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 Faitialofa	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
-	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: 21/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith

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[Lance155]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

Are we back to agreeing with each other again? I wouldn't go anywhere near him

 

[Worried2Death]

Are we back to agreeing with each other again? I wouldn't go anywhere near him

Are you seeing red flags with Cobbo

 

[Lance155]

Are you seeing red flags with Cobbo

Definitely swiping left. He's a bit of a Pita Hiku. Great if you can get him firing with plenty of X factor. But will drop away every now and again in games.

 

[Noitall]

Are we back to agreeing with each other again? I wouldn't go anywhere near him

Could be as genuine as your Payne Haas rumour anyway

 

[Lance155]

Could be as genuine as your Payne Haas rumour anyway

Haha I can only hope!

 

[John Nick]

Definitely swiping left. He's a bit of a Pita Hiku. Great if you can get him firing with plenty of X factor. But will drop away every now and again in games.

We could really use some of his ability in this position but I would like to think that AW and the recruiters would have the best info on what makes him tick

 

[Vancent]

If we have a chance and we’re signing him for a wing spot, it’s a no brainer.

If CNK really is out of contract next year (still not convinced at this?) then hell yeah.

We need X Factor in the backs and he brings that in spades, not to mention ample NRL and SOO experience.

Not sure this is a real debate lol, just get it done and let’s all get back to dissecting genuine 50/50 (potential) signings.

 

[Noitall]

Haha I can only hope!

Who gets your seal of approval?

 

[Lance155]

Who gets your seal of approval?

Just for a wing spot? Most players probably. Decent speed and edge D my most important factors

 

[John Nick]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

Why wouldn't you want Cobbo.
We are desperate in the outside backs.
Do you know something or just a whim or whatever??

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Why not Blake Wilson lads?

 

[Noitall]

Just for a wing spot? Most players probably. Decent speed and edge D my most important factors

In general? If you aren’t interested in Cobbo, who would you be interested in recruiting? Or promoting? You mentioned drifting in and out of games but he’s 22 and pretty impressive with what he’s achieved so far. Think he’s got a pretty high ceiling

 

[Bevosa]

I have heard that Cobbo has some mental health issues, pretty sure this is why he pulled out of origin last year.
I'm not sure moving to a different country with a completely different culture away from his support networks would be the best move for him, or us.

 

[Noitall]

I have heard that Cobbo has some mental health issues, pretty sure this is why he pulled out of origin last year.
I'm not sure moving to a different country with a completely different culture away from his support networks would be the best move for him, or us.

He must have really been uninspired playing under Kevin Walters to go to the lengths of saying he’s not a good coach publicly. Hard to say what the problem was last year, but there was definitely something going on with him? There was some domestic abuse rumours? He was also shifted to centre, which I’m not sure was a good move overall for him? He’s certainly played better under Maguire, and apparently Maguire went out and caught up with his family in the preseason and sounded positive

 

[Defence]

How is CNK on the outer?

Ok seemingly might be a bit strong- let’s go with possibly…

 

[Makasene]

Can't shake the feeling that Cobbo would be a disaster.... prove me wrong.

Unenthused pro-sports stars should be avoided at all costs.

Better than Kosi and Harper, wouldn't deny that

 

[Defence]

apparently Maguire went out and caught up with his family in the preseason and sounded positive

I saw that….

 

[Noitall]

Can't shake the feeling that Cobbo would be a disaster.... prove me wrong.

Unenthused pro-sports stars should be avoided at all costs.

Better than Kosi and Harper, wouldn't deny that

Kiwis coming home are usually our best bet I reckon. DCE is going to be interesting to see what happens? Would be amazing if he linked up with Hasler at titans for a couple of years, they could shift Campbell or Brimson back to fullback and Kini comes to Warriors. Play him at fullback and Tuaupiki at five eighth. Could be a bit brittle defensively, but attack would be lethal. Just because of who’s off contract in TMM and CNK, I can’t help but feel they’ve got a target?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Can't shake the feeling that Cobbo would be a disaster.... prove me wrong.

Unenthused pro-sports stars should be avoided at all costs.

Better than Kosi and Harper, wouldn't deny that

Sure, that’s why you have to give him a quick payday before PNG. Signing him for anymore than 2 years would bad imho. Honeymoon year and then he’s in his exit year. No time to get bored.

 

[CWC]

Cobbo would be a winger covering centre/FB, don’t see a problem if he’s trying to get out of the spotlight for a year or two, they don’t even care about Agar’s beef with a journo.

Like for all the talk about the roster, who would you sign to try to win a premiership with our excess money? I would do Hughes or DCE, but Metcarve project lol