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: 25/30
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, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

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Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance to offtopic chat.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

You can add in Adam Keiraghn to that list who’s was the replacement for SJ. After Isaac Moses didn’t delivery us his cousin Mitchell Moses he gave us Kodi Nikorima.

I thought that Adam Keighran looked ok
At 5/8
Was played in too many positions
While here
I blame the coach
He had a step
Could kick goals too
Kearney used to play people in odd positions too

 

[Get them onside ref!]

You can add in Adam Keiraghn to that list who’s was the replacement for SJ. After Isaac Moses didn’t delivery us his cousin Mitchell Moses he gave us Kodi Nikorima.

Again Kodi is killing it at Dolphins
Is surrounded by quality players there
Bringing out the best in him

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I've been waiting for someone to mention Jason Bukuya. Didn't even last a full season with us.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

BMM, Denan Kemp would have to be amongst the most disappointing signings based on the hysteria that came with their signature / the cap space they took.

I wasn't going to risk playing along in this thread, but since you are

We had a few guys who were electric in legend, but we barely saw it in our colours - Kemp, Oudenryn (solid enough player), The Fish mkI, Pethybridge etc.

The one that takes the cake for me: Michael Crockett.

Manu Vatuvei had been dropped after that game against the Eels, and Crockett was waiting for his opportunity. I was absolutely pumped at the idea of him coming in as we had a pretty pedestrian squad. 5 mins in he was sent off for a clanger of a coat-hanger, and then suspended for a series of games. Later on he was accused of a pretty serious sexual assault whilst travelling with the team. One of the clubs absolute dud signings. The send off left a pretty big imprint. It was a pretty crazy 3 games - Vatugate, Crockett stiff arm, 2-4 borefest loss to the Storm. We went on a massive winning streak not long after.

Manu Vatuvei was recalled and never looked back.

 

[3rdstriker]

My top 5 worst signings.
5. Marc Ellis.
4. John Kirwan.
3. Sam tomkins.
2. Feleti Mateo. Brilliant at his best and mostly just terribly inconsistent.
1. Dane Nielsen/matt Lodge both brought some bad culture.

Just to keep on track for recruitment as which types of players to avoid signing.
The washed up rugby union type, the piss head, the lazy c#%t and the hyped up man.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

It is interesting hearing that Shaun Stevenson was, as rumoured, looking at the Warriors in the off season. While it might not be related, NZRU denied his request for a release in his contract in December. Despite that they have not showed any interest in him since. It sounds like the relationship with him and NZ rugby has been nuked.

He said he might look at league in the future, and possibly Manu Samoa for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Should we get this thread back on track? Just read through 4 pages on some of the shittest warriors players of all time, hardly riveting nor related. I sound like a grumpy old man but i read this thread to discuss genuine potential signings or rumours..

 

[3rdstriker]

Should we get this thread back on track? Just read through 4 pages on some of the shittest warriors players of all time, hardly riveting nor related. I sound like a grumpy old man but i read this thread to discuss genuine potential signings or rumours..

Love to have some recruitment signings but the promotion from within is..

 

[BrisbaneWarrior]

It is interesting hearing that Shaun Stevenson was, as rumoured, looking at the Warriors in the off season. While it might not be related, NZRU denied his request for a release in his contract in December. Despite that they have not showed any interest in him since. It sounds like the relationship with him and NZ rugby has been nuked.

He said he might look at league in the future, and possibly Manu Samoa for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

It couldn’t surprise me if NZR refused it just so he didn’t go to league

 

[sup42]

BMM, Denan Kemp would have to be amongst the most disappointing signings based on the hysteria that came with their signature / the cap space they took.

Andy Platt and Dennis Betts.

Great players in their day, just not prepared for the NRL. Platt was too old, Betts came for a holiday then went back and became awsome again in Superleague after getting fit.....and he smashed the Kiwis and his Kangaroos counterparts just to rub it in.....

