels due to his unique contract. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[Dannevegas]

Something feels to me like they’ve got someone lined up here, and could be a big fish being the stature that Tohu is to the club. It surely wouldn’t have been a decision taken lightly but a few things seem strange judging by what the club has reportedly been doing before Christmas. He’s been with the club training judging by photos in preseason, and front and centre next to Webster at Sonny Fai tribute photos, but the club hasn’t been doing opposed training to test his wrist yet? Perhaps even passing is an issue? Seems odd to me that given his importance to our attack, why they wouldn’t give him more time to see if it comes right to any degree where manageable? Perhaps all as it is on the surface and I’m reading too much into it

Please Be Naufahu Whyte. They can have bunty

 

[JaggedJ]

Well seems like some talk about Dylan Brown. The reporter quotes a random Kiwi on Twitter so likely not very serious.

Dylan Brown in massive development at Warriors after Tohu Harris' sad retirement

Dylan Brown is free to leave the Eels due to his unique contract. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

I don't quote often, but when I do, I make sure it's a random Kiwi.

I don't see Brown happening. It feels like it's the lazy take for clicks.

Still, after JFH you can't really say anything is impossible.

 

[Makasene]

For me, realistically, Tohu's retirement solves a selection issue - it doesn't really present a signing opportunity.

I'd be more than keen for the money (if it's allowed) to be put into some sort of performance bonus for the current squad.

I don't see any way we can improve the squad 7 weeks and two days out from the start of the season. Sure, something might materialise.

But IMO his absence without addition is a plus.