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]

View attachment 11680

Wrighty how excited would you be if we got this guy?

Would he be your favourite Warrior ever?

 

[Wrighty]

Wrighty how excited would you be if we got this guy?

Would he be your favourite Warrior ever?

Maybe a quick nudey run to the power pole across the street and back.

 

[snake77]

I thought we were a bit short in the outside backs when we let Montoya go and we could have seen a recruit or someone promoted then.

If we get someone this late in the off season it would be a good test for our recruitment team and if we are a more appealing destination compared to a few years ago.

Most likely it would be someone to add a bit of depth.

Someone real appealing who would most likely walk into the side would likely need the old "have to return for family reasons" or their side has cap issues. I'd love for it to be someone who can make an impact I just think it would be unlikely.

 

[Playdaball]

Almost in a position that will pay overs for a half decent outside back.
The depth is not there.

 

[Falcon]

Staggs?

I thought so too! I see he just got engaged a few months ago so don’t see this slim chance

kotoni dating Richard Bechts (warriors media manager) daughter. Spent christmas in NZ too????

Looks like they got engaged in October !

 

[Falcon]

Tom Hazelton from Sharks to bolster front row stocks? Looks to be meeting Dolphins for 2026

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Tom Hazelton from Sharks to bolster front row stocks? Looks to be meeting Dolphins for 2026

A propping rotation of JFH, Barnett, Vaumunga and Hazleton would have to be up there as one of the top rotations in the league surely

 

[Ref]

Starford Toa is decent enough.
Id prefer him to Naden.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

View attachment 11680

Ha! I’d actually be happy with that.

 

[SJ2k]

Surely we sign someone otherwise what a disaster of an offseason, only saved by JFH falling into our laps. Why TF did they let monty go if we were going to end up with only 27/30 spots filled and no wing depth apart from Kosi.

 

[Playdaball]

If the Warriors were serious about picking up an outside back - why did the Warriors not try and do a swap with Zyon Maiu’u ? Bunty? Freddie?

Hopefully they don’t end up with a Tigers reject such as Staines or Toa ?

 

[Playdaball]

We now have one injury and we’re already thinking that our back depth is stretched … oh dear

 

[UpTheWahs]

Anyone know the rules around squad numbers? Do we need to have 29 players in the squad by the season kick off?

 

[snake77]

Anyone know the rules around squad numbers? Do we need to have 29 players in the squad by the season kick off?

Someone can correct me and fill in the dates.

But my understanding it is 28 players by a specific date (I saw March 1st for a 2021 article). Then later in the year by certain dates it goes up to 29 and 30.

So I'd assume it needs to be 28 players by the start of the season.

 

[Blain]

I'd take anyone over Naden. When he's not injured, he's never looked NRL standard IMO.

 

[Horriors2013]

Anyone know the rules around squad numbers? Do we need to have 29 players in the squad by the season kick off?

If you're the Warriors you can have 16 players and it's all good

 

[Defence]

Someone can correct me and fill in the dates.

But my understanding it is 28 players by a specific date (I saw March 1st for a 2021 article). Then later in the year by certain dates it goes up to 29 and 30.

So I'd assume it needs to be 28 players by the start of the season.

Not sure these days but u have to spend a certain % of the cap too.
When u compare us to some of the other squads it’s hard to imagine where ours is being spent.

 

[Playdaball]

Go for Valance Te Whare - looking fit and trim in the Japanese rugby comp - could be 2nd division though??

 

[BlackToko88]

Go for Valance Te Whare - looking fit and trim in the Japanese rugby comp - could be 2nd division though??

He defs has leaned up and dropped kilos. His team plays in japan rugby league one which is their top one i think

 

[tajhay]

Go for Valance Te Whare - looking fit and trim in the Japanese rugby comp - could be 2nd division though??

just checked. wow...looks like a totally different player.

https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-league/video/watch-valynce-te-whare-goes-next-level-with-outrageous-end-to-end-japan-league-try-1407417/