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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[The Warrior Waka]

If they had so many stacked halves why wouldn’t they have released him? You a closet Sharks fan?

But they released him to us?

 

[Leon Black]

But they released him to us?

 

[Cces]

Baseless crap it’s an opinion champ we are all entitled to one. Like an asshole, we’ve all got one, trot on!

If they had so many stacked halves why wouldn’t they have released him? You a closet Sharks fan?

I don't mind watching the Sharks. Wouldn't call myself a fan however. I don't understand the relevance if I was in fact a fan?

Yes, baseless is a good description.
Fitzgibbon wanted him to renege on his deal once he got a chance to coach Metcalf. I'm sure the club wanted to ensure they gave themselves their best chance to be successful in both the NRL & NSW Cup too.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

@Leon Black Sorry bro, Couldn't reply to your post. But he's with us. That's my point lol.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I still think we won’t carry a bench hooker, and Clarke will cover Egan if need be, even if it’s a spell.

That would be my preference as well but i wouldnt be so sure as Webster has shown a liking (even though carrying players on the bench who at a pinch COULD play hooker) for a specialist bench hooker as well.

Which IF the case (and as people were pointing out) makes Clark a more or less a straight swap for Jazz (which i thought apart from age the similarities particulary as a middle forward were pretty obvious), and quite rightly raised the discussion on wether the Clark signing was that much of a needle mover......which only time will tell.

However as it stands atm Egan, Lussick, and Healy all on the books is one too many imo (especially with Roach in the background also) and if Lussick isnt moved on id say the recruitment policy should quite rightly come into question.

 

[Leon Black]

I don't mind watching the Sharks. Wouldn't call myself a fan however. I don't understand the relevance if I was in fact a fan?

Yes, baseless is a good description.
Fitzgibbon wanted him to renege on his deal once he got a chance to coach Metcalf. I'm sure the club wanted to ensure they gave themselves their best chance to be successful in both the NRL & NSW Cup too.

Geez you got some good inside oil knowing the inner thoughts of Fitzy. Are you Cappy or his right hand man?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

We have some Nz warriors employees on this forum

Do we?

 

[hornbybrown]

Do we?

I personally don’t know that we do but would be more surprised if we didn’t have some in here than if we did.

Pays to keep an eye on the pulse of fans and who knows some might post to support a club narrative

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Bring in

I personally don’t know that we do but would be more surprised if we didn’t have some in here than if we did.

Pays to keep an eye on the pulse of fans and who knows some might post to support a club narrative

The poor soul who's job it is at HQ having to siv through the recruitment thread!

Shit!!! Could they just sign another prop already!!!!

Oh and where are our wheels!!!

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Oh and where are our wheels!!!

 

[cock_o]

If Harris and Walker play 2025 and are gone by 2026 we have some money to spend on middles. How much should we offer Willison?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

If Harris and Walker play 2025 and are gone by 2026 we have some money to spend on middles. How much should we offer Willison?

I feel if we get this right then there's a good chance we also get him for next year. Surely with Broncos having Ben Te Kura there and needing game time, if Willison signs with us for 2026 there would be no point in having him at the club and playing first grade nek year, developing him further for us for 26. And he's not at that elite level talent yet where even when they sign somewhere else you still hold them for the year because they're that good.

I think I'd offer him 600k and 4 years. We'd be paying overs on year one for sure, but you'd be paying unders in yrs 3 and 4 imo.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Very Mal Meninga ish. Mal was 6ft - 6ft 1 and fluctuated between 114 - 120kg during his career. Man's could motor for his size. Val has that potential. He even had the same coach Mal did at the very beginning of his career, Master coach Wayne Bennet.

Did you watch Mal play much? Val doesn’t have anywhere near that potential.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Did you watch Mal play much? Val doesn’t have anywhere near that potential.

Pretty much his whole career. Straight outta Police College. He's my goat. My dad & I use to have the Winfield Cup games & Origin games sent over to NZ in the 80s on Beta , Then VHS tapes. I followed South Logan Magpies & Canberra because of him. And I support Queensland because of him. So yes. Seen him play plenty. You're being a bit pedantic. I am comparing his physical attributes. Not his playing ability. He is as big and fast as Mal was. Certainly has the ability if he can get his shit together.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Pretty much his whole career. Straight outta Police College. He's my goat. My dad & I use to have the Winfield Cup games & Origin games sent over to NZ in the 80s on Beta , Then VHS tapes. I followed South Logan Magpies & Canberra because of him. And I support Queensland because of him. So yes. Seen him play plenty. You're being a bit pedantic. I am comparing his physical attributes. Not his playing ability. He is as big and fast as Mal was. Certainly has the ability if he can get his shit together.

Has the ability to maybe be a regular first grade centre.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Has the ability to maybe be a regular first grade centre.

Ok coach Nathan Brownstone

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Ok coach Nathan Brownstone

To quote Wayne Bennett…

“The only thing I get the similarities with was the shorts, they are about the same size and that’s the only similarity that I came up with. He’s no Mal Meninga, I can tell you that.”

But then what would he know.

 

[Worried2Death]

To quote Wayne Bennett…

“The only thing I get the similarities with was the shorts, they are about the same size and that’s the only similarity that I came up with. He’s no Mal Meninga, I can tell you that.”

But then what would he know.

If Wayne can't keep him fit enought for NRL I doubt we could either Browny. Have you thought of going to Mat Lodge's hair clinic?

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

If Wayne can't keep him fit enought for NRL I doubt we could either Browny. Have you thought of going to Mat Lodge's hair clinic?

Exactly, didn’t he come back from Christmas break about 20kg overweight? Anyway I can’t believe I’m arguing with someone about Te Whare vs Meninga - what’s next, Tanah Boyd having the potential to match Joey Johns?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

To quote Wayne Bennett…

“The only thing I get the similarities with was the shorts, they are about the same size and that’s the only similarity that I came up with. He’s no Mal Meninga, I can tell you that.”

But then what would he know.

Once again, Find your glasses ?!! "Physical attributes " He is a similar build to Mal and can haul that ass around for a big boy....Nothing else.

Potential - Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
Unless you're Nostril-damus I can't predict the future or how he'll go.

To quote the MasterBater Warrior Waka....

Your like my wife, Arguing for the sake of it...