2023 Roster: Gains & Losses

[One Warrior]

2022 is almost over for the Warriors and another year on the road, finally the team returned home for four games, with the first being Sunday July 3rd against the Tigers , a special occasion and a fabulous atmosphere. 2023 offers the prospect of a proper season at home, including the prospect of more than just our regular home games at Mt Smart, plus of course pre-season at home, after the World Cup of course for many. We have a decent bunch of new signings coming in, both experienced and rookies, hopefully there will be a couple more signings, with hopefully a quality prop amongst them. Below is the squad as it stands at the moment:

Current Squad/year contract expires:

Addin Fonua-Blake 2026
Viliami Vailea 2025
Tohu Harris 2024
Rocco Berry 2024
Taniela Otukolo 2024
Otukinekina Kepu 2024
Valingi Kepu 2024
Wayde Egan 2024
Josh Curran 2024
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2024
Jacob Laban 2024 (Development Contract)
Zyon Maiuu 2024
Shaun Johnson 2023
Aaron Pene 2023
Adam Pompey 2023
Bunty Afoa 2023
Ben Murdoch-Masila 2023
Bayley Sironen 2023
Edward Kosi 2023
Marcelo Montoya 2023
Tom Ale 2023
Demitric Sifakula (Development Contract)

Gains

Marata Niukore 2026 (Parramatta Eels)
Dylan Walker 2025 (Manly Sea Eagles)
Mitchell Barnett 2025 (Newcastle Knights)
Charnaze Nicoll-Klokstad 2025 (Canberra Raiders)
Te Maire Martin 2025 (Brisbane Broncos)
Ronald Volkman 2025 (Sydney City Roosters)
Freddy Lussick 2024 (Sydney City Roosters)
Luke Metcalf 2024 (Cronulla Sharks)
Taine Tuaupiki (NSW Cup Contract)
Brody Tamarua (NSW Cup Contract)
Solomon Vasuvulagi (NSW Cup Contract)
Patrick Sipley (NSW Cup Contract)
Chase Bernard (NSW Cup Contract)
Ollie Tumiavave (NSW Cup Contract)

Losses

Euan Aitken (Dolphins)
Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Ash Taylor (Medical retirement)
Kodi Nikorima (South Sydney/Dolphins)
Matt Lodge (Sydney City Roosters)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (Early Retirement/Sabbatical)
Trei Fuller (Dolphins)
Jayden Corrigan (Norths Devils)
Adam Cook (Mackay Cutters)
Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Jack Murchie
Daejarn Asi
Dunamis Lui
Jackson Frei
Lleyton Finau
Junior Ratuva
Pride Petterson-Robati

Unsure on Status

Jazz Tevaga 2023 (PO)
Garrett Smith 2022 Train & Trial

As always anybody who has any further info, please advise, thanks.

 

[Grizzman]

Happy with the incoming esp Barnett and Niukore. Unhappy with the loss of Katoa. I think we will rue that loss sorely but I have no doubt he will become a better player for the leaving. The prop stocks look very very light so fingers crossed we sign a couple of decent ones.

 

[ALX25]

Named on the extended bench in jersey #18 is departing second rower Jack Murchie, who missed last week’s match with injury. Also included are standoff Daejarn Asi and prop Jackson Frei who are both leaving the club as well.

See: https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/08/30/reinforcements-named-for-finale/

 

[ALX25]

Adam Cook re-joined the Mackay Cutters and Jayden Corrigan switched to the Norths Devils.

 

[Tongue]

Named on the extended bench in jersey #18 is departing second rower Jack Murchie, who missed last week’s match with injury. Also included are standoff Daejarn Asi and prop Jackson Frei who are both leaving the club as well.

See: https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/08/30/reinforcements-named-for-finale/

Are these official announcements?

 

[One Warrior]

Named on the extended bench in jersey #18 is departing second rower Jack Murchie, who missed last week’s match with injury. Also included are standoff Daejarn Asi and prop Jackson Frei who are both leaving the club as well.

See: https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/08/30/reinforcements-named-for-finale/

Still hopeful that Murchie will be offered a contract.

 

[Rich102]

Sad. Feels like the death throes of a once strong club.

 

[Tongue]

Be interesting to see where the caps at as with the departures and new recruits plus Lodges golden handshake, we are close to a full squad.
Will be tough next year if we cant secure a prop.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

The club announced 15 players who are leaving

Lodge
Taylor
Nikorima
Aitken
Arthurs
Harris-Tevita
Katoa
Walsh
Murchie
Petterson-Robati
Lui
Finau
Asi
Frei
Ratuva

 

[One Warrior]

Still hopeful that Murchie will be offered a contract.

Apparently Murchie is the forward who didn't want to move to New Zealand, his partner
recently had a baby.

 

[Penrose_11]

Ratuva. Never got a chance really. Just not up to it or injured maybe? Thought he might’ve been something a bit different for us

 

[Leber]

Apparently these guys have linked up with the squad for 2023. NSW cup team looks like.

Taine Tuaupiki, Brody Tamarua, Solomon Vasuvulagi, Patrick Sipley, Chase Bernard and Ollie Tuimavave.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Ratuva. Never got a chance really. Just not up to it or injured maybe? Thought he might’ve been something a bit different for us

I really don't get the curiosity or hype with Ratuva. It's like they see a Fijian player and they go off like Rabs used to do when any Fijian player is a "flying Fijian" in the ilk of <insert player here>

I have seen him at practice runs and he looks way too pedestrian for someone with his physical attributes. Has the size and skill for NSW or ESL.

