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: 25/30
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, 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

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[Inruin]

So it seems TMM likely to Super League and CNK to super league also. TMM I get, obviously not in AW's plans. CNK seems like they either haven't given him enough cash or length of contract or both?

They must think Boyd and Hanson are good enough back ups and that Jett isn't far off NSW Cup in the halves. At fullback we have TT, RTS and DWZ at a pinch. Unless of course we are clearing way for a signing or two.

 

[snake77]

Can understand CNK wanting to move to Super League. He's getting up there in age and he has been playing at this level a while.

A move to Super League can extend his career. It will also be a bit refreshing with a change of scenery. A few years in France would be a nice experience.

 

[Inruin]

Can understand CNK wanting to move to Super League. He's getting up there in age and he has been playing at this level a while.

A move to Super League can extend his career. It will also be a bit refreshing with a change of scenery. A few years in France would be a nice experience.

France likes this post

 

[Playdaball]

Can understand CNK wanting to move to Super League. He's getting up there in age and he has been playing at this level a while.

A move to Super League can extend his career. It will also be a bit refreshing with a change of scenery. A few years in France would be a nice experience.

He also has 2 boys here in Nz And this was one of the reasons he left Aust to come home .
France or the UK is a long way from his boys .
PNG is closer …. Ha ha ha

 

[MrFrankWhite]

He also has 2 boys here in Nz And this was one of the reasons he left Aust to come home .
France or the UK is a long way from his boys .
PNG is closer …. Ha ha ha

The cash will set them up though. Footy careers are short.

 

[pompower]

Chances of us getting Ponga are near zero, if not below it. If he wants to leave and we’re ready to pay $1.4m then you can bet that another team will too.

I can see us making a big play for Kini though. He’s contracted for next year but with the right offer I think we’d have a good shot at getting him for ‘26.

 

[sup42]

One other consideration is that transfer fees between UKSL and NRL clubs are usually a barrier that can't be overcome.

All this money available has to be spent. Do we spend 97.5% of the cap for this year on what is currently on our books or do we have a free pass to spend it on transfer fees given they are one year only expenses?

Transfer fees from the ESL do not effect the NRL Salary cap?

I thought they are on the purchasing club and nothing to do with the cap.

 

[tyrael]

Why not Cobb & Co?

I would settled for Corn on the Cob(b) from KFC again.

 

[jonesy101]

If you want to confirm interest in Cobb & Co have you bothered to ask Cameron Georgie Pie?

 

[Noitall]

Chances of us getting Ponga are near zero, if not below it. If he wants to leave and we’re ready to pay $1.4m then you can bet that another team will too.

I can see us making a big play for Kini though. He’s contracted for next year but with the right offer I think we’d have a good shot at getting him for ‘26.

I see Kini was very close from being paralysed after his most recent injury. Something like that could have a lasting effect on the way he likes to attack with no fear. Would still be keen though and take that risk

 

[sup42]

When you realise that on page 308 that your pulse is being raised over the latest shocks....glance down and the thread is actually up to page 317....

I am just gonna skip to now and pretend none of it happened.

In truth I do not care if the club lose CNK and or TMM.

To my way of thinking, Webster is in a six year ish life span, approaching midway, last year his boys let him down big time, rather than wake up and shake up the players in year four...too little too late....blast the players now, cut cut cut, show them who is boss. Sack fire boot.

Accountability people, remake the whole dam deal just to show everyone who is running this ship - the Warriors players need to learn now, that a season like 2024 is the way you your ass fired, something the Warriors have not been able to instill since 95.

If we are left short on depth so what. Deal with it, I think we can all see what Webster is about by now.

2023 he got everyone on the same page and established himself as a coach that values effort over talent. Following year the players were the ones who didn't show up.
This year we are looking good in the effort stakes again.

 

[Canonball]

When you realise that on page 308 that your pulse is being raised over the latest shocks....glance down and the thread is actually up to page 317....

I am just gonna skip to now and pretend none of it happened.

In truth I do not care if the club lose CNK and or TMM.

To my way of thinking, Webster is in a six year ish life span, approaching midway, last year his boys let him down big time, rather than wake up and shake up the players in year four...too little too late....blast the players now, cut cut cut, show them who is boss. Sack fire boot.

Accountability people, remake the whole dam deal just to show everyone who is running this ship - the Warriors players need to learn now, that a season like 2024 is the way you your ass fired, something the Warriors have not been able to instill since 95.

The clean out is happening, whether or not it's been entirely intentional ... good signs if you think (and I do) Webster and Cappy are looking to stamp the roster with their own brand, and play it the way they want .. there's a couple i wish could have held on a little longer (and TMM will be one of those if true) but I reckon for the most part the calls on outgoing players have been the correct ones

 

[3rdstriker]

The clean out is happening, whether or not it's been entirely intentional ... good signs if you think (and I do) Webster and Cappy are looking to stamp the roster with their own brand, and play it the way they want .. there's a couple i wish could have held on a little longer (and TMM will be one of those if true) but I reckon for the most part the calls on outgoing players have been the correct ones

Yeah it's a huge positive for our up&comers too.

 

[sup42]

The clean out is happening, whether or not it's been entirely intentional ... good signs if you think (and I do) Webster and Cappy are looking to stamp the roster with their own brand, and play it the way they want .. there's a couple i wish could have held on a little longer (and TMM will be one of those if true) but I reckon for the most part the calls on outgoing players have been the correct ones

From the outside I wonder if TMM CNK thing is about those boys not wanting to play in positions Webster wants them in.

