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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[roguei]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

April doesn't end till Thursday I guess .

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

And so the thread kicks off again

Lot of smoke around Manu now.

 

[chrisnz]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

When you say had access what does that mean are they actually important people or we talking about catering or sound crew ? Jagged a photo or in the dressing rooms ?

 

[Jeetz]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

Hope not as a fullback. Would rather have a ball playing fullback instead of a ball running hog.

 

[rugged]

When you say had access what does that mean are they actually important people or we talking about catering or sound crew ? Jagged a photo or in the dressing rooms

not service staff or anything like that - but the reason why I was unsure of truth of it was if this person was in the know I wouldve expected others to have been hearing whispers. I expected to come to this thread and see it lighting up - so it could be true but if the rumour mill doesn’t spark in the next little bit then somehow he’s got the wrong end.

 

[Tragic]

He shouldn't be in the 17 imo if everyone is healthy.

Watch yesterday's NSW cup game replay, if you see Tom Ale's run at the 53 minute mark (in his first game back mind you), Bunty is facking no chance of ever doing anything like that lmao.

Also i just don't think your taking into account development at all. In one year's time TSS > Bunty and I think Salalilo is better than Bunty in one year.

Salalilo is 20 years old and just ran for 88m off the bench. Bunty is averaging 108m in NSW cup this year. Tom Ale is averaging 129m.

Marata should be moved to prop full time anyway to accomodate Halasima, Laban, Eddie and Kayliss. Bunty will just be a road block next year

Is Marata at prop better than Bunty?

 

[Noitall]

not service staff or anything like that - but the reason why I was unsure of truth of it was if this person was in the know I wouldve expected others to have been hearing whispers. I expected to come to this thread and see it lighting up - so it could be true but if the rumour mill doesn’t spark in the next little bit then somehow he’s got the wrong end.

Now that CNK is locked in for a couple of years, they could be willing to announce it at some point soon if true? Picked up Gannon as a 2026 signing, after Jye Linnane being a less hyped one. NZ rugby has stated he won’t be offered a contract and if home is calling, you’d think the Warriors would be an attractive proposition right now

 

[3rdstriker]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

No better way to spark up this thread, as long as we all don't piss off the moderators again, @tahjay will have something to say and will weild his Axe if he smells bullshit in here!!!!!

 

[Makasene]

If the Manu rumours true anyone know why he wouldn’t just come this year?

Could be any number of reasons. A couple I can think of are:

1. Our cap for this year is probably the main thing - despite all the players that left and medical retirement etc we would still need to fit him in this year at full rate (pro rata). I doubt for example we would have a spare $600k for him for half a season.

2. Conditioning. No way would we want him straight away. Needs a full pre-season. Think it would be a disaster to come straight from rugby into mid-season. Let alone the time needed to adjust to the system.

 

[Lance155]

Is Marata at prop better than Bunty?

If he can play more minutes then yes. Same minutes, then meh. Neither excites me

 

[sup42]

Now that CNK is locked in for a couple of years, they could be willing to announce it at some point soon if true? Picked up Gannon as a 2026 signing, after Jye Linnane being a less hyped one. NZ rugby has stated he won’t be offered a contract and if home is calling, you’d think the Warriors would be an attractive proposition right now

So the Union satanists said they won't look at Joey Manu?

 

[tajhay]

So the Union satanists said they won't look at Joey Manu?

Not exactly that but more to the point there is a bit of doubt about his real interest in RU. By indicating that he would not be offered a NZRU topup, its a fairly clear message they have sent his team in regards to his de$ire for the all blacks jersey.

His comments about returning to nz for super rugby to be in contention for the all blacks sounded like he was going to hell and hoped the nzru changed rules for him lol