The recruitment decisions of the Warriors, Raiders, Dogs and Eels are the next to come under the microscope, as well as look to those off-contract players each club should target.
Related: 2018 Recruitment Gradings โ Tigers, Knights, Titans, Rabbitohs
Without knowing the exact salary cap position of each side, take the suggestions with a grain of salt, but given reports, and common sense, they are players each side would likely be able to recruit.
New Zealand Warriors
In: Manaia Cherrington (Cronulla Sharks, 2018), Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm, 2021), Leivaha Pulu (Gold Coast Titans, 2020), Zac Santo (Canberra Raiders, 2018)
Out: Erin Clark (Canberra Raiders), Kieran Foran (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers), Ben Matulino (Wests Tigers), Toafofoa Sipley (Manly Sea Eagles)
Off Contract: Matthew Allwood, Charlie Gubb, Ryan Hoffman, Jacob Lillyman, Ofahiki Ogden, Nathaniel Roache, Bodene Thompson, Albert Vete
Re-signed: Blake Ayshford (2019), James Gavet (2019), Ata Hingano (2020), Shaun Johnson (2019), Mason Lino (2019), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (2019), Ligi Sao (2019), Patrick Sipley (2018), Lewis Soosemea (2019), Joe Vuna (2019)
The Warriors have landed one huge in, have re-signed arguably their best ever player, yet have lost a premiership winning half as well as an international forward. Their recruitment may come down to whether or not they can re-sign their talented off-contract forwards.
Should Target: Blake Ferguson/Jordan Kahu. Re-sign Gubb.
The Warriors lack a genuine freakish game-breaker in the outside backs. NSW and Roos star Blake Ferguson would provide them with experience, talent and try-scoring ability. Doing the sums, it wouldn't be impossible to imagine the club could match offers elsewhere, and given the inconsistent form of the likes of Kata, Ayshford and co, there'd be a first-grade spot available. Jordan Kahu is another option and another who may enjoy moving home to his native New Zealand. The club needs to re-signing Charlie Gubb, who is a much-improved player with plenty of upside.
Grading: C-
Tohu Harris is a brilliant signing. The Kiwi-born back rower rounds out a fearsome back row of Thompson, Mannering and the soon to be former Storm star. Shaun Johnson's re-signing was absolutely key, as to lose their favourite son would have been a near lethal loss. To lose Foran, Lolohea, and Matulino though means the Warriors about break even. If they lose Lillyman/Hoffman and/or Thompson, then there better be some young players coming through who are ready to step up quick smart.
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