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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[Noitall]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Thanks for that, didn’t realise it was a stuff and could have looked for myself. Warriors have certainly extended themselves more than NZ rugby and roosters about how much they’d value his signing with Stacey saying he could play anywhere in our backline

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Thanks for that, didn’t realise it was a stuff and could have looked for myself. Warriors have certainly extended themselves more than NZ rugby and roosters about how much they’d value his signing with Stacey saying he could play anywhere in our backline

If CNK does accept our extension and we somehow land Joey, where does he fit into the team? We already have a log jam at centre. Do we transition CNK into a 13/Utility similar to walks, freeing up the 1 for Manu?

 

[Noitall]

If CNK does accept our extension and we somehow land Joey, where does he fit into the team? We already have a log jam at centre. Do we transition CNK into a 13/Utility similar to walks, freeing up the 1 for Manu?

Think CNK would be great as that outside back depth player we’ve been public in saying we’re after. Someone mentioned interest in Remis Smith recently? Realistically it’s a demotion for CNK, but the knowledge of injuries being a reality and the amount of positions he can fill in the backline, and the potential of being apart of the Warriors maiden premiership might be enough to make him stay if it happened that we landed Manu?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Selfish and only cares about his own legacy probably

 

[pompower]

I'd be pretty surprised if CNK sticks around to be the back up. And honestly, fair enough too -- he's earned that confidence in himself, he's been great since he came back. He could go elsewhere and get a starting spot whether that's in the NRL (where he'd be an upgrade for a few teams) or in Super League.

 

[Noitall]

I'd be pretty surprised if CNK sticks around to be the back up. And honestly, fair enough too -- he's earned that confidence in himself, he's been great since he came back. He could go elsewhere and get a starting spot whether that's in the NRL (where he'd be an upgrade for a few teams) or in Super League.

He can take a payday or potentially be apart of history. Wouldn’t criticise him either way, but I do think we need more than a workhorse at fullback

 

[#robbiemears]

We have a gun halfback in the making in Jett Cleary. The club needs to lock him up long term. His running game over the past few weeks has been super impressive, but it's his organizing chops and goal kicking that really sets him apart. You can see the sway he has on that Jersey Flegg team. He gets the ball every time he wants it - never over-called - and invariably takes the right option. His natural charisma translates well in that team environment. As he fills out more, like his brother did, I really think he's going to become a top tier half.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Should make a (nother) play for Kerr. Sounds like he regrets a few contract choices in the past...

‘They don’t really give a s***’: Dolphins star Josh Kerr opens up on brutal NRL contract lesson

‘They don’t really give a s***’: Dolphins star opens up on brutal NRL contract lesson

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Wrighty]

We have a gun halfback in the making in Jett Cleary. The club needs to lock him up long term. His running game over the past few weeks has been super impressive, but it's his organizing chops and goal kicking that really sets him apart. You can see the sway he has on that Jersey Flegg team. He gets the ball every time he wants it - never over-called - and invariably takes the right option. His natural charisma translates well in that team environment. As he fills out more, like his brother did, I really think he's going to become a top tier half.

Big call by Robbie - ok let's watch this unfold. This development year is very important for him. As he has been a bit light on reps and games at other junior levels for various reasons.

 

[Wrighty]

Should make a (nother) play for Kerr. Sounds like he regrets a few contract choices in the past...

‘They don’t really give a s***’: Dolphins star Josh Kerr opens up on brutal NRL contract lesson

‘They don’t really give a s***’: Dolphins star opens up on brutal NRL contract lesson

www.foxsports.com.au

I have always been interested in him and somewhere on one of the threads the Turkish people destroyed I seem to recall making a few posts advocating him as a recruitment target..

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I have always been interested in him and somewhere on one of the threads the Turkish people destroyed I seem to recall making a few posts advocating him as a recruitment target..

I wasnt sold at the time, but we had different players / coach etc...

29 years of age, 6ft 6 & 112kg.. Pretty much what we are missing

 

[Wrighty]

I wasnt sold at the time, but we had different players / coach etc...

29 years of age, 6ft 6 & 112kg.. Pretty much what we are missing

Man could have been anything had he had the right coach who believed in him to be a game breaker instead of the meat and potatoes roles and assignments he ended up being given. He has great agility and even a side step despite being so tall.

 

[Noitall]

We have a gun halfback in the making in Jett Cleary. The club needs to lock him up long term. His running game over the past few weeks has been super impressive, but it's his organizing chops and goal kicking that really sets him apart. You can see the sway he has on that Jersey Flegg team. He gets the ball every time he wants it - never over-called - and invariably takes the right option. His natural charisma translates well in that team environment. As he fills out more, like his brother did, I really think he's going to become a top tier half.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

That spectacular offload has made our national news over here, even for an age grade I haven’t seen that during a season unless taking something out. I think the hype is going to start coming now, but being the influences and family I think he’ll stay grounded and work hard. Like you say, still a bit of filling out to do

 

[Inruin]

We have a gun halfback in the making in Jett Cleary. The club needs to lock him up long term. His running game over the past few weeks has been super impressive, but it's his organizing chops and goal kicking that really sets him apart. You can see the sway he has on that Jersey Flegg team. He gets the ball every time he wants it - never over-called - and invariably takes the right option. His natural charisma translates well in that team environment. As he fills out more, like his brother did, I really think he's going to become a top tier half.

