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

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[run_it_str8_again]

Boyd is unhappy with how his career is at present. Which is fair. No one dreams of being a reserve grade half.

He should sit tight. If he was as good as he wants to be seen he'd be in already.

He's not incumbent because he just basically turned up. Tough luck Tanah. Wait your patience and then hope you don't get a geriatric pack to play behind when you do.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

I to have the opinion that LM would be better at 6 .
For me the jury is out on Boyd at 7.
I always thought that tmm would have been our 7 . Certainly not a 6.
I trust/hope Webster is right in his selection process and we see improvement even though we aren't going badly . A week or so ago we were looking good

By the time we know who's the rightest option Jett should be cooked on both sides and be ready to serve up.

 

[Worried2Death]

By the time we know who's the rightest option Jett should be cooked on both sides and be ready to serve up.

Let's eat!

 

[Leon Black]

This made me think of Buzz Rothfeilds choice of halves pairing for the wahs. He said the conductors of the wahs should be Te māori Martin and Luke Capewell.
First of all Buzz, You've mixed up Luke Metcalf , Kurt Capewell and ex south sydney player Luke Capewell into one person.
At least he got Te māori's? Ethnicity correct.

Him & Blocker need to go to principle O'shaq Hennessey's office and be reprimanded!!


View: https://youtu.be/zRpsRKuyi3Y?si=GX4PYVSyrwnTJuQs

Mr Garvey, legend

Love Blockers variations on CNK’s name, the ‘in gold’ area amongst his greatest hits double album.

Buzz has an excuse he’s an old drunk like Jim Lahey…

Whoever wants DCE next season be warned, his morphing into Chooks version of Chad Townsend!



View: https://youtu.be/QVMzP6aiSJw?si=WFJ1FFeFEFrbA0_T

 

[Inruin]

Mr Garvey, legend

Love Blockers variations on CNK’s name, the ‘in gold’ area amongst his greatest hits double album.

Buzz has an excuse he’s an old drunk like Jim Lahey…

Whoever wants DCE next season be warned, his morphing into Chooks version of Chad Townsend!



View: https://youtu.be/QVMzP6aiSJw?si=WFJ1FFeFEFrbA0_T

Yup, I think manly doing the right thing letting him go. They need to find a replacement though

 

[Falcon]

I'd be trying to get Laban and Rocco done asap as currently, they don't have a very big body of work to help bump their price up. Waiting another 10-15 games could see a nice little increase in their value otherwise.

Probably same with Metcalf. Still not sold on him as an out and out halfbaxk but from next week, out of our next 13 games we only play teams in the 8 (currently) only 4 times, so if Metcalf goes on a bit of run in those games he's going to be wanting a fat little upgrade.

If Perth gets the green light to enter a team for 2027 in the next few months there will be a mad scramble of teams locking up talent they really want to keep before they can officially negotiate with others from Nov 1

 

[~Navigator~]

I just read this I hope the Warriors have already got there fingers on the pulse.
NRL clubs to be allowed to sign two PNG pathway players outside of cap ahead of team's 2028 entry

NRL's plan to unleash PNG talent onto club lists before team's entry

A Papua New Guinea-based team will enter the NRL in 2028, but the league hopes to have a number of players from the Kumuls flourishing in the league in the preceding years.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Falcon]

I just read this I hope the Warriors have already got there fingers on the pulse.
NRL clubs to be allowed to sign two PNG pathway players outside of cap ahead of team's 2028 entry

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other[/

http://

I just read this I hope the Warriors have already got there fingers on the pulse.
NRL clubs to be allowed to sign two PNG pathway players outside of cap ahead of team's 2028 entry

NRL's plan to unleash PNG talent onto club lists before team's entry

A Papua New Guinea-based team will enter the NRL in 2028, but the league hopes to have a number of players from the Kumuls flourishing in the league in the preceding years.

www.abc.net.au

This is interesting. To me, Its a veiled development opportunity for NRL clubs to add depth the PNG side entering the comp in 2028. Outside of the Hunters QLD Cup side, where are the next tier of players plying their trade that haven’t already been identified already?

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

By the time we know who's the rightest option Jett should be cooked on both sides and be ready to serve up.

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

Yep
We just gotta find another SJ here!
And a running stepping hooker here
And a 5/8 same thing

 

[Boston Boy]

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

From what I see of Jett he is not as athletically gifted as Nathan. I often think the elite halves can take a gap with their speed off the mark etc or have a good step. That's not Jett. If he's going to succeed he will have to be a guy who works hard for everything and is more of the Cameron Smith route which is very hard. Lacks the athleticism but has the brains and dedication. Those type of players do not get as much interest initially as the athletes. I think we will have a chance of at least getting a good run with Jett because of this.

