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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[Piltdown Man]

Na not for me, past his prime and comes with a lot of ego, think he could be disruptive. If he was happy to come on $400k and he's happy not to be a top dog, just a 30 minute of the bench guy, maybe. But can't see Webby going for him. Seems like a Tigers signing, or Japan Rugby if he can get the cash.

Agree … and even in his prime not a good fit for our club … he would have spent most of the season suspended if he was wearing a warriors jersey.

 

[CWC]

Bit weird they want our Kosi and Moala and don't want this guy

Maybe he wants to come home so we effectively did a trade

If staying fit he’d be 2nd drop as Pompey tends to be 1st drop winger. Astute signing as he’s probably cheap and has time to get ready. Hope it works out we need to replace Roger’s x-factor in a year. Has he got speed?

 

[Five&Last]

Having sat through plenty of Flegg games, - a few too many- I’m convinced Paea Sikuvea will be our long-term No.13. He’s an exceptional player in what’s otherwise been a fairly average side. In their defence, the last month has been heavily disrupted by injuries and constant call-ups to NSW Cup.

From the current group, Brandon Norris, Putoko, Jacob Auloa, Moimoi, and Tepatasi Laumalili stand out. If Laumalili and Tuipulotu Vea can lift their fitness levels, they, along with the others, could push for NSW Cup potential in 2026.

One problem we do have, is a log jam of exceptional back row talent. Not a bad problem, but hope we keep the right ones! Kills me seeing Eli Katoa.

Right now though, Sikuvea and Norris are clearly the pick of the crop.

Agree, I think Paea Sikuvea is playing himself into a development contract for next year.

What he’s doing at 19 years old as a middle in an U21 competition is impressive.

i think he’s the long term 13 the more I watch him. Late footwork is insane.

 

[Dannevegas]

Hopefully Mellars doesn’t effect Kali getting upgrades to top 30 tho.
Could he be Development?

 

[Five&Last]

Mellars is a great signing

Hopefully we are still promoting Kali. Then we really have some good wing stocks

We really need to palm off Lussick now

 

[JaggedJ]

We're looking hard at players with pace, signing guys who are tall ariel threats, and have a stable of young halves in the hope that a couple come good and stay injury free.

Don't think anyone has been too impressed by our attack, but I can't say the coaching staff are oblivious to our issues.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fKdfDpLZbs&t=32s&pp=2AEgkAIB

Some of Mellars highlights in the last fortnight of nsw cup

 

[Dlenai]

A lot of unhappy Rabbitohs fans.

this usually indicates an awesome signing.

 

[Warriors55]

We're looking hard at players with pace, signing guys who are tall ariel threats, and have a stable of young halves in the hope that a couple come good and stay injury free.

Don't think anyone has been too impressed by our attack, but I can't say the coaching staff are oblivious to our issues.

Agreed, it gives reassurance that the coaches are aware of some deficiencies we have and are working to sign players to overcome this.

 

[snake77]

Glad to see someone coming in.

The highlights are a bit slim. But I like seeing his work under the high ball.

If he is top 30 he will be a good chance of some game time. Both of our wingers have spent time off the field with injury. Hopefully when he gets a chance he impresses.

 

[CWC]

A lot of unhappy Rabbitohs fans.

this usually indicates an awesome signing.

Well I wouldn’t mind Jye Grey tagging along

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fKdfDpLZbs&t=32s&pp=2AEgkAIB

Some of Mellars highlights in the last fortnight of nsw cup

Looks the type that can monster To’o in the air

 

[Playdaball]

Tom Ale to Penrith?
Will he be a Katoa or Papa’lii signing or a Zion ???

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Cup

Tom Ale to Penrith?
Will he be a Katoa or Papa’lii signing or a Zion ???

Is that confirmed? Hope not! Maybe it makes Webby realize...

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Tom Ale to Penrith?
Will he be a Katoa or Papa’lii signing or a Zion ???

Is he?

 

[kos]

If correct
That sound s like an arranged move
The Warriors assisted this move - maybe
He ll go well there
Might get recognition

 

[Warriorsfan92]

If correct
That sound s like an arranged move
The Warriors assisted this move - maybe
He ll go well there
Might get recognition

Ale for alamoti

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I hope Ale goes to Penrith. I could not think of a better place for him.

They are in the top 4 with three rounds to go, and Ale hasn't featured once.

I think they will be okay without him and i think he will progress well under Ivan.

 

[chrisnz]

Webby has many flaws getting potential out of players doesn't appear to be one. This new winger seems to have all the skill sets we lack honestly recruitment and retention has been a lot better of late even if you don't like something atleast it makes sense. Also would be happy to send ale to penrith in exchange for 1 McLean

 

[WHB]

So rabbits are coming dead last in nsw cup, 4 points behind the next worst. In other words, they’re terrible.

In this time, Haizyn has the following stats per game:

0.8 tries
120m
0.7 offloads
4.4 tackle breaks
6 tackles, 1 miss

Great stats for someone coming dead last, on the wing. Glaringly though he averages 2.6 errors a game. He’ll need to tidy this up if he’s any hope of making first grade. By contrast Kosi makes 2.5, DWZ 1.8 per game.

However at 6 foot 3, and 21 years old, he offers something our current crop does not - height. He’s the same height as Coates, so there’s no reason why he can’t be our Xavier after a few years. For mine, it’s the right type of risk & it’s a point of difference. At his age, and lack of experience he’s a pure project that wouldn’t have broken the bank to get him home.

I like it.

He looks a Coates style wingman.
Niiiiiice.

 

[Dannevegas]

Hopefully both Kali and Mellars fill one centre and Dallins position between them, we can’t have 2 31+ year old wingers.
From what I’ve seen Kali will be more suited to centre and Mellers wing