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
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	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: 24/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance to offtopic chat.

 

[Bevosa]

I would keep TMM over CNK for 2026 if he’s keen to stay and we can afford him.

Obviously Metcalf is going to be persisted with as the first choice 7 unless things go horribly wrong.
He had several try involvements last Friday yet still has lots of work ons so the outlook is positive.
With more games under his belt I would hope that he can gel with TMM at 6 should TMM get a shot there.
TMM also covers 1 and 7 really well.

So you keep TMM to be 2026 back up full back and a possible halves starter.

Luke Hanson has looked really good in the limited games I’ve seen him play. He is only 21, he’s a natural 6, and I think he has a lot of potential. If we were to re-sign TMM, it would hinder Hanson's development. It’s unfortunate because I really rate TMM, I agree he would be a great backup fullback if we were to let CNK go.

I’d prefer to see Hanson get the opportunity to play 6 for NSW Cup next year.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Do we go to the market for a back up or is there anyone who could take Tuaupikis spot as the back up FB?

RTS, DWZ, TMM (if still around), CHT.
Lots of options if our young reserves aren’t ready as injury cover.

We need to back that youth in our reserve grade, not clog up the opportunities with journeymen.

 

[Boston Boy]

I am not convinced re Hanson, a while back he had a poor kicking game. As a half he has not dominated in the grades he has played. Looks more like a hooker to me. There's no way I would let TMM go because we have got Hanson. That would be a poor decision in my opinion.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://x.com/FOXNRL/status/1902292388237701194

Wonder whether Lewis Dodd would be worth bringing over? Bit of talk that rabbits are going to part ways and will need to pay a portion of his $600k salary

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

View: https://x.com/FOXNRL/status/1902292388237701194

Wonder whether Lewis Dodd would be worth bringing over? Bit of talk that rabbits are going to part ways and will need to pay a portion of his $600k salary

surely not. the bloke just arrived there

 

[sydneywarrior92]

seems harsh to remove someone without them playing a single FG game. But we have enough depth in the halves I think. Better spend would be to bring in a speedy outside back.

 

[Noitall]

surely not. the bloke just arrived there

Pretty expensive player to be running around in nsw cup though. Humphreys seems to be viewed as their halfback going forward

 

[Blain]

I am not convinced re Hanson, a while back he had a poor kicking game. As a half he has not dominated in the grades he has played. Looks more like a hooker to me. There's no way I would let TMM go because we have got Hanson. That would be a poor decision in my opinion.

For me it really depends on how CHT and Metcalf perform this season. Ideally both show they are first grade halves for the next 3 years+. The jury is well and truly out, neither are there yet.

If that happened, then TMM whether you like it or not, would not want to stay, and we wouldn't want to burn $300-$500k on a back up 6. Tanah Boyd is a bit of a luxury back up already, with a true 7 skillset which is something we don't have. Having Cleary and Hansen as 2nd back up half in 2026 is fine IMO. Instead of having 4 average/fringe NRL level halves, most teams have a star, a decent supporting half and juniors/journeymen as back ups.

Dodd, no thanks. I would almost put money on it that Boyd and TMM are better NRL players.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

For me it really depends on how CHT and Metcalf perform this season. Ideally both show they are first grade halves for the next 3 years+. The jury is well and truly out, neither are there yet.

If that happened, then TMM whether you like it or not, would not want to stay, and we wouldn't want to burn $300-$500k on a back up 6. Tanah Boyd is a bit of a luxury back up already, with a true 7 skillset which is something we don't have. Having Cleary and Hansen as 2nd back up half in 2026 is fine IMO. Instead of having 4 average/fringe NRL level halves, most teams have a star, a decent supporting half and juniors/journeymen as back ups.

Dodd, no thanks. I would almost put money on it that Boyd and TMM are better NRL players.

I agree with everything you said, with the exception of the bolded part.

I feel that if we were to lose TMM, and we had Hanson/Cleary playing that 4th half role we can probably get away with playing a few games for 2026, but imo having them play 6+ games is a recipe for disaster. Especially if both starting halves went down so we had to have a Boyd/Hansen or Cleary halves pairing for a few weeks, you would almost have to write those games off.

TMM is likely on less than $500k atm, and turns 30 in October. My guess is he isn't getting a 2 or 3 year contract somewhere else over $500k, so if we offer him $300k a year it probably works in our favour. Have a good back up on our books that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, provides a buffer so we don't need to rely on Cleary and Hanson, and can cover Half and FB well.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

We have a halfback, he’s called Luke Metcalf. He’s a confidence kid, pump his tires & back him, he’ll come good. There’s actually bugger all halfbacks out there, even less that would be willing to come to nz. Have to back the bro.