 

[Uster101]

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

What? you saying Jett might be like a Reece Walsh type signing? You mean a soft cock that would not put his body on the line to defend the tryline. If Jett is like Reece then why are we putting time into him? Hopefully Jett is nothing like Reece Walsh who did not give a Flying F!*k about the Warriors.

 

[Noitall]

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

I’m not so sure he would depart at the first opportunity. Might not even make it but I think there’s as much identity in him here as panthers for example. He’s Kiwi born and his old man’s career here is a legacy too at the club. Think it could be more attractive to be apart of a team winning its maiden premiership if not achieved already and will be pretty hard at panthers to do something special having won 4 straight premierships currently

 

[run_it_str8_again]

http://

This is interesting. To me, Its a veiled development opportunity for NRL clubs to add depth the PNG side entering the comp in 2028. Outside of the Hunters QLD Cup side, where are the next tier of players plying their trade that haven’t already been identified already?

Listened to some blokes on the radio who blew up saying what about developing the Australian kids? Why would we develop PNG players only for them to play against us?

 

[Wrighty]

From what I see of Jett he is not as athletically gifted as Nathan. I often think the elite halves can take a gap with their speed off the mark etc or have a good step. That's not Jett. If he's going to succeed he will have to be a guy who works hard for everything and is more of the Cameron Smith route which is very hard. Lacks the athleticism but has the brains and dedication. Those type of players do not get as much interest initially as the athletes. I think we will have a chance of at least getting a good run with Jett because of this.

Top post. You should post more frequently.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Listened to some blokes on the radio who blew up saying what about developing the Australian kids? Why would we develop PNG players only for them to play against us?

Such an Aussie attitude. We want to grow the game as long as it doesn't affect our total dominance.

Like mystery suspensions that have been handed to Kiwis before test matches for years and Origin eligibility rules that advantage Australia. Pacific defections didn't hurt Australia more than NZ = great for the game (though I agree with this one).

The PNG team will need to be afforded advantages to make them competitive. If they are not competitive then what's the point, it just weakens the competition and makes it even harder for the warriors to recruit externally?

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Such an Aussie attitude. We want to grow the game as long as it doesn't affect our total dominance.

Like mystery suspensions that have been handed to Kiwis before test matches for years and Origin eligibility rules that advantage Australia. Pacific defections didn't hurt Australia more than NZ = great for the game (though I agree with this one).

The PNG team will need to be afforded advantages to make them competitive. If they are not competitive then what's the point, it just weakens the competition and makes it even harder for the warriors to recruit externally?

absolutely. Thinking around SOO and its associated eligibility rules are too insular and built around an outdated paradigm. The mission should no longer be about solely benefitting Aussie Rugby League but growing the game internationally. Nothing in International Rugby League will happen without the NRL spearheading it. Whether that's PNG or buying the super league to grow the game properly in the UK and Europe.

 

[Playdaball]

One concern about young PNG players is that if they move to an Aust club or the Warriors , they won’t be available for the new PNG NRL side or will clubs be developing them for this new side?
It would be good to extend this out to other Islands too, although apart from the Cooks, no real established domestic comps.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Such an Aussie attitude. We want to grow the game as long as it doesn't affect our total dominance.

Like mystery suspensions that have been handed to Kiwis before test matches for years and Origin eligibility rules that advantage Australia. Pacific defections didn't hurt Australia more than NZ = great for the game (though I agree with this one).

The PNG team will need to be afforded advantages to make them competitive. If they are not competitive then what's the point, it just weakens the competition and makes it even harder for the warriors to recruit externally?

This might be off topic or on a side track but it also has geo political advantages for Australia too in this current political state of affairs.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Such an Aussie attitude. We want to grow the game as long as it doesn't affect our total dominance.

Like mystery suspensions that have been handed to Kiwis before test matches for years and Origin eligibility rules that advantage Australia. Pacific defections didn't hurt Australia more than NZ = great for the game (though I agree with this one).

The PNG team will need to be afforded advantages to make them competitive. If they are not competitive then what's the point, it just weakens the competition and makes it even harder for the warriors to recruit externally?

This might be off topic or on a side track but it also has geo political advantages for Australia too in this current political state of affairs.