Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 9546 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 20s
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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa
2Tom Ale
3Mitchell Barnett
4Rocco Berry
5Tanah Boyd
6Kurt Capewell
7Erin Clark
8Jett ClearySS
9Wayde Egan
10James Fisher-Harris
11Jackson Ford
12Leka Halasima
13Morgan Harper
14Chanel Harris-Tavita
15Sam Healey
16Edward Kosi
17Jacob Laban
18Ali Leiataua
19Jye Linnane
20Freddy Lussick
21Te Maire Martin
22Luke Metcalf
23Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
24Marata Niukore
25Adam Pompey
26Tanner Stowers-Smith
27Taine Tuaupiki
28Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
29Demitric Vaimauga
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
S1Kayliss FatialofaS
S2Kalani GoingS
S3Luke HansonS
S4Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaS
S5Sio KaliS
S6Patrick MoimoiS
-Kahu CapperTT
-Morgan Gannon-
-Haizyn Mellars
-Motu PasikalaT??
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



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NZWarriors.com

Depends who replaces him. If it's Roger, would you rather have Monty or Rog on the left wing? I suppose I'd pick Rog, but we're not gaining a lot except freeing up cap space. Now if you were to tell me we're replacing Montoya with the Fox, I'd do some lines in celebration 🍾
Foxx would join you. Mind you 112% of all NRL players coaches staffers corporates executives and shareholders probably would too.
 
Tom Hazleton anyone? Looks like he'll be testing the market come November.

Still young enough that if we signed him for 2026 he'd only be 27 so you could give him a 4 year contract. I like that jes a big body and very different to anything we've got coming through.

I know Willison and Thompson are top of everyone's list but he'd be up there for me
 
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Tom Hazleton anyone? Looks like he'll be testing the market coke November.

Still young enough that if we signed him for 2026 he'd only be 27 so you could give him a 4 year contract. I like that jes a big body and very different to anything we've got coming through.

I know Willison and Thompson are top of everyone's list but he'd be up there for me

Hazleton will be too expensive for us most likely, apparently a few clubs are pretty interested.
 
Shaun Stevenson answers a question about his future at 8:00.

Doesn't say anything explicitly but imo sounds like something noteworthy is coming for him.


View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LQ0ZJ4DW8pnNcAomzbEq7?si=6HEKVEMqTh2_Boz4ylnS3Q&t=493

That read like: if i'm not included in a all black squad in the next couple of weeks f'u'guys i'm going to the wahs ... from a 2 second google the last test in current round is this weekend so end of year tour squad announced prior to october game in japan
 
Tom Hazleton anyone? Looks like he'll be testing the market coke November.

Still young enough that if we signed him for 2026 he'd only be 27 so you could give him a 4 year contract. I like that jes a big body and very different to anything we've got coming through.

I know Willison and Thompson are top of everyone's list but he'd be up there for me
Jesus! He needs to go see addo carr for that hookup!
 
Shaun Stevenson, pretty good union player. I don’t see why we’d (potentially) release Montoya to sign him.

That’ll be one hell of a gamble, with a moderate chance of success IMO. It’ll probably also mean DWZ’s final year will be next year. He only signed a one year extension.

Stevenson is fast but not lights out fast. Got good ball skills. Was fairly injury prone early in his career.
Could work…….. or could be like RTS and block the transition of our juniors. There’ll certainly be pressure to play him. Otherwise why would he sign, may as well get that money in Europe or Japan.
 
Isn’t there a discount for enticing union players over ala nawaqanatawase? So perhaps it’s around cap management whilst securing someone with huge potential. He’s similar to a will warbrick, tall athletic winger. We don’t have any tall wingers
 
Shaun Stevenson, pretty good union player. I don’t see why we’d (potentially) release Montoya to sign him.

That’ll be one hell of a gamble, with a moderate chance of success IMO. It’ll probably also mean DWZ’s final year will be next year. He only signed a one year extension.

Stevenson is fast but not lights out fast. Got good ball skills. Was fairly injury prone early in his career.
Could work…….. or could be like RTS and block the transition of our juniors. There’ll certainly be pressure to play him. Otherwise why would he sign, may as well get that money in Europe or Japan.
yeah agree - his running style worries me: good in space, sure, but coasts, don't see a lot creativity or aggression - i get the feeling he'd be a bust
 
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