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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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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[Kav1]

I’d much prefer Kali over Khan, he’s fast that’s it. Can’t even do a simple draw and pass

Usually, a winger's role is to finish off backline plays. Not often do you see wingers of any team drawing and passing and that includes ours. So, Khan would be of much value to our team, particularly as our current wingers are nearing the end of their careers.

 

[Kav1]

I've been thinking about Shuster. Such a talent. Big ball playing body. Big stinky attitude too.

Heard that he had mental problems. That would explain his inconsistency.

 

[Playdaball]

Should try for Jesse Athars - cant make the Broncos and can cover all 3 positions in the backline and is a Kiwi (from East Coast Bays) / Samoan, Queenslander and has played for us previously

 

[Kav1]

We have no other viable option other than TB. Its simple as that. So he will get until the end of the season. TBH a bit of unfair criticism of his plays. I thought he does control the team well. He is by no means going to be a flashy player or a gamebreaker, but he is the cool head that we currently need in the halves. The next few weeks gives him time in the boxseat to create some sort of chemistry with Chanel.

I have been impressed with his skill of passing back to his centre, thus keeping the movement flowing and resulting in tries to the wingers. His defence is good and his goal-kicking and general kicking is a big bonus (unlike LM).

 

[Kav1]

Dont know if im sold on Taine now. Too small

May be on the bench where he can cover each back position and cause damage later in the game.

 

[Canonball]

I need glasses

my first thoughts was he has a moustache?!!

I’m not lying

It's his hands that gave me dissonance - size of skillets

 

[Cces]

His defence is good and his goal-kicking and general kicking is a big bonus (unlike LM).

Tannah has tackled at 87%, 77%, 79% & most recently 62%. We can't expect the world from him bit those numbers don't point to good D. Boyd can strike the ball sweetly, so much so that apparently the Australian Football coach has even highlighted this, but I think we under appreciate how well Metcalf's field kicking was going before his injury. I was skeptical of his ability in this area prior to the season but he put up decent numbers (below) and even claimed a 40/20, which Boyd is yet to do in 70+ career games.

 

[Kav1]

Thank you for your service King Edward Kosi IX - you won’t be forgotten

View attachment 14052

What's with the 1X? -surely he was unique, rocks or diamonds, not appreciated by most but who will take his place?

 

[Kav1]

Like a few on this site!!

To whom are you referring my friend?

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Come on, I hate to be that person but what does this have to do with recruitment?

 

[CWC]

Tannah has tackled at 87%, 77%, 79% & most recently 62%. We can't expect the world from him bit those numbers don't point to good D. Boyd can strike the ball sweetly, so much so that apparently the Australian Football coach has even highlighted this, but I think we under appreciate how well Metcalf's field kicking was going before his injury. I was skeptical of his ability in this area prior to the season but he put up decent numbers (below) and even claimed a 40/20, which Boyd is yet to do in 70+ career games. View attachment 14062

He has a huge boot and totally fixed his drop outs, probably had his goal kicking sorted too (slotted one from the sideline vs broncos before the injury). Oh well next year is our year lol

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Should try for Jesse Athars - cant make the Broncos and can cover all 3 positions in the backline and is a Kiwi (from East Coast Bays) / Samoan, Queenslander and has played for us previously

I wished we signed him back when he was on loan. I think we may have been in talks with him but Broncos gave him a good offer.

KL Iro would be another one I think would be a great target come Nov 1. Surely with Kosi going, Harper potentially not being resigned we must be in the market for another outside back.

 

[Noitall]

I wished we signed him back when he was on loan. I think we may have been in talks with him but Broncos gave him a good offer.

KL Iro would be another one I think would be a great target come Nov 1. Surely with Kosi going, Harper potentially not being resigned we must be in the market for another outside back.

Might have landed Chevy Stewart to play fullback and CNK is the outside back we need? Would think they’ve got someone lined up to let Kosi go?

 

[Noitall]

Interesting timing seeing Bailey Simmonson has asked for a release from eels. Many on their forum talking about titans, but noticed one poster say he wants a move and has either been offered better money, or wants to go back to NZ. Would be a handy signing, few injuries in recent times so would fit in well

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Interesting timing seeing Bailey Simmonson has asked for a release from eels. Many on their forum talking about titans, but noticed one poster say he wants a move and has either been offered better money, or wants to go back to NZ. Would be a handy signing, few injuries in recent times so would fit in well

He’d be a fantastic signing

 

[Kav1]

So glad hes off the books! WTF if im a rabbitoes fan!

Bennett has lost it with this signing.

I hope you regret that ugly sentiment in the future. Our record of discarding unwanted players (eg Marcel Montoya and Jazz Taulaga) is not encouraging.

 

[Cces]

Our record of discarding unwanted players (eg Marcel Montoya and Jazz Taulaga) is not encouraging.

Montoya asked to leave early & Jazz declined an offer we put to him to stay. Maybe I'm not understanding your point correctly, but in comparison to other clubs, we haven't treated many ex players badly.

 

[sballer7]

Montoya asked to leave early & Jazz declined an offer we put to him to stay. Maybe I'm not understanding your point correctly, but in comparison to other clubs, we haven't treated many ex players badly.

The amount of players that have gone onto have better careers elsewhere is also massively overstated. In recent times can only think of Katoa, and Papalii for about 2 seasons.

Im fairly confident that we've seen the best(and probably worst of Ed Kosi).

 

[Five&Last]

Montoya asked to leave early & Jazz declined an offer we put to him to stay. Maybe I'm not understanding your point correctly, but in comparison to other clubs, we haven't treated many ex players badly.

It's also a business.. if you're not performing, you wont be kept around.

Jazz's offer reflected his value based on his performances, its nothing personal. I'm sure Jazz was aware of that as well.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Would be a handy signing, few injuries in recent times so would fit in well

Hmmm… good way to get players cheap but our squad is very injury prone…