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	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
19	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
20	Te Maire Martin	✔
21	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
25	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
29	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: 29/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 26/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with others clubs from 01/11/25 (final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[TheIrishWarrior]

Shoot I googled it and ai said he did his left in 2019 and this time it’s his right, so not the same knee twice

I’ve been puzzled on how he could rupture again after a reconstruction, if anyone can confirm it’s different sides I reckon it’s worth a reasonable deal still because he’s not gonna rupture his ACL again, just keep the calves flexible to avoid Achilles

You can absolutely tear a reconstructed acl

 

[~Navigator~]

No disrespect but i think this is the biggest load of bollocks going around on this forum. You're not the only one here that genuinely believes this too. I would say you're probably in the majority tbh.

He's a smart kid Metcalf. Talks a lot about players managing their wealth and even mentioned giving young Halasima investment advise.

He would not give a single flying fuck about "being given the key to club's future".

The bottom line is, he's going to go to whoever can set himself up the best financially.

You're too emotionally invested if you think otherwise

Usually the two are interrelated (highest earner = keys to the future) which is why this is an interesting discussion.

In the end, I think we'll give him his highest offer. The injury, while horrible for this season, makes it less likely Perth or another club will blow us out of the water with an offer.

All good to have your opinion like me but I believe in the guy, but let's see where this goes

 

[3rdstriker]

No disrespect but i think this is the biggest load of bollocks going around on this forum. You're not the only one here that genuinely believes this too. I would say you're probably in the majority tbh.

He's a smart kid Metcalf. Talks a lot about players managing their wealth and even mentioned giving young Halasima investment advise.

He would not give a single flying fuck about "being given the key to club's future".

The bottom line is, he's going to go to whoever can set himself up the best financially.

You're too emotionally invested if you think otherwise

Usually the two are interrelated (highest earner = keys to the future) which is why this is an interesting discussion.

In the end, I think we'll give him his highest offer. The injury, while horrible for this season, makes it less likely Perth or another club will blow us out of the water with an offer.

At this point in Metcalfs short career we do have to weigh up whether this investment is worth it.
He's now always going to carry that stigma of "its just a matter of when" so maybe it's best for both parties if we part ways.

 

[Noitall]

With Jahrome Hughes able to be negotiated with in November and the situation with Metcalf, would anyone think we should throw a big offer his way? Think you’d want him next year rather than 2027 when he’s off contract and would he get us through to a period where we’ve got guys ready to take over in the halves? Or is Metcalf our best bet?

 

[3rdstriker]

With Jahrome Hughes able to be negotiated with in November and the situation with Metcalf, would anyone think we should throw a big offer his way? Think you’d want him next year rather than 2027 when he’s off contract and would he get us through to a period where we’ve got guys ready to take over in the halves? Or is Metcalf our best bet?

Can jahrome play a full season of footy?

 

[forwardpass!]

No disrespect but i think this is the biggest load of bollocks going around on this forum. You're not the only one here that genuinely believes this too. I would say you're probably in the majority tbh.

He's a smart kid Metcalf. Talks a lot about players managing their wealth and even mentioned giving young Halasima investment advise.

He would not give a single flying fuck about "being given the key to club's future".

The bottom line is, he's going to go to whoever can set himself up the best financially.

You're too emotionally invested if you think otherwise

Usually the two are interrelated (highest earner = keys to the future) which is why this is an interesting discussion.

In the end, I think we'll give him his highest offer. The injury, while horrible for this season, makes it less likely Perth or another club will blow us out of the water with an offer.

Show me the money honey

 

[Cces]

Is that right that Linnane is top 30 for the rest of the season?

I asked a journo from the Herald, in a Warriors FB group, who the remaining 2 spots were taken by after the cut off. Initially he replied they would promote from within but when the club announced Linnane was coming early, he suggested Top 30 2025 but wasn't 100%. If I recall correctly, Paul Turner did a similar thing when he was injured in his final year & joined Titans early

 

[Five&Last]

At this point in Metcalfs short career we do have to weigh up whether this investment is worth it.
He's now always going to carry that stigma of "its just a matter of when" so maybe it's best for both parties if we part ways.

While I don't personally agree because we have no other options at present, this could very well be a likely outcome and it would be reflected in our offer to him. We have no idea how the club views his injury history, we know they were very late in opening negotiations (he was leading the Dally M and he admitted he hadn't had any discussions with the club yet) which obviously proved to be a good thing with his latest injury

The story that got reported was that he asked the Sharks to raise their offer by 50k and they refused, so he left. Obviously the opportunity played a part but I think this is an important story to keep in mind when you consider what he values most in contract discussions.

 

[Noitall]

Can jahrome play a full season of footy?

31 in October. Anyone’s guess

 

[Five&Last]

I asked a journo from the Herald, in a Warriors FB group, who the remaining 2 spots were taken by after the cut off. Initially he replied they would promote from within but when the club announced Linnane was coming early, he suggested Top 30 2025 but wasn't 100%. If I recall correctly, Paul Turner did a similar thing when he was injured in his final year & joined Titans early

Interesting news.

Would have to think EIT gets the other one based on extended bench appearances.

Hopefully this doesn't impact our ability to keep Kayliss. Sign him top 30 from next year onwards right now.