CNK is fixed on being a fullback, I suspect his own inflexibility to be more like Roger who plays where he is told might be part of why he has fallen out of favor/ that and the game moving on from non ball playing high meter running fullbacks.

And in TMMs case it is a bit more complicated, he was awesome temporarily at seven, I suspect that is where he wanted to play - based off the clear effort he put in to hold that position. The return of SJ to seven may have seen TMM drop his lip and play like a busted arse at six.

Seems to be a thing, when TMM is six in the starting side he plays like a flat pancake.

I have no evidence to back up any of this so folks do not bother making argument of it - call it a hunch - or take it at face value as an example of how there are things we are not privy to in the back ground that Webster and Cappy have to deal with.

TMM playing like a superstar in NSW cup of late might have not been about trying to crack FG at the Warriors, he might be just turning on to audition for his next gig, which if true would piss the coaches off even more eh.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

From the outside I wonder if TMM CNK thing is about those boys not wanting to play in positions Webster wants them in.

CNK is fixed on being a fullback, I suspect his own inflexibility to be more like Roger who plays where he is told might be part of why he has fallen out of favor/ that and the game moving on from non ball playing high meter running fullbacks.

And in TMMs case it is a bit more complicated, he was awesome temporarily at seven, I suspect that is where he wanted to play - based off the clear effort he put in to hold that position. The return of SJ to seven may have seen TMM drop his lip and play like a busted arse at six.

Seems to be a thing, when TMM is six in the starting side he plays like a flat pancake.

I have no evidence to back up any of this so folks do not bother making argument of it - call it a hunch - or take it at face value as an example of how there are things we are not privy to in the back ground that Webster and Cappy have to deal with.

TMM playing like a superstar in NSW cup of late might have not been about trying to crack FG at the Warriors, he might be just turning on to audition for his next gig, which if true would piss the coaches off even more eh.

I know you've said you have no evidence around what you've said, but I dunno man, seems like you're just coming up with things.

I don't recall anyone ever questioning TMMs effort, so to suggest that he dropped lip last year is a bit out of the blue. Also with him only playing well this year for another contract....you're essentially speculating he's a shit club man based off of nothing.

 

[sup42]

I know you've said you have no evidence around what you've said, but I dunno man, seems like you're just coming up with things.

I don't recall anyone ever questioning TMMs effort, so to suggest that he dropped lip last year is a bit out of the blue. Also with him only playing well this year for another contract....you're essentially speculating he's a shit club man based off of nothing.

TMM plays shit at six last year great at seven is all I am saying coz that is actually what happened, then plays shit when back to six....see the dots?

They're my dots, don't expect folk to join them, not criticizing you, just saying I do not pull my pot stirring comments on here completely outta my ass.

 

[John Nick]

I know you've said you have no evidence around what you've said, but I dunno man, seems like you're just coming up with things.

I don't recall anyone ever questioning TMMs effort, so to suggest that he dropped lip last year is a bit out of the blue. Also with him only playing well this year for another contract....you're essentially speculating he's a shit club man based off of nothing.

I questioned his effectiveness & effort when he played @ 6 especially outside SJ.
He lacked in every way but stepped up when he moved into & albeit for only a handful of games.

 

[Inruin]

I know you've said you have no evidence around what you've said, but I dunno man, seems like you're just coming up with things.

I don't recall anyone ever questioning TMMs effort, so to suggest that he dropped lip last year is a bit out of the blue. Also with him only playing well this year for another contract....you're essentially speculating he's a shit club man based off of nothing.

TMM's stats at 6 last year were similar or better to Metcalf at 6 last year with SJ playing 7.

Questioning his effort you would think he would have a decline in defensive stats which we didn't see either.

Are people seeing his play at 7 and expecting the same at 6? Perhaps SJ was the difference there? But then what we are seeing from Metcalf at 7 is very similar to what we saw at 6 from him.

Perhaps TMM shines when given the freedom to be the main playmaker as we saw at 7 last year, at fullback in the pre season game this year and with Boyd organising and happy to hand that over to TMM in cup.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I questioned his effectiveness & effort when he played @ 6 especially outside SJ.
He lacked in every way but stepped up when he moved into & albeit for only a handful of games.

Yeah I don't think anyone can question the effectiveness as it was plain to see it didn't work when he was next to SJ.
But thanks John, I appreciate your response and maybe I'm forgetting how bad it really was last year.

My view is while TMM can drift in and out of a game (many halves are guilty of this), I've never considered him someone who has ever dropped lip or not given 100%

 

[The Undertaker]

KP to Wahs has a JFH to Wahs feel about it. Almost….. inevitable. Not committing to the Kangaroos and considering a switch to NZ feels like someone not just wanting money, but also a connection to their heritage.

There is only one place where someone like KP can get the connection, and that’s us.

If that’s remotely true, and is a possibility for 2026 assuming Knights approve a release of course, it’s no wonder CNK might not be retained.

TT looks very comfortable on the wing and I am liking what he brings to us there. Slippery.

Add KP to an already imposing forward pack and a developing halves combination and we are an outside back and prop away from being massive contenders.

Hughes on the other hand, I can’t see. He’s going to go out to pasture at the Dolphins or titans once Melbourne move to transform their squad to the next generation. He will be past his best and I’d rather invest heavily on CHT and Metcalf who could be guns, with Boyd as a solid back up and Jett developing nicely behind them. I can see CHT moving to 14 when Cleary is ready.

Add EIT MGT TSS and Laban onto a developing team and my goodness we could have the best roster in the NRL if this group stays together.

Come home KP. The time is now.