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
-	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: 23/30
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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[hornbybrown]

Is there a scenario where newcastle know about ponga possibly leaving, that's why they could throw the bank at Brown?

It just doesn’t make sense for them to let him go early

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Fuck this is going to be the biggest lol which ever way this goes!

 

[Wrighty]

He was the New Zealand under 13 golf champion

OK and lived in Palmerston North?

 

[Warriorsfan92]

What if part of the deal was a rugby union sabbatical? To give union a crack, similar to Roger? Would you take him? That’s feasible given our history & his expressed desire to do it one day

 

[Damo]

OK and lived in Palmerston North?

He has plenty of whānau there and around the country also.

 

[Wrighty]

It just doesn’t make sense for them to let him go early

Why would he turn down a big money offer from Le Dolphin and working with Wayne if he was open to leaving Knights all along?
Dolphin chased him hard two years ago.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

What if part of the deal was a rugby union sabbatical? To give union a crack, similar to Roger? Would you take him? That’s feasible given our history & his expressed desire to do it one day

No! He's 27 already!

 

[WA Warrior]

Palmerston North*

Home of the great Firecats

 

[Noitall]

What if part of the deal was a rugby union sabbatical? To give union a crack, similar to Roger? Would you take him? That’s feasible given our history & his expressed desire to do it one day

I’d say, bring us a title and we’ll talk

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Why would he turn down a big money offer from Le Dolphin and working with Wayne if he was open to leaving Knights all along?
Dolphin chased him hard two years ago.

Could only imagine he's getting sick of O'Brian

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Fletcher Sharp could replace him at fullback, he looks a gun!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Funny people mentioning Palmerston North like it is a draw. I live half an hour way and plan my whole life around never having to visit!

 

[Damo]

Funny people mentioning Palmerston North like it is a draw. I live half an hour way and plan my whole life around never having to visit!

I don't think anyone ever said it is a draw..

 

[Billyspleen75]

Because this is getting a bit of attention, the Sydney journos will have caught wind of it and followed it up with all their sources. And if it's a genuine rumour we should expect some articles / X posts about it tomorrow (Even on April Fools day)

Otherwise I'm very very dubious about the way this has caught on. Seems so far that 5 people have seen and then repeated the same Facebook post and it's being considered a wide spread rumour.

 

[Noitall]

Funny people mentioning Palmerston North like it is a draw. I live half an hour way and plan my whole life around never having to visit!

You don’t know what you’re missing

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Taj if this turns out to be nothing, can you close this thread until we actually get a signing please?

 

[Kaos A.D.]

What happened with Blake Green though. I heard he just sulked and skulked around training until he was released to the Warriors. Or do I have that wrong. It was the first year I started following.

shit you are new to League.... is there actually any validity to Ponga coming to the Warriors? someone mention Ponga in a post here either yesterday or earlier today, is this where the rumour has come from? .... I would be all on board this but I think we are creating our own rumours from someones throw away comment lol

 

[Ever Hopeful]

You don’t know what you’re missing

...Kmart?! Chlamydia?

_______

Ah well we have laid our cards on the table now. Kalyn knows we are sweet on him and there is no taking it back. The balls in your court Kalyn, but if you are going to reject us, do it with a cuddle.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

He's been the heart and soul of the Knights over the span of his career and out of mutual respect between him and the club, I doubt they would stand in his way if he wanted to depart in 2026. Similar to the panthers stance of releasing fish early.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Should we all sign up to the knights forum and start asking questions?