 

[3rdstriker]

While I don't personally agree but we have no other options at present, this could very well be a likely outcome and it would be reflected in our offer to him. We have no idea how the club views his injury history, we know they were very late in opening negotiations (he was leading the Dally M and he admitted he hadn't had any discussions with the club yet) which obviously proved to be a good thing with his latest injury

The story that got reported was that he asked the Sharks to raise their offer by 50k and they refused, so he left. Obviously the opportunity played a part but I think this is an important story to keep in mind when you consider what he values most in contract discussions.

Yeah the only way forward is for us to Low ball him we just can't offer him that top tier contract whether he's worth it or not eh? We are kinda in the box seat for this like you say and if Boyd works out we have a few halves to work with.

 

[Blain]

So Linnane took a Top 30 for the current season & we're unsure who the final spot was given to, but EIT is the most likely?

99% sure that's not what's happened, he's out all year and was only on a development deal with the Knights for 2025. No way we would give him a NRL top 30 squad to re hab.

If he is signed to a playing contract for 25, he would have taken a development deal off someone who was promoted to top 30.

Mystery surrounds the last 2 spots in the squad, are they saving the news to release after a bad game or something?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

With Jahrome Hughes able to be negotiated with in November and the situation with Metcalf, would anyone think we should throw a big offer his way? Think you’d want him next year rather than 2027 when he’s off contract and would he get us through to a period where we’ve got guys ready to take over in the halves? Or is Metcalf our best bet?

Ah I see it's the annual return of the Jahrome to Wahs discussion haha.

If Ive said it once I've said it 100 times. I'd take a 32 and 33 year old Jahrome on a million, no questions asked. Would love to get him for next year but I don't think we'll get that opportunity

 

[Five&Last]

With Jahrome Hughes able to be negotiated with in November and the situation with Metcalf, would anyone think we should throw a big offer his way? Think you’d want him next year rather than 2027 when he’s off contract and would he get us through to a period where we’ve got guys ready to take over in the halves? Or is Metcalf our best bet?

Speaking of halves, go watch Jack Thompson's highlights from today in Jersey Flegg. Kid is an absolute freak. He's leveling up going from U17 to U21 in one year. Trying to think of the last halves prospect we've had on this kid's level, more talented than SJ at the same age I would say.

 

[Noitall]

Speaking of halves, go watch Jack Thompson's highlights from today in Jersey Flegg. Kid is an absolute freak. He's leveling up going from U17 to U21 in one year. Trying to think of the last halves prospect we've had on this kid's level, more talented than SJ at the same age I would say.

Must be a club that we rate some of their halves the knights. I’ve seen you mention Thompson and rate him highly and we’ve picked up Linnane in more recent times. Was also some talk of Haami Loza in preseason that never eventuated

 

[CWC]

Metcalf’s best bet would likely still be us, we’ve invested so much we’re less likely to give up, other buyers would look at that medical history and adjust accordingly, would new teams want to sign someone who never played 15 games a season as their million dollar marquee?

And like Clark said, he feels valued here, there’s risk of cases like Volkman at dragons, or Luke’s own experience at the sharks, or how Titans tried to deny the bonus of one of their players before leaving, who knows what’s gonna happen if he does another long term injury with another club? Early release? Medical retirement to save their cap? I don’t know if they blacklist or spread s*** about players in NRL when they wanna get rid of them, there is a lot of risk and stress involved for his young family compare to what he’s got here, especially if we give him a base salary and good performance based bonus

 

[3rdstriker]

Metcalf’s best bet would likely still be us, we’ve invested so much we’re less likely to give up, other buyers would look at that medical history and adjust accordingly, would new teams want to sign someone who never played 15 games a season as their million dollar marquee?

And like Clark said, he feels valued here, there’s risk of cases like Volkman at dragons, or Luke’s own experience at the sharks, or how Titans tried to deny the bonus of one of their players before leaving, who knows what’s gonna happen if he does another long term injury with another club? Early release? Medical retirement to save their cap? I don’t know if they blacklist or spread s*** about players in NRL when they wanna get rid of them, there is a lot of risk and stress involved for his young family compare to what he’s got here, especially if we give him a base salary and good performance based bonus

If he goes down again for major surgery i shudder to think how he recovers.

 

[CWC]

If he goes down again for major surgery i shudder to think how he recovers.

Other clubs would have no problem telling him its career over, medical retire

 

[Five&Last]

Must be a club that we rate some of their halves the knights. I’ve seen you mention Thompson and rate him highly and we’ve picked up Linnane in more recent times. Was also some talk of Haami Loza in preseason that never eventuated

Caveat in that SJ was more of a late bloomer coming into own at 20.

But at 18 Thompson looks the bloody goods. Had two very special try assists, threw an unreal cutout pass and a cross field kick-pass on the money

Brandon Norris, Tapatasi Laumalili and Paea Sikuvea all looked incredible as well

 

[JustVisiting82]

New signing Linnane joins club early ahead of 2026 preseason

Jye Linnane joins One New Zealand Warriors early ahead of taking up three-year NRL contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

Just on the subject of whether Linnane has grabbed a top 30 spot for this year, this article posted 2 days ago on the Warriors site says he has arrived early "ahead of taking up a three-year NRL contract from next season."

I am not sure if that's quite conclusive but it definitely reads more like he doesn't enter the top 30 until next season.