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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[Five&Last]

David Tangata-Toa probably deserves a promotion to an assistant coach role

100%

I’d be getting him in there for Stacey next season

 

[Noitall]

David Tangata-Toa probably deserves a promotion to an assistant coach role

Think he’s too important in nsw cup

 

[juju]

Think he’s too important in nsw cup

It's probably a case of if we don't promote him to assistant - with the churn of coaches going on, another club will grab him as an assistant.

The cup team dominating so impressively will be noticed for sure.

They're a few wins ahead at have a +300 p/d. Next best is in the +100s.

 

[Noitall]

It's probably a case of if we don't promote him to assistant - with the churn of coaches going on, another club will grab him as an assistant.

The cup team dominating so impressively will be noticed for sure.

They're a few wins ahead at have a +300 p/d. Next best is in the +100s.

I’m wondering if this is a role Tangata Toa enjoys in preparing these guys for nrl? He’s been in a similar role at panthers and bulldogs

 

[RiceOwl]

100%

I’d be getting him in there for Stacey next season

Im not having a dig Five&Last as I am just trying to understand it - but why is it so common to read people ripping on Stacey’s coaching ability? Or wanting him out?

There was also Ridgey insinuating on a podcast recently about old boys at the club, likely pointed at Stacey amongst others, but I just don’t know what evidence there is.

When he did step up to coach first grade the place was a basket case.

 

[CWC]

Could Ali be a wing option?

 

[Theking267]

Im not having a dig Five&Last as I am just trying to understand it - but why is it so common to read people ripping on Stacey’s coaching ability? Or wanting him out?

There was also Ridgey insinuating on a podcast recently about old boys at the club, likely pointed at Stacey amongst others, but I just don’t know what evidence there is.

When he did step up to coach first grade the place was a basket case.

He played Wayde Egan at 6 and dropped Reece Walsh not sure many coaches have done that before and succeeded

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

David Tangata-Toa probably deserves a promotion to an assistant coach role

It would be a good time to cut Stacey Jones.

 

[3rdstriker]

Could Ali be a wing option?

Who's Ali?

 

[Cces]

why is it so common to read people ripping on Stacey’s coaching ability? Or wanting him out?

There was also Ridgey insinuating on a podcast recently about old boys at the club, likely pointed at Stacey amongst others, but I just don’t know what evidence there is.

When he did step up to coach first grade the place was a basket case.

It's hard to judge an assistant coach who has been under a plethora, with the exception of Webster, of mediocre Head Coaches.
It's fair to excuse Stacey's interim NRL Head Coach tenure but he didn't achieve much in his 2 year NSW Cup stint despite having a talented roster and the start to his International coaching career had been underwhelming. He'll always have a NYC trophy to his name though despite it being a season where they only won at 50% in the regular season.

Recruiting a fresh face to the Assistant coach role could be a good move. Anyone know how Clinton Toopi's coaching journey is going?

 

[rugged]

8. Addin Fonua Blake, toxic contract breaker piss off.

After your take down of AFB i couldn't wait to see what you would say about Lodge.
"Left for personal reasons, take a look at his history of playing out contracts." was a bit softer than what I was expecting

 

[france]

as an assistant? Maybe as a solely attacking coach. His sides can't defend but boy can they attack.

thats a no thanks from me

 

[Naynay]

Im not having a dig Five&Last as I am just trying to understand it - but why is it so common to read people ripping on Stacey’s coaching ability? Or wanting him out?

There was also Ridgey insinuating on a podcast recently about old boys at the club, likely pointed at Stacey amongst others, but I just don’t know what evidence there is.

When he did step up to coach first grade the place was a basket case.

I think people see him as kind of just in there as an old boy (atleast I do).

Champion player and the club should keep him around as a culture or mentor kind of role but his coaching has been a bit average from record.

The club (and others in the nrl) needs to evolve past the jobs for mates mentality that bogs down clubs in the nrl.

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

Would the club consider taking back payten if he was moved on from Cowboys.

Please no Minge the Merciless.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Can someone enlighten me why we are we even talking about sacking our assistant coaches, when we’re currently sitting in the top 4, without our chief playmaker?

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Can someone enlighten me why we are we even talking about sacking our assistant coaches, when we’re currently sitting in the top 4, without our chief playmaker?

Probably cause our squad is 29/30 for next year already so not much signings-wise to talk about with players Gonna be a quiet off-season unless some spots free up with players getting released but I think Webby will be pretty happy with the balance of the squad atm.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Probably cause our squad is 29/30 for next year already so not much signings-wise to talk about with players Gonna be a quiet off-season unless some spots free up with players getting released but I think Webby will be pretty happy with the balance of the squad atm.

I ran out of breathe reading that

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Can someone enlighten me why we are we even talking about sacking our assistant coaches, when we’re currently sitting in the top 4, without our chief playmaker?

Its so shiny!

 

[Five&Last]

Can someone enlighten me why we are we even talking about sacking our assistant coaches, when we’re currently sitting in the top 4, without our chief playmaker?

Because we have a clear talent coaching our reserve grade team that has first grade head coach potential if he’s developed properly.

Then we have Stacey who’s never shown any real ability to coach despite being handed many positions on a silver platter

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Because we have a clear talent coaching our reserve grade team that has first grade head coach potential if he’s developed properly.

Then we have Stacey who’s never shown any real ability to coach despite being handed many positions on a silver platter

A Fucken men! Love Stacy, but this is a new era, and whole new generation of warriors fans and players about to step in.