Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment and Retention Discussion​

Player	2026​	2027​	2028​	2029​	2030​
Mitchell Barnett	✔​	✔​
Rocco Berry	✔​
Tanah Boyd	✔​
Kurt Capewell	✔​
Erin Clark	✔​	✔​
Wayde Egan	✔​	✔​
Kayliss Fatialofa	✔​	✔​
James Fisher-Harris	✔​	✔​	✔​
Jackson Ford	✔​	✔​
Morgan Gannon	✔​	✔​	✔​
Leka Halasima	✔​	✔​	✔​	✔​
Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔​
Sam Healey	✔​	✔​
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	✔​	✔​
Alofiana Khan-Pereira	✔​	✔​	✔​
Jacob Laban	✔​	✔​	✔​	✔​
Ali Leiataua	✔​	✔​
Jye Linnane	✔​	✔​	✔​
Freddy Lussick	✔​
Te Maire Martin	✔​
Haizyn Mellars	✔​	✔​	✔​
Luke Metcalf	✔​
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔​	✔​
Marata Niukore	✔​
Adam Pompey	✔​	✔​
Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔​	✔​	✔​
Taine Tuaupiki	✔​
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔​
Demitric Vaimauga	✔​	✔​	✔​
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔​	✔​
Jett Cleary	S​	U​
Sio Kali	U​
Braelan Marsh	U​	U​	U​
Motu Pasikala	U​	U​

✔ = Signed to Top 30, C = Club option, M = Mutual Option, P = Player option, S = Signed to supplementary list, U = Unclear

2026 Top 30: 30/30
2026 Supplementary: 1/6

2027 Top 30: 20/30
2027 Supplementary: 0/6

2027 Gains: Nil
2027 Losses: Nil

Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Will be off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2028 from November 1st, 2026: Mitchell Barnett, Erin Clark, Jett Cleary, Wayde Egan, Kayliss Fatialofa, Jackson Ford, Sam Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Motu Pasikala, Adam Pompey, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

 

[Wrighty]

Kayliss Fatialofa is listed on NRL.com as being on a top 30 contract for 2026 and 2027.

 

[Wrighty]

Jett Cleary listed as development 2026 and NRL top 30 2027.

 

[Noitall]

I think 9 is his best spot tbh.

Probably strong enough defender to handle that full time too

 

[Kav1]

You make a good point but he had 60 odd games at Gold Coast as a point of first grade tempo reference.

But I'll yield a full off season (which I thought he just had).

Not with the NRL team

 

[Kav1]

I hope you’re right, could just be the case that the wedding destination was the most beautiful place on earth

Have you never been to the West Coast?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I know