Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
key: T = Team option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 5/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 26/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Jett Cleary (Panthers Pathways), Kahu Capper (Roosters Pathways)
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
2025 Off Contract: Shaun Johnson, Jazz Tevaga
 
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I know it was a milestone game for DWZ, but does anybody feel like he might be taking up that offer that has been in an article lately?
 
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For me, Jazz still offers something very worthwhile off the bench currently. He brings the tempo when he comes on and has great line speed - largely that's something that rookies are not going to provide.

With injuries this year we haven't been able to see Jazz and Walker come on together and bring that energy that they brought as a pair last year.

There's going to be time for these youngsters in the next few years to get a fair crack through injuries and form so I'm not too worried.
Ideally yeah.

Ideally we let these young guys stay in NSW cup untill they're 23 or 24 years old and bring them into first grade a more or less finished product. But we can’t they’ll get poached.

We can't keep everyone. Otherwise it'd be called a top 50.
 
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Kiwi international Isaiah Papali’i is set to ignite the NRL transfer market after the Tigers back-rower was granted permission to leave the club with rival clubs set to circle.

It is understood that Papali’i is free to leave the Tigers at the end of this season which will spark a market frenzy with clubs already sounding out the 25-year-old whose $650,000 contract with the Tigers was due to expire at the end of next season.

Discussions heated up at Magic Round in Brisbane last weekend with clubs knowing that Papali’i has now joined the open market.

It means the likes of Penrith, Manly and Canterbury could pounce on Papali’i with the Panthers still on the look-out to fill the void created by James Fisher-Harris’ impending departure to the Warriors and the unsuccessful pursuit of David Fifita.

The Roosters’ Angus Crichton is the other marquee back-rower also a free agent. What is clear though, is that Papali’i’s time at the Tigers is set to come to a premature end
 
Where does he play? He could take Jazz Tavaga's place if he leaves? Otherwise I'm struggling to find a place for him.

Besides! We have a kids called Jacob Laban, Eddie Iremia Toeava, Sifakula, and Halasima!

I don't know how I would feel about him coming back.
Would be a great replacement for Jazz on the bench covering second row/middle and a bigger body. Played lock last week and looks to be used in the middle at the tigers at stages, could shift him to starting lock with Walker bench and Tohu goes to front row
 
We need to swap him for Jackson Ford. He is better on attack and offers way more, same on defense, is younger than Ford, and has unfinished business with us a la SJ. Tohu will be retiring soonish, Marata and Dylan Walker wont sign on bigger deals (or at least they bloody shouldn't) and beside Capewell, the rest of our second rowers are on small contracts. Plays the full 80 as well. Hopefully has grown up a bit while overseas.

Im so over Ford's 1-2x dropped balls a game, his 2x running decoys wrong a game. Paps is a starting SR for the Kiwis and will remain so until he retires (him and Nikora). I am sure we will sound him out and if we do I bloody hope he considers us.
 
Would be a great replacement for Jazz on the bench covering second row/middle and a bigger body. Played lock last week and looks to be used in the middle at the tigers at stages, could shift him to starting lock with Walker bench and Tohu goes to front row
isnt this part of the reason he packed it up and left? Wanted to be an edge rather than a middle?

I like our kids tbh and would like to see them developed, that being said, the only way I see him coming is if he takes a big cut to be at home, or if one of Capewell/Walker/Jazz leave
 
Could Next year's squad look like this?

Fullbacks: C N Klokstad, T Tuaupiki.

Wings: R T Sheck, D W Zelezniak, M Montoya, S Kali.

Centres: A Pompey, R Berry, A Leiataua, M G Taufa.

Halves: S Johnson, L Metcalf, T M Martin.

D Halves: W Egan, F Lussick.

Front Row: J F Harris, M Barnett, J Tavaga, T Ale, B Afoa, Z Zyon Maiu’u.

Back Row: T Harris, J Ford, K Capewell, M Niukore, J Laban, D Sifakula.

Utility: D Walker, C H Tavita.

If you add papalii to that it becomes stacked and full.
 
isnt this part of the reason he packed it up and left? Wanted to be an edge rather than a middle?

I like our kids tbh and would like to see them developed, that being said, the only way I see him coming is if he takes a big cut to be at home, or if one of Capewell/Walker/Jazz leave
That would be ironic because I personally don’t see second row as his best position going forward and middle forward is. He’s lost too much speed with the weight he’s added I reckon
 
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