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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[Wrighty]

In terms of full disclosure and being very honest about Starford

His main advantage is raw gas - he turns 25 this June so is in his prime. Starford unlike Warriors backs can burn his defender to the outside and bust him for pace.
The caveat with him is defence. Adam Pompey's tackle efficiency was 89% this year while Starford put up 81% - however that was for a worse team with a less organised defensive line (ie the wooden spoon team).

 

[Fizurg]

If dreams are free - first door I am knocking in is Penrith. They don't really need both Casey and Jesse and we can promise first grade time to the one they don't want.

Just realised in my previous post I said the Arthur’s brothers when I meant the McLean bothers. They are very young and both blocking each others path. it’s not crazy having one of them more NRL time for a year could actually be beneficial for the panthers long term.

 

[Playdaball]

I wonder if Jesse Arthars is an option? I don’t imagine he would be on much money but if the Broncos are trying to get Cobbo to stay, they would definitely have to release a player or 2 for next season.

We need someone next week !

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Well then we do have a play on him. Who is first cab off the rank for Tigers.

Laulili

 

[Dannevegas]

I think it’ll be Stafford To’a and would like that. Would be the fastest in the club by a mile

 

[Falcon]

 

[WA Warrior]

View attachment 11734

Any of them please

 

[Sir Arrow]

 

[Teets]

Reminds me of the Kahu Capper highlights reel before Kahu came here lol. Similar build too. How old is he?

Interestingly both played together on the right edge for NZ Māori at the last PYC and both have that same tall lean stature.

In the U18 final against Tonga, Capper was huge in a winning performance and Barber barely did anything but I'd still Barber a better prospect.

 

[Teets]

View: https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby.com.au/video/7466629326067223826?q=valynce%20te%20whare&t=1739174024965

Can see why everyone loves going to Japan for the easy coin. Odds of Val ever seeing a defender that squat and slow in front of him with that amount of space very unlikely in the NRL.

The defender staying out on the wing is hilarious too, talking about leaving your mate on an island. PSDT not there to teach them how to jam like he did to Jordie Barrets ribs to snuff out that overlap in the RWC final.

Hard no to Val, problem with him is the other 78 minutes outside the highlight plays.

 

[Teets]

On wingers did someone mention Munro off contract? Can't see him being let go but he's a good prospect.

The other one is Allan Fitzgibbon, would never pass a no dickheads policy but he's way better than any of our cup guys and would be fastest in the squad easily.

 

[WarriorsForever]

View attachment 11734

Will happily take a hammy-less Turbo

 

[SJ’s on Fire]

View attachment 11734

Garrick an option. 27 years old, experienced - straight in a first string goal kicker. We must surely have something in the works. King Kosi has to be dethroned or else we are in for a rough start to this season.

 

[Te Mana-wah]

Hoping we get something sorted soon. In the interim I would rather see Leiataua at wing over TT and certainly over Kosi. A backline of 1. TT 2. Leiataua 3. Berry 4. CNK 5. RTS looks good

 

[Defence]

Starford Toa is a gun- inconsistent though and missed all last year with hamstring problems.
And to think no one wanted sign the fox…

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I’d legit throw big coin at Garrick, I reckon he’s bloody good. Can play wing and centre at high quality & is a fantastic goal kicker. We literally need all 3

 

[Defence]

Garrick would be a very Ivan cleary like signing (the player not the coach).
Id be all for it.
Saab is the one I’ve heard they’d like to offload though.
Pretty disheartening when u compare manlys outside backs stocks to ours

 

[Makasene]

Can only assume the club recognise that 'win-now' is not a reality.

No doubt we are hunting an outside back but are we realistically going to be able to sign someone that can make a material difference just 3 weeks out from the season?

My thinking is they are looking to 2026.

 

[Worried2Death]

Can only assume the club recognise that 'win-now' is not a reality.

No doubt we are hunting an outside back but are we realistically going to be able to sign someone that can make a material difference just 3 weeks out from the season?

My thinking is they are looking to 2026.

If we’re going to be bottom 4 anyway I'd rather see Kali and MGT and all the young blokes get a run this year for the experience, even if we get the spoon.
Actually if we do get the spoon Starford might fit in well with all his experience @Wrighty

 

[Noitall]

Gumby​

Jaws​

• Yesterday at 10:03 PM
• 
  
• #4,337

Seen this on a rumour mill page. Warriors are set to launch a huge bid at Big Nelson for 2026. He is contracted until 2027 however apparently warriors will see if the storm are interested in releasing him. He will earn 900k in his final season at the storm so could be a good move for both clubs. Anyways just a rumour doing the rounds but would be huge for the warriors if they could pull it off