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
-	Morgan Gannon	-
-	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: 26/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, 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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[BangBro's (still banging)]

Watching Cobbo at fullback, that’s who I would throw an offer at. Sio Kali could be good enough by the time one of our wingers contracts expires

I'd like for Sio Kali to play wing but they seem bent on him playing centre. I think Amituanai looks good to take on the wing position when DWZ is done.

I don't see kosi being the next after RTS, that's why I would want to recruit.

 

[3rdstriker]

Tuaupiki is instinctive and an elusive runner but he doesn't have the same explosive acceleration and x-factor that Kini does. When was the last time Tane actually broke the line, it's always almost. I like Tane, but he's not on Kini's level.

I don't know maybe I'm just hoping but I think Tane can go that next level.
Both players are very similar especially in size and yeah Kini's 24 games in and played for the Kiwis.
But if Tane gets cemented next year at fullback let's just wait and see.

 

[Noitall]

I'd like for Sio Kali to play wing but they seem bent on him playing centre. I think Amituanai looks good to take on the wing position when DWZ is done.

I don't see kosi being the next after RTS, that's why I would want to recruit.

The club doesn’t seem to be content with players being adept to one position alone, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kali still is viewed as a winger. We’ve got too many centres that are young and look promising. Amituanai has a big opportunity with speed and a good read defensively to shut down a play with a big hit

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

The club doesn’t seem to be content with players being adept to one position alone, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kali still is viewed as a winger. We’ve got too many centres that are young and look promising. Amituanai has a big opportunity with speed and a good read defensively to shut down a play with a big hit

Do you know how old Amituanai is?

 

[Noitall]

I don't know maybe I'm just hoping but I think Tane can go that next level.
Both players are very similar especially in size and yeah Kini's 24 games in and played for the Kiwis.
But if Tane gets cemented next year at fullback let's just wait and see.

Still would love to see him go into the halves. Think his kicking game is under utilised anywhere else. Kini has him attack wise, but Tuaupiki is a better defender

 

[Noitall]

Do you know how old Amituanai is?

23. Born in 2002

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

23. Born in 2002

Oh man! Get him signed up now!! Release kosi for this.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Of the November 1 crew for the warriors next season, i would extend......

L Metcalf (2028)
C H Tavita (2027)
J Laban (2028)
E I Toeava (2028)

the rest i would let test the market.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I actually think Billy is quite articulate when he appears on NRL 360

He’s a legend of a bloke, one of the all time greats. He & Greg Florimo have fought for this for decades, so good to see.

Will make it tough trying to upgrade squads with the new teams coming in however hopefully Perth is too far away for some of our young talent to want to leave for.

 

[CWC]

When was the last time Tane actually broke the line, it's always almost. I like Tane, but he's not on Kini's level.

Match winner vs Panthers, monster 50m break from own goal line vs Bulldogs (called back by Butler for forgetting to play advantage), this year try vs Manly, the other day vs Broncos same run almost scoring I think we scored in the same set.

I think allow him to sneak around rucks from FB he’s gonna run the defense around, remember how gangster he was vs Panthers last year and again vs Broncos in the second half, coach needs to maximize his advantages

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Match winner vs Panthers, monster 50m break from own goal line vs Bulldogs (called back by Butler for forgetting to play advantage), this year try vs Manly, the other day vs Broncos same run almost scoring I think we scored in the same set.

I think allow him to sneak around rucks from FB he’s gonna run the defense around, remember how gangster he was vs Panthers last year and again vs Broncos in the second half, coach needs to maximize his advantages

he also has some silky soccer skills as we saw to set King Kosi up.

 

[Bay39er]

Tuaupiki is instinctive and an elusive runner but he doesn't have the same explosive acceleration and x-factor that Kini does. When was the last time Tane actually broke the line, it's always almost. I like Tane, but he's not on Kini's level.

Agree totally as in my post following the Broncos game

TT has a lot of work to do if he is going to have a long FG career

 

[The Undertaker]

Is it just me, or did KP look right at home in NZ? I reckon CNK extended for 2 years opens the door for KP in 2027 to Wahs. Hints of him singing NZ anthem too..

I know weve talked a bit about this - but it just seemed like in the post match that he was happy to be in Chch…

With the Bears joining in 2027, it’s going to be an interesting next 18 months.

The pull home for New Zealanders is starting to get stronger given our club is really starting to develop into something special under Cappy and Webby.

1st Nov can’t come soon enough.

 

[Playdaball]

Don’t forget that Kini’s family are all settled in the GC now, so perhaps in no hurry to move back to NZ.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Is it just me, or did KP look right at home in NZ? I reckon CNK extended for 2 years opens the door for KP in 2027 to Wahs. Hints of him singing NZ anthem too..

I know weve talked a bit about this - but it just seemed like in the post match that he was happy to be in Chch…

With the Bears joining in 2027, it’s going to be an interesting next 18 months.

The pull home for New Zealanders is starting to get stronger given our club is really starting to develop into something special under Cappy and Webby.

1st Nov can’t come soon enough.

Reading through the Knights forum last night, they reckon something is up with Ponga and he clearly doesn't want to be there. Why would he though? I reckon they have committed suicide with the Brown signing for the long term. Get out of dodge, Kalyn.

The Bears could end up being his out. If he is smart, he holds on until they are in the market.

 

[3rdstriker]

Reading through the Knights forum last night, they reckon something is up with Ponga and he clearly doesn't want to be there. Why would he though? I reckon they have committed suicide with the Brown signing for the long term. Get out of dodge, Kalyn.

The Bears could end up being his out. If he is smart, he holds on until they are in the market.

He definitely looked just Done last night, in playing and also body language.

 

[kos]

He definitely looked just Done last night, in playing and also body language.

The pressure of being a million dollar man has cracked him

 

[Ever Hopeful]

The pressure of being a million dollar man has cracked him

Just outside the 8 last year, finals in 2023. This year they have scored just 72 points, have a pretty terrible side with an ancient Frizzell and Gagai. The coach is on his last legs and their long term strategy is to waste their cap on Dylan Brown.

It would be hard to see a future there, even with a couple of young talents they have.

 

[Keithy81]

Leeds forward Gannon signed

Leeds forward Morgan Gannon signs three-year deal with One New Zealand Warriors.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[CWC]

Isiah Yeo project?