 

[Tongue]

Apparently these guys have linked up with the squad for 2023. NSW cup team looks like.

Taine Tuaupiki, Brody Tamarua, Solomon Vasuvulagi, Patrick Sipley, Chase Bernard and Ollie Tuimavave.

I think there should always be a Tuimavave in a Warriors squad.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Looking our losses and gains we certainly look better
The losses were not really that bad besides Aitken.
2023 should be better.

 

[One Warrior]

Dragons forward Ford signed up​

St George Illawarra back rower Jackson Ford has signed a two-year deal with the Vodafone Warriors until the end of the 2024 NRL season.
The 24-year-old Ford has banked almost 100 NRL and New South Wales Cup appearances for the Dragons in the last five seasons.
“We’re thrilled to secure Jackson as we look towards relaunching the club at home in 2023,” said Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George.

“He’ll add quality to our back row resources and will also bring valuable experience at both NRL and New South Wales Cup levels providing greater depth to our squad.”
Ford made his NRL debut in 2019, the same season he was named in the New South Wales Cup team of the year and won St George Illawarra’s NSW Cup player of the year award.
He has gone on to play a total of 33 first-grade games – none of them against the Vodafone Warriors – while adding 65 appearances in the New South Wales Cup.

Splitting his NRL games between the bench and the starting line-up, Ford has averaged 77 metres and 25 tackles a game.
In his 16 New South Wales Cup games for the Dragons this year, he averaged 127 metres and 28 tackles a game and boasted an impressive 62 tackle breaks including 10 against the Raiders in round 20.
Across his 65 reserve grade outings Ford has scored 24 tries, averaging 132 metres and 31 tackles a game with a total of 23 line breaks, 237 tackle breaks and 51 off loads.

JACKSON FORD​
Date of birth	February 17, 1998
Birthplace	Shellhabour, NSW
Junior club	Gerringong Lions
Position	Second row
Height	187cm
Weight	95kg
Previous clubs	St George Illawarra Dragons (2019-2022)
NRL debut	St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, August 10, 2019 (Rd 21)
NRL career	33 appearances for St George Illawarra Dragons (2019-2022)
NRL points	8 (2 tries)
New South Wales Cup career	65 appearances for St George Illawarra Dragons (2018-2022)
New South Wales Cup points	96 (24 tries)
Representative	NRL Nines (2020)

Dragons forward Ford signed up until end of 2024 season

St George Illawarra second rower Jackson Ford joins Vodafone Warriors on two-year deal.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[One Warrior]

Current Squad/year contract expires:

Addin Fonua-Blake 2026
Viliami Vailea 2025
Tohu Harris 2024
Rocco Berry 2024
Taniela Otukolo 2024
Otukinekina Kepu 2024
Valingi Kepu 2024
Wayde Egan 2024
Josh Curran 2024
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2024
Jacob Laban 2024 (Development Contract)
Zyon Maiuu 2024
Shaun Johnson 2023
Aaron Pene 2023
Adam Pompey 2023
Bunty Afoa 2023
Ben Murdoch-Masila 2023
Bayley Sironen 2023
Edward Kosi 2023
Marcelo Montoya 2023
Tom Ale 2023
Demitric Sifakula (Development Contract)

Gains

Marata Niukore 2026 (Parramatta Eels)
Dylan Walker 2025 (Manly Sea Eagles)
Mitchell Barnett 2025 (Newcastle Knights)
Charnaze Nicoll-Klokstad 2025 (Canberra Raiders)
Te Maire Martin 2025 (Brisbane Broncos)
Ronald Volkman 2025 (Sydney City Roosters)
Freddy Lussick 2024 (Sydney City Roosters)
Luke Metcalf 2024 (Cronulla Sharks)
Taine Tuaupiki (NSW Cup Contract)
Brody Tamarua (NSW Cup Contract)
Solomon Vasuvulagi (NSW Cup Contract)
Patrick Sipley (NSW Cup Contract)
Chase Bernard (NSW Cup Contract)
Ollie Tumiavave (NSW Cup Contract)
Jackson Ford 2024 (St George Dragons)

Losses

Euan Aitken (Dolphins)
Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Ash Taylor (Medical retirement)
Kodi Nikorima (South Sydney/Dolphins)
Matt Lodge (Sydney City Roosters)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (Early Retirement/Sabbatical)
Trei Fuller (Dolphins)
Jayden Corrigan (Norths Devils)
Adam Cook (Mackay Cutters)
Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Jack Murchie (Parramatta Eels)
Daejarn Asi
Dunamis Lui
Jackson Frei
Lleyton Finau
Junior Ratuva
Pride Petterson-Robati
Aaron Pene (Melbourne Storm)

Unsure on Status

Jazz Tevaga 2023 (PO)
Garrett Smith 2022 Train & Trial

As always anybody who has any further info, please advise, thanks.

 

[Grizzman]

Aaron Pene gone.

Vodafone Warriors grant Pene early release from contract

Vodafone Warriors front rower Aaron Pene has been granted a release from the second year of his contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

This is the OPPOSITE of hiring a prop! FFS . There had better be one hiding in the wings or we are screwed before the season even begins.

 

[Tongue]

Aaron Pene gone.

Vodafone Warriors grant Pene early release from contract

Vodafone Warriors front rower Aaron Pene has been granted a release from the second year of his contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

This is the OPPOSITE of hiring a prop! FFS . There had better be one hiding in the wings or we are screwed before the season even begins.

Hmm. Maybe told he wasnt long term future? Are we making room for someone?

 

[Grizzman]

Hmm. Maybe told he wasnt long term future? Are we making room for someone?

That's what I'm hoping for!