While there are a couple of low key players still unsigned for next season, Aotearoa Warriors have gone hundies on keeping David Fusitu'a at Mt Smart. Fusitu'a has signed on until the end of 2023, effectively extending his current contract which finished at the end of next season.

This move ensures that the Warriors don't have to worry about Fusitu'a coming off contract any time soon and they understandably view Fusitu'a as a player who the club can continue to build around. There aren't any negatives here as we all know what Fusitu'a is worth as an NRL winger and he seems like a lovely lad off the field.

Locking down Fusitu'a also allows the Warriors a splash of security, thus flexibility in their salary cap. Fusitu'a should only get better and that will only push his market value up, but the Warriors will probably end up paying less than that eventual market value because they agreed to a long-term deal now. I doubt the Warriors have had to pay huge money for Fusitu'a - which he may have commanded on the open market - because Fusitu'a is from Auckland and would be keen to stay here.

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Just like being able to lure players back to Aotearoa on less money, the Warriors are able to keep local juniors on slightly less money as they are settled in Auckland. Most importantly, these local juniors can now see that the club is moving in a positive direction and don't feel as though they need to go to Australia to level up as ballers.

The funk for me comes when you jump into the contract situation of the Warriors where we are still waiting on the Issac Luke situation. On top of that and of equal intrigue, is that Ken Maumalo and Jazz Tevaga are also coming off contract and are yet to be re-signed. Other top-30 players who are off contract are steady reserve graders James Bell, Matiu Love-Henry, Junior Pauga and Patrick Sipley. The Warriors have already released Manaia Cherrington and Zac Santo, both of whom are currently playing in Queensland's reserve grade competition.

Bell, Love-Henry, Pauga and Sipley are all prospects who could slide into an NRL role within the next two years. They'll be on cheap deals and unless coach Stephen Kearney and footy boss Brian Smith aren't fans of those blokes, I reckon they'll all be re-signed.

As should Maumalo and Tevaga. I've made it loud and clear that Maumalo is the Warriors most improved player this season as he's upgraded his running game as well as his security under the high ball. If the Warriors view Fusitu'a in such a way that they want to re-sign him for another five years, there's no reason why Maumalo shouldn't be viewed in that bucket either.

A Maumalo/Fusitu'a combo could be a staple of the Warriors for the next few years at least and Maumalo has demanded a new contract through his development. Maumalo's improvement now puts him in that same level as Fusitu'a and it would be rude for the Warriors to not reward that.

Tevaga is a similar case, however it's less about improvement/development and instead he found a role that suits him perfectly. Finding that role and doing it consistently has helped Tevaga improve, the work of Kearney to put faith in Tevaga to play big minutes in the middle of the park though is the key.

Maumalo is just as important to the Warriors as Fusitu'a and Tevaga's just as important to the Warriors as any other middle forward. Tevaga's mobility and agility is a huge asset defensively and with the footy, plus Tevaga's skillset aligns with the Warriors style of play with offloads and shifting the footy.

Neither Maumalo or Tevaga should be let go and given what they have shown in 2018, they should be rewarded with multi-year deals. The club does have wingers coming through who will put pressure on Maumalo in Lewis Soosemea, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Pauga, while Tevaga's situation may change when Nathaniel Roache comes back from injury. Maumalo and Tevaga have shown that they are legit NRL players though and shouldn't be brushed aside for younger/fringe players.

Then we have Luke. While I reckon Maumalo and Tevaga are near-certainties, nothing is for certain with the Luke contract stuff. I've said all along that I want Luke re-signed and as you'd expect, playing for a contract has only boosted Luke's stocks. I've also said all along that Luke is a far superior NRL dummy half than Roache right now and it would be a minor step back to rely on Roache to play 80 minutes at hooker and let Luke go.

Had Roache been healthy all season, that may be a different yarn. Roache first of all needs to get back playing footy, then crack the top-17 and then build up his minutes and suss out NRL footy via consistently playing. I view that as aligning nicely with Luke's possible contract as the Warriors could offer Luke two or three years and be patient with Roache, let him ease his way back into the mix.

Most importantly, Roache needs to get better. Roache needs a kicking game, he needs to learn how to play 80mins etc and giving him plenty of time to learn from Luke will only be beneficial. A transition process simply seems like the most logical move and again, the mana of the Warriors along with Aotearoa being home, should help sign Luke without going nuts on the dosh.

Here is the list of players who are on the books past 2019;

Leeson Ah Mau
Gerard Beale
Adam Blair
David Fusitu'a
Blake Green
Tohu Harris
Peta Hiku
Sam Lisone
Hayze Perham
Leivaha Pulu
Nathaniel Roache
Tevita Satae
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

That's a handy group to have locked up long-term, with Green being the only Australian in there. Not only do we have clarity in the direction of the Warriors, we have a strong group of players who will form the foundations in the coming years as well as a staff roster that is of equal talent in their respective roles, to the playing group. Stay down for the cause.

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Peace and love 27.