I'm hoping he continues to develop and fill out. And he chooses to stay with us. I honestly don't think Metcalf is the answer at 7 but if him there for 2 more seasons allows Jett to get first grade ready then so be it. I'm really excited to see what Jett can do with an experienced pack including Laban, Leka, Demetric etc in season 2027 or 2028. He looks like an onfield general that we can build a team around. 30 years of waiting and a few false dawns in that time, I'm happy to wait another two or three. Genuinely excited for the future of the club which is a great place to be for a warriors fanbase.

 

[Cces]

Jett is a fulltime athlete playing against his peers, and others who are younger than him, who are 99% amateurs. Yesterday's win, against a team who have won 1 game all season, will do wonders for his confidence but the recruitment team hopefully aren't pinning their hopes on him yet

 

[Noitall]

I'm hoping he continues to develop and fill out. And he chooses to stay with us. I honestly don't think Metcalf is the answer at 7 but if him there for 2 more seasons allows Jett to get first grade ready then so be it. I'm really excited to see what Jett can do with an experienced pack including Laban, Leka, Demetric etc in season 2027 or 2028. He looks like an onfield general that we can build a team around. 30 years of waiting and a few false dawns in that time, I'm happy to wait another two or three. Genuinely excited for the future of the club which is a great place to be for a warriors fanbase.

Only thing I’m not in total agreement is Metcalf. He’s doing something a bit more each week to show me he’s becoming the game managing halfback, last night was the 40/20 which my heart was in my mouth for. Think there’s X factor in his speed and if or when he can put both together, he’s going to be a real threat. Jahrome Hughes is who he should be emulating most with his mix of running game and managing the game

 

[Inruin]

Only thing I’m not in total agreement is Metcalf. He’s doing something a bit more each week to show me he’s becoming the game managing halfback, last night was the 40/20 which my heart was in my mouth for. Think there’s X factor in his speed and if or when he can put both together, he’s going to be a real threat. Jahrome Hughes is who he should be emulating most with his mix of running game and managing the game

Have to agree to disagree. Seeing some individually good things every now and then. Not seeing something more each week myself. Our attack is genuinely poor particularly in the opposition 20. A half decent 7 would be excelling with the platform our forwards have been providing and field position. CHT is outperforming him which says a lot really, no disrespect to him. I genuinely hope Metcalf can be that guy but from what I see it's not going to happen in a hurry. With a bit of luck he gets to a level where we can bring in Cleary and Metcalf can play 6 as the experienced supporting half. As it stands though Luke Metcalf isnr the 7 we are looking for.

 

[Noitall]

Have to agree to disagree. Seeing some individually good things every now and then. Not seeing something more each week myself. Our attack is genuinely poor particularly in the opposition 20. A half decent 7 would be excelling with the platform our forwards have been providing and field position. CHT is outperforming him which says a lot really, no disrespect to him. I genuinely hope Metcalf can be that guy but from what I see it's not going to happen in a hurry. With a bit of luck he gets to a level where we can bring in Cleary and Metcalf can play 6 as the experienced supporting half. As it stands though Luke Metcalf isnr the 7 we are looking for.

Yeah I can see where you’re coming from, and just like you I’m just a fan so really have limited knowledge to the whole picture, but watching the brief mention the Warriors got on the build up to the titans/raiders game, I get heartened when someone like Cooper Cronk says this guys going to become a great halfback for Warriors. Again, just an opinion but I hope he’s right

 

[John Nick]

Yeah I can see where you’re coming from, and just like you I’m just a fan so really have limited knowledge to the whole picture, but watching the brief mention the Warriors got on the build up to the titans/raiders game, I get heartened when someone like Cooper Cronk says this guys going to become a great halfback for Warriors. Again, just an opinion but I hope he’s right

Yeah I am thinking that he is playing to a webster game plan whatever that is but you would have to think that webster is happy with what's happening.
Seems totally foreign to his normal game but it is working out and to be sitting so high on the ladder who would question the plan

 

[Noitall]

Yeah I am thinking that he is playing to a webster game plan whatever that is but you would have to think that webster is happy with what's happening.
Seems totally foreign to his normal game but it is working out and to be sitting so high on the ladder who would question the plan

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Wanted the moment like has been mentioned is a massive endorsement. The plan before even with SJ was to pin teams in their 20 and he’s doing that well I reckon with his kicking. To watch him canter next to Capewell giving his all was great and the skills to pull that offload in was great skills. Seems to be a good support player