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

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane
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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[Boston Boy]

Was a fan of manu until I seen his vlogs ect not really that big on the signing if we are getting him also believe he was overhyped at fullback the stats were always good but won't be a massive upgrade in terms of attack or defence

Yeah it depends on his form. He's been relatively average from what I have seen in Japanese rugby, but his team has been average. At his peak he can be elite however, haven't seen that lately. He has more attack in him than CNK, but he is not a very fast fullback however.

 

[Wah's Up]

The Melbourne Storm club have signed another Kiwi. Moses Leo who will play his 2nd NRL game this Sunday against the NZ Warriors. He is originally from Westlake College and played union for North Harbour; he will be marking Ali Leiataua.
New Zealand sevens is abundant with speedsters and very fit and talented players, how come Melbourne seems to be the only NRL side that knows this?

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Was a fan of manu until I seen his vlogs ect not really that big on the signing if we are getting him also believe he was overhyped at fullback the stats were always good but won't be a massive upgrade in terms of attack or defence

Up until last season I saw him as a liability at fullback - played incredibly selfishly in the position. What would give me some hope however is that from centre he distributed to his winger much better in 2024.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Up until last season I saw him as a liability at fullback - played incredibly selfishly in the position. What would give me some hope however is that from centre he distributed to his winger much better in 2024.

It's only a small sample size - but Manu's played 15 games at FB that haven't been affected by injury.
Tries and try assists are both 0.5 per game, 7.6 tackle breaks a game, and 240m a game. That's elite.

Absolutely, hes not a ball playing fb like Teddy who is up around 1 try assist a game, but those are still elite numbers. Much better than Charnz's best year in 2023 for us, for comparison.

Imo, he's the ideal player to replicate what Dylan Edwards from the back, which is what I think Webby is looking for.

Interestingly enough, those stats I posted above - while not all from one year - are better than any of Dylan Edwards last 4 years at the back. Pretty exciting to think we could have Manu do the same things as Edwards, but better.

 

[Sammyw]

how can anyone be against the signing of Manu lol he is elite, always been better at 1 than he has been at center. legit star power signing, those hoping for ponga need to realise he is under contract until end of 2027 and loves the newie lifestyle, hes not auckland bound

 

[Billyspleen75]

The Melbourne Storm club have signed another Kiwi. Moses Leo who will play his 2nd NRL game this Sunday against the NZ Warriors. He is originally from Westlake College and played union for North Harbour; he will be marking Ali Leiataua.
New Zealand sevens is abundant with speedsters and very fit and talented players, how come Melbourne seems to be the only NRL side that knows this?

I think it's moreso that if you're a sevens player, fully entrenched in the All Blacks Sevens system, and a league team is trying to convince you to change sports and sign with them, you want to be signing with a team that you are 110% sure is going to give you the best chance to succeed.

You'd much rather be a Warbrick/Leo coming through the Storm system (or Nawaqanitawase at the Roosters) than an Alaimalo trying to do the same at the Tigers

 

[Get them onside ref!]

The Melbourne Storm club have signed another Kiwi. Moses Leo who will play his 2nd NRL game this Sunday against the NZ Warriors. He is originally from Westlake College and played union for North Harbour; he will be marking Ali Leiataua.
New Zealand sevens is abundant with speedsters and very fit and talented players, how come Melbourne seems to be the only NRL side that knows this?

Storm able to attract good players because of being top guns
Wahs always will struggle
We all know why!

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

It's only a small sample size - but Manu's played 15 games at FB that haven't been affected by injury.
Tries and try assists are both 0.5 per game, 7.6 tackle breaks a game, and 240m a game. That's elite.

Absolutely, hes not a ball playing fb like Teddy who is up around 1 try assist a game, but those are still elite numbers. Much better than Charnz's best year in 2023 for us, for comparison.

Imo, he's the ideal player to replicate what Dylan Edwards from the back, which is what I think Webby is looking for.

Interestingly enough, those stats I posted above - while not all from one year - are better than any of Dylan Edwards last 4 years at the back. Pretty exciting to think we could have Manu do the same things as Edwards, but better.

How do the stats look on a per receipts basis? No question he played selfishly in the fullback role for the Roosters & Kiwis in the past but that’s not to say he can’t be a success there on a full time basis however. I have hope after last season where I thought he set up his winger much better.

And btw, I’m not convinced an Edwards type fullback would be what we need - we already have that with CNK & we don’t have Cleary at halfback… not that Penrith seem to be going great with that combo currently.

 

[Inruin]

Andrew Webster confirms no chance of mid-season move for Warriors duo

Andrew Webster says there are no plans for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad or Te Maire Martin to be released mid-season, as the off-contract duo weigh up their future.

sportnation.nz

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

The signing we’ve all been waiting for!

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

The signing we’ve all been waiting for!

View attachment 12490

Wow can’t believe we got that knights spine player where all hoping for

 

[Sammyw]

Jye Linnane... cappy talking about his best assest are speed and footwork, lucky we've signed him after his second ACL rupture in two years and he is only 3 months into the recovery... whats the point lol TMM gone 100% at years end then. CHT seemingly has a mortgage on the 6 jersey, which im not sure how i feel about.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Yeah I don't think this moves the needle for us any time soon. Still very worried about our halves:

Luke Met - injury prone (to date), just had a kid and is Aussie...who tf knows what's gunna happen with him
TMM - likely gone at end of 2025
Boyd - Hasn't played for us yet and already being scouted for next year by other teams. I don't think he'll be here long
CHT - kinda a meh half.
Clearly 2.0 - still ages away
Hansen - still ages away

Is this guy any closer to first grade then Cleary or Hansen?

If TMM leaves next year and only ONE of our halves get injured, were literally down to one of the newbies....quite concerning, especially if it's a long term injury

 

[Bevosa]

Finally, another glorious mullet to carry Dalin's legacy forward.

 

[Damo]

Jye Linnane... cappy talking about his best assest are speed and footwork, lucky we've signed him after his second ACL rupture in two years and he is only 3 months into the recovery... whats the point lol TMM gone 100% at years end then. CHT seemingly has a mortgage on the 6 jersey, which im not sure how i feel about.

Teddy seems to go alright after his ACL and patella injuries

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Storm able to attract good players because of being top guns
Wahs always will struggle
We all know why!

We don't have a unlimited newscorp salary cap like them

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Jye Linnane... cappy talking about his best assest are speed and footwork, lucky we've signed him after his second ACL rupture in two years and he is only 3 months into the recovery... whats the point lol TMM gone 100% at years end then. CHT seemingly has a mortgage on the 6 jersey, which im not sure how i feel about.

So Cappy says this guy has speed and footwork
What does that tell ya about all the guys we have queuing up for this job?
Go figure

 

[The Warrior Waka]

The signing we’ve all been waiting for!

View attachment 12490

This is a funny looking Kayln Ponga?

Fuck u recruitment. You build-ups bastards!

 

[Warriorshopeful]

The signing we’ve all been waiting for!

View attachment 12490

With us signing this guy on a 3 year NRL deal, looks like TMM won't be offered another contract.

 

[Sammyw]

Teddy seems to go alright after his ACL and patella injuries

teddy a bit of an anomaly, one of the best modern fullbacks to play the game with genetically gifted speed. dare say he isnt the standard we should be comparing Jye Linnane to. probably a longer list of players that didnt recover peak form post -ACL tear let alone two