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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[wizard of Tauranga]

Re-signed means entirely new contract. Leka could be on 500k right now...

I think a lot of our young players that were reserve graders will be being upgraded.

We aren’t recruiting big money players but we will be investing that money into our players that are performing so they don’t need to look elsewhere when contract time comes around.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

The chance that Leka extended without a very significant increase in his pay would be zero.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

The chance that Leka extended without a very significant increase in his pay would be zero.

Yup, I think they club is doing a great job of avoiding the fanfare and scrutiny of young athletes earning big money, but looking at that list of upgrades + our lack of involvement in the player market, HQ would would have fattened some wallets.

Demi got the longest contract first and then Leka and Laban. My guess that hoovered up serious coin and when they push Marata and Capwell out of the side, that will free up the next tranche

 

[Worried2Death]

Yup, I think they club is doing a great job of avoiding the fanfare and scrutiny of young athletes earning big money, but looking at that list of upgrades + our lack of involvement in the player market, HQ would would have fattened some wallets.

Demi got the longest contract first and then Leka and Laban. My guess that hoovered up serious coin and when they push Marata and Capwell out of the side, that will free up the next tranche

Cappy's always said the goal is be a development club to grow our own, it's actually amazing to see it coming to fruition already. You don't turn down someone like Isaako in a position we're weak in now though.

 

[Dannevegas]

Don’t think TT
offers enough
Check his run metres every week
That tells the story
RTS killed him in that stat in Knights game

There’s more to playing fullback than running metres

 

[Ref]

Isaako has the same jamming issue as Dallin.

 

[Ref]

There’s more to playing fullback than running metres

I replied to him in detail earlier in the week about this.
I’m with you mate.

 

[Dannevegas]

I remember the start of this season, especially against Manly — Ali was fully fit and full of confidence, and he was crashing through the line in a way that reminded me of Kayal Iro or Herbie Farnworth.

He’s got it in him — just lacks confidence, in my opinion. Fair enough if we disagree.

I rate Rocco highly too, when he’s fit. His kick chase, hole running, defence — all at a solid level.

Both remind me of an early Jerome Ropati — constantly injured during his first few years, but once he got a consistent run (even after that late-career ACL), we finally saw what he could do. Fingers crossed it’s the same for these two.

Big fan of Ali, I don’t think he lacks confidence tho, he’s very similar to Vaimauga attitude wise, which I like we’ve lacked cocky young guys with talent, coming through for a long time.
I think its just the effort areas is where he lacks a bit. Really hoping he can fix it as he’s young.

 

[Noitall]

Big fan of Ali, I don’t think he lacks confidence tho, he’s very similar to Vaimauga attitude wise, which I like we’ve lacked cocky young guys with talent, coming through for a long time.
I think its just the effort areas is where he lacks a bit. Really hoping he can fix it as he’s young.

Think it’s those effort areas they potentially want him brush up on a bit? Being that centre has a playmaking element in setting up and feeding wingers outside, his playing five eighth at the moment could be handy for those reasons

 

[Noitall]

Interesting seeing tooheys news saying Gagai feels disrespected by knights asking him to go from $400k to $300k. Reckons he’s contemplating retirement, a move to Sydney or going to England where his brother is

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Cappy's always said the goal is be a development club to grow our own, it's actually amazing to see it coming to fruition already. You don't turn down someone like Isaako in a position we're weak in now though.

100%. I was just countering (and realising myself) that there’s nowhere near the money we think is available.

There were 6 players that I listed that re-signed. 5 being juniors who may have been on min wage. If each on average got 200k extra for this season that’s a mil gone.

 

[CWC]

So 360 last night had a short segment on Chevy Stewart after Weeke was extended, seems like a Kini or more explosive version of TT. If Canberra forum talking about us approaching him is true it’d be good to get him over, another hungry Aussie young gun stuck in cup in the positions we really need, should be fine as a winger look at all the raiders new speedsters

 

[Five&Last]

So 360 last night had a short segment on Chevy Stewart after Weeke was extended, seems like a Kini or more explosive version of TT. If Canberra forum talking about us approaching him is true it’d be good to get him over, another hungry Aussie young gun stuck in cup in the positions we really need, should be fine as a winger look at all the raiders new speedsters

Perfect opportunity to poach a gun. Need to capitalise on these situations where another club cant play two quality players in their preferred position.

He could be our long term fullback from mid way through next year.

He's more talented than Joseph Ratcliffe

Jeremiah Lemana will likely be better but is still only 17 and versatile enough to play wing/center while he acclimatizes. Ratcliffe and Stewart cant really play other positions.

Bottom line is we badly need a talent/upside injection at fullback.

 

[Riz]

Really good to see Bishop Neal in and amongst the group recently, he's got a lot to learn in terms of not just relying on his natural gifts. If he can get some work ethic in him, he could be absolutely anything.

 

[Leon Black]

Big fan of Ali, I don’t think he lacks confidence tho, he’s very similar to Vaimauga attitude wise, which I like we’ve lacked cocky young guys with talent, coming through for a long time.
I think its just the effort areas is where he lacks a bit. Really hoping he can fix it as he’s young.

I think the confidence is in his own body and mentally feeling it with his run of injuries. I hope it’s just growing pains and temporary

 

[Five&Last]

Really good to see Bishop Neal in and amongst the group recently, he's got a lot to learn in terms of not just relying on his natural gifts. If he can get some work ethic in him, he could be absolutely anything.

Saw that bleached hair in some of the training photos. Probably better for him than playing Flegg and just burning him out at a young age.

Training with the Fish every week can’t hurt for his development

 

[Noitall]

Not sure if we’re just keeping quiet on the recruitment front but can’t seem to find anything that’s linking us to Gagai with 2 Sydney teams apparently interested and the only place I’ve seen that we’re interested in Chevy Stewart is the warriorholic with sharks and dragons being the teams showing interest apparently

 

[Noitall]

Finally found it on raiders forum








Post July 24, 2025, 8:18 pm

I think it was prosjenko on SEN mooting warriors a potential landing spot for Chevy replacing CNK with Tuapiki linked to the bears

 

[Cces]

I text into Sport Nation to ask Anthony Gelling if he knew who filled spots 29 & 30 in the roster. He said TSS (which is incorrect) and they haven't filled the 30th probably no surprise that he was a bit confused as earlier in the season he repeatedly said that Nicho Hynes hasn't been the same player since he won the Dally M award at the Storm

 

[Wrighty]

I text into Sport Nation to ask Anthony Gelling if he knew who filled spots 29 & 30 in the roster. He said TSS (which is incorrect) and they haven't filled the 30th probably no surprise that he was a bit confused as earlier in the season he repeatedly said that Nicho Hynes hasn't been the same player since he won the Dally M award at the Storm

email the club - they have answered my roster questions before. The media manager replied to me in one instance. I think it was a few years ago and he confirmed my suspicion that Jazz had officially re-signed even though there had been no announcement at the time. I think I just was very honest and said I was a big fan of the warriors and could I possibly ask a question. They were happy to help.