 

[AlwaysOptmistic]

Sam Tomkins has to be a contender then.

TBF his first season was alright, he scored quite a few tries and set a number up. His form unfortunately was the reason locke was released to Salford that year, to be compounded by Tomkins himself deciding he wanted to go home early the next year.

 

[CWC]

It is interesting hearing that Shaun Stevenson was, as rumoured, looking at the Warriors in the off season. While it might not be related, NZRU denied his request for a release in his contract in December. Despite that they have not showed any interest in him since. It sounds like the relationship with him and NZ rugby has been nuked.

He said he might look at league in the future, and possibly Manu Samoa for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

We kinda still need a winger next year and this is the second time NZRU being a prick after RTS

Saw in the other thread Jayden Campbell is being shopped

 

[Makasene]

Well better grab the popcorn for this ban hammer.

Seeing I was banned for suggesting Luke was a terrible signing last time this thread drifted that way.

Even the mod will have to ban himself. Who will battle the Turks if the mod is banned?

 

[Worried2Death]

My top 5 worst signings.
5. Marc Ellis.
4. John Kirwan.
3. Sam tomkins.
2. Feleti Mateo. Brilliant at his best and mostly just terribly inconsistent.
1. Dane Nielsen/matt Lodge both brought some bad culture.

Just to keep on track for recruitment as which types of players to avoid signing.
The washed up rugby union type, the piss head, the lazy c#%t and the hyped up man.

Who was the pisshead, Tompkins? And he had the nerve to call us unprofessional bellends.

 

[Worried2Death]

Well better grab the popcorn for thisEven the mod will have to ban himself. Who will battle the Turks if the mod is banned?

Bruce, when this regime of Putin puppets is over.


Jayden Campbell you say? I don't think we think we need him, he's no Chanel.

 

[Dannevegas]

Easy, Eliesa Katoa.

Used the Warriors to get a Storm Berth. As such the worst investment in recent history.

Addin Fonua Blake. No expounding from me.

Isiah Papalii....no commentary needed.

Lets see how Leka and Dimitric behave, if they stay then yeah it only reinforces how poor our decisions turned out in wasting time and resources on 'Katoa, Papalii and Fonua Blake.

Katoa was Browns fault hardly even played him.

 

[3rdstriker]

Who was the pisshead, Tompkins? And he had the nerve to call us unprofessional bellends.

Haha don't wanna throw any player under but some potential biting stories may come up. But yeah potentially he was a pisshead too

 

[Five&Last]

I think the warriors could make somthing of Karapani on the wing.

Hes off contract, I would try bring him home. Get him under RTS and DWZ.

He obviously ready to play NRL if called upon.

Apparently we kind left him in the cold when we moved to Redcliffe. I don't think he's too fond of us now.

But then Daeon Amituanai was in the same boat and he returned so who knows.

 

[Five&Last]

Easy, Eliesa Katoa.

Used the Warriors to get a Storm Berth. As such the worst investment in recent history.

Addin Fonua Blake. No expounding from me.

Isiah Papalii....no commentary needed.

Lets see how Leka and Dimitric behave, if they stay then yeah it only reinforces how poor our decisions turned out in wasting time and resources on 'Katoa, Papalii and Fonua Blake.

You just named a guy who was probably the highest performing prop we’ve ever had (was a top 2 prop last year)

And two other guys who weren’t ‘signings’, we developed them from when they left school

Have a word with yourself.

 

[Five&Last]

Recruited from Union, thrown straight from Jersey Flegg to the NRL, left edge one week then right the next, 3 seasons living out of a suitcase & 4 head coaches. Even with covid factored in the club butchered his development

Is this really seen as a bad thing for development??

Playing Flegg out of high school is not a negative. And living away from home in a foreign city where you are living and breathing RL and mostly training with the first grade team are development boosters in my mind.

The biggest fuck up was the fact that he would be dropped the week after any mistake he made