Tanah is nrl quality too, so we have depth.

 

[CWC]

Luke Hanson has looked really good in the limited games I’ve seen him play. He is only 21, he’s a natural 6, and I think he has a lot of potential. If we were to re-sign TMM, it would hinder Hanson's development. It’s unfortunate because I really rate TMM, I agree he would be a great backup fullback if we were to let CNK go.

I’d prefer to see Hanson get the opportunity to play 6 for NSW Cup next year.

IMO Boyd will bolt by the end of next year so if we let TMM go Hansen becomes 1st drop and will probably play 20 games based on CHT/Metcalf's histories

 

[Naki73]

We have a halfback, he’s called Luke Metcalf. He’s a confidence kid, pump his tires & back him, he’ll come good. There’s actually bugger all halfbacks out there, even less that would be willing to come to nz. Have to back the bro.

Tanah is nrl quality too, so we have depth.

I agree, they need to persist with Metcalfe at 7, he has shown plenty in his injury plagued Warriors career already.
6 is the one for me, i dont think it will be long before TMM is back in there or even giving Boyd a run.
CHT is up and down like a yoyo, was before he left the warriors and was again last year.

 

[Ramps]

Hypothetical, let's say warriors let CNK go, and ask Tuaupiki to be step up and be the Fullback.

Do we go to the market for a back up or is there anyone who could take Tuaupikis spot as the back up FB?

Just some names for me could be

Will Pryce (Knights) who can play FB and Five eight and off contract. That would also possibly allow the club to let Martin leave also. I'm not keeping martin as this guy though.

Clayton Faulalo is off contract and could see a path here like Tuaupiki did.

Another one I'd be watching closer this weekend is Ethan King. He's started the season pretty strong and looks to be a metre eater.

It's a weird one, because I'm not sure warriors should hold Tuaupiki back.

I liked the look of Faulalo during the trials. But i think TMM is more than capable of being backup fullback/five eigth.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

In regards to halves, it’s 2027 that is the big one for me.
Extra teams and a whole bunch of older halves retiring by then.

I’d like the club to make an early call on Metcalf. DO NOT let him get to November 1st.
By the end of round 4 even, before the bye.
5 years on 850k-1mil. Risky, but you need to take risks.

TMM I’d offer 3 years on 300k. He’ll be 33 by the end of 2027. I think he’ll be reluctant to leave NZ. But it also depends on Metcalf in regards to price.

CHT is locked up and will be relatively cheap I’d say. And I dare say, will stay cheap.

I’d minimum Boyd. Take it or leave it.

If we can head into 2027 with a Metcalf and CHT combo with 35+ games together. And a back up half of TMM. I think we’ll be better placed than most other clubs.

 

[Theking267]

That’s seems to be the direction they are going in rather than spending a 1 million on 1 half like other clubs are doing

 

[CWC]

Boyd sounds definitely a stopgap for Hansen and Cleary

Good reminder CHT is a yo-yo, it’s probably this or the next game he starts brain farting. I really hope he matures and the Manly game was his breakout where it all clicks for him. Run super hard to create space if there are none and forget about 40/20s, he has no leg strength for that

 

[3rdstriker]

Good reminder CHT is a yo-yo, it’s probably this or the next game he starts brain farting. I really hope he matures and the Manly game was his breakout where it all clicks for him. Run super hard to create space if there are none and forget about 40/20s, he has no leg strength for that

Surely if CHt is still struggling for consistency approaching his 80 or 90 games, and if TT can't get into the side once Dwz comes back then you'd be silly not to chuck TT into 6 wouldn't ya?

 

[John Nick]

Surely if CHt is still struggling for consistency approaching his 80 or 90 games, and if TT can't get into the side once Dwz comes back then you'd be silly not to chuck TT into 6 wouldn't ya?

No. Metcalf is still learning how to be a 7.
Needs some stability and not teaching his 6

 

[3rdstriker]

No. Metcalf is still learning how to be a 7.
Needs some stability and not teaching his 6

Yes, Tt is too valuable to leave out though, he can't go back to nsw cup or we'll lose him. Sometimes I wonder if cht knows himself how to play 6.

 

[Noitall]

Yes, Tt is too valuable to leave out though, he can't go back to nsw cup or we'll lose him. Sometimes I wonder if cht knows himself how to play 6.

Thought CHT has been one of our best in both games so far