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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[Damo]

That dolphins v storm game really highlighted that. Even their forwards Kerr and Stone looked fast.

Those two are categorically not fast lol just a good game from the Phins overall.

 

[Inruin]

We are seriously lacking in outside backs but I think he is a handy pick up if he is coming to develop in cup and earn his place in first grade. They have said previously that they will look internally first before trying to recruit for positions. Hopefully Cuddles doesn't feel the need to play him straight away in the top side.
Hopefully he can handle the step up to NRL week in, week out grind and doesn't turn in to Gannon fodder

 

[tyrael]

Those two are categorically not fast lol just a good game from the Phins overall.

Yeah I know they aren't fast, that's why I said looked fast. However, Averillo and Farnsworth were causing them all sorts of problems and Bostock/Issako are fast enough to cause them problems.

 

[Noitall]

We are seriously lacking in outside backs but I think he is a handy pick up if he is coming to develop in cup and earn his place in first grade. They have said previously that they will look internally first before trying to recruit for positions. Hopefully Cuddles doesn't feel the need to play him straight away in the top side.

Wouldn’t be keen on him joining mid year and rather he do a full preseason with the club. Judging by his dimensions and the similarities to a Tohu or Yeo, it seems like it’s deliberate that they want that in the locking role. No doubt there’s been communication and the club knows the buy in from the player and the previous knowledge from Agar helps

 

[Inruin]

Wouldn’t be keen on him joining mid year and rather he do a full preseason with the club. Judging by his dimensions and the similarities to a Tohu or Yeo, it seems like it’s deliberate that they want that in the locking role. No doubt there’s been communication and the club knows the buy in from the player and the previous knowledge from Agar helps

If he has signed, I hope he can come straight away and play half season in cup, do a full preseason and then go from there. What I don't want is Cuddles to bring him over and play him at lock regardless because that's what he has promised. Ie RTS is a centre, CNK is our fullback etc. I think Gannon could be a very handy signing but the difference between super league and NRL is quite a step. Particularly for a guy who has had a year off

 

[Noitall]

If he has signed, I hope he can come straight away and play half season in cup, do a full preseason and then go from there. What I don't want is Cuddles to bring him over and play him at lock regardless because that's what he has promised. Ie RTS is a centre, CNK is our fullback etc. I think Gannon could be a very handy signing but the difference between super league and NRL is quite a step. Particularly for a guy who has had a year off

Yeah I could get onboard with the half year playing in nsw cup scenario, but a preseason at a minimum. Watching how another few younger British players entering the nrl quickly adapted, I feel confident the club will make the right decisions regarding his progress. It doesn’t sound like any player rejected the Dylan Walker succession role, so if this guy is earmarked for the role he must have something going for him to be identified out of all nrl and super league players. Don’t think there’s enough recognition of how forwards have progressed at the club in recent years

 

[Damo]

If he has signed, I hope he can come straight away and play half season in cup, do a full preseason and then go from there. What I don't want is Cuddles to bring him over and play him at lock regardless because that's what he has promised. Ie RTS is a centre, CNK is our fullback etc. I think Gannon could be a very handy signing but the difference between super league and NRL is quite a step. Particularly for a guy who has had a year off

Nicholson, Bateman and Smithies all show that forwards can make the step quite well.
He hasn't really had a year off now, played 8 games of this current season already.

 

[Noitall]

Nicholson, Bateman and Smithies all show that forwards can make the step quite well.
He hasn't really had a year off now, played 8 games of this current season already.

Better for us if he comes over that he’s taken a year out to sort any issues out regarding his concussions. Could have even taken it off to change a technique or whatever was the cause of getting so many? Don’t blame him at all being young and think that’s the time to do it

 

[Inruin]

Nicholson, Bateman and Smithies all show that forwards can make the step quite well.
He hasn't really had a year off now, played 8 games of this current season already.

Not saying he can't adapt. Just saying it's a step up. Also those other players are a fair bit more experienced to.

 

[Cces]

Not saying he can't adapt. Just saying it's a step up. Also those other players are a fair bit more experienced to.

Matty Nicholson is also 21 and has less Super League experience than Gannon. They have pretty much an identical amount of games if you include Nicholson's stint in the English Second Division however

 

[hornbybrown]

We need an outside back overhaul, Watching all these other teams, we just lack athleticism. And a lack of imagination in attack.
Crazy to me that we’re trying to offload Martin and keep CNK

We are to slow in outside backs and starting edge forwards. That’s what killed us vs Melbourne

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Despite our not so successful record signing Englishmen in the past I’m all for it.
NZ is more like England than Aust in terms of weather and culture.
In theory their 2nd tier of players won’t demand as many $$$ as Aussies?
A guy like this can grow through the NSW Cup too.
Can we now sign some speedy players from there?

Does Martin "Great balls" "Chariots" Offiah have any sons?

 

[Playdaball]

The clubs

Missed a whole season due to concussion though

We also signed a half who has done 2 x ACL’s.

 

[MaybeTop8]

The clubs

We also signed a half who has done 2 x ACL’s.

You'd have to hope there's some kind of injury clause in these contracts though

 

[CWC]

2 ACLs means he won’t snap his knees again with the grafts, so a very good gamble IMO

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Leeds fans on their forum don't seem to think Gannon is ready for the NRL yet. This echoes what Arthur said too, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[Keithy81]

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Leeds fans on their forum don't seem to think Gannon is ready for the NRL yet. This echoes what Arthur said too, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

At 21 years old he's bound to be an investment. And at three years it's an astute amount of time instead of these marquee ten year contracts that make clubs sad half way through. We have done a lot of old blokes signings in our history so getting some players with their best ahead of them is good.

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 12629

What’s the doubts around intentions in the article?

 

[Keithy81]

What’s the doubts around intentions in the article?

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz