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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[John Nick]

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

After his previous misses it took some serious balls to demand that Barney let him have a shot at goal from halfway

 

[Noitall]

After his previous misses it took some serious balls to demand that Barney let him have a shot at goal from halfway

Not going to deny that I wasn’t cursing the shit out of him when they caught up and all the points we left out there from kicks, but that was a goal kicking issue, then when he missed the dropped goal too. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t confident with the calibre of kickers they have that we’d win when it came down to kicks but was just another step in the right direction for Metcalf I reckon

 

[John Nick]

Not going to deny that I wasn’t cursing the shit out of him when they caught up and all the points we left out there from kicks, but that was a goal kicking issue, then when he missed the dropped goal too. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t confident with the calibre of kickers they have that we’d win when it came down to kicks but was just another step in the right direction for Metcalf I reckon

Yes to put those misses aside and step up with confidence is not easy.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

The greats are hardly ever the most talented. It’s normally the guy with the most heart who refuses to quit.

 

[Bay39er]

Unlike Reynolds the majority of LM’s kicks were from the wrong side for a right foot kicker

Also the wind was not helpful for the side he was kicking from

No excuse for the one that hit the upright though

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Unlike Reynolds the majority of LM’s kicks were from the wrong side for a right foot kicker

Also the wind was not helpful for the side he was kicking from

No excuse for the one that hit the upright though

at least he knows how to kick a goal from in front, something that CHT struggled with.

 

[CWC]

If Metcalf makes it he can play 7 until he retires, Jett if he makes it can play 6 and cover for 7 and take over when he’s 23-24, and there is Linnane too, see who works out

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Everyone has an off night with the boot from time to time, and the conditions weren't easy. 60% is not sustainable though, so he'll need to show some improvement pretty urgently.

An Isaako type on the wing who can kick goals at a very high percentage would be a pretty useful acquisition. 4 more points a game or the like is pretty massive.

 

[Noitall]

Everyone has an off night with the boot from time to time, and the conditions weren't easy. 60% is not sustainable though, so he'll need to show some improvement pretty urgently.

An Isaako type on the wing who can kick goals at a very high percentage would be a pretty useful acquisition. 4 more points a game or the like is pretty massive.

Was interesting in the after match talks to hear Barnett practices them from 50m out if anyone does in the team. Wouldn’t want that extra responsibility on him, but we’re leaving a lot of points out there too. Wouldn’t mind seeing Tuaupiki having a crack

 

[CWC]

Everyone has an off night with the boot from time to time, and the conditions weren't easy. 60% is not sustainable though, so he'll need to show some improvement pretty urgently.

An Isaako type on the wing who can kick goals at a very high percentage would be a pretty useful acquisition. 4 more points a game or the like is pretty massive.

He had a bad night vs Roosters then 5/5 including the ice cold penalty to beat the Tigers,, off nights vs Storm and Broncos then nails a 50m walk off goal to win the game

Get Halligan to fine tune it for him

 

[Riz]

Tuaupiki is a gun kicker too if needed

 

[Damo]

Was interesting in the after match talks to hear Barnett practices them from 50m out if anyone does in the team. Wouldn’t want that extra responsibility on him, but we’re leaving a lot of points out there too. Wouldn’t mind seeing Tuaupiki having a crack

Pretty sure that was a joke mate

 

[Noitall]

Pretty sure that was a joke mate

Could be, but he was a goal kicker at knights

 

[Noitall]

With it looking like there’s nothing for Joseph Manu in union anymore apart from money in Europe or Japan, are people thinking there’s a chance he joins us? And would he make us a better team?

 

[CWC]

With it looking like there’s nothing for Joseph Manu in union anymore apart from money in Europe or Japan, are people thinking there’s a chance he joins us? And would he make us a better team?

The only thing is CNK probably getting re-signed and Stacey putting it out there (they don’t do that if they’ve got him, they’ve been super quiet when successful)

Looks like we’re basically saying we can match Japan/French money, FB position and chance of first premiership with a good coach, you can have the whanau network, it’s all up to him to choose us or Roosters, I have a feeling I will just be like F him if we’re still not good enough for him eh Who thinks they can just get that Japan money when they’re not even a rugby player then think they can walk into the AB squad at 30 the year before the World Cup?

 

[Wrighty]

The way Ponga is going Knights might be open to releasing him. Something has to give in Newcastle. Most probably the coach

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Everyone has an off night with the boot from time to time, and the conditions weren't easy. 60% is not sustainable though, so he'll need to show some improvement pretty urgently.

An Isaako type on the wing who can kick goals at a very high percentage would be a pretty useful acquisition. 4 more points a game or the like is pretty massive.

Mets is actually a pretty good goal kicker in general. It was only 2 weeks prior that LM's perfect kicking won us the game at Campbelltown. Even when Leka made one of his kicks harder than it needed to be.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

The way Ponga is going Knights might be open to releasing him. Something has to give in Newcastle. Most probably the coach

Do we really need TWO Dally M fullbacks? Seems incredibly extravagant...

 

[Noitall]

The way Ponga is going Knights might be open to releasing him. Something has to give in Newcastle. Most probably the coach

Big money to take over his contract

 

[CWC]

Do we really need TWO Dally M fullbacks? Seems incredibly extravagant...

Ponga can play centre, Charnz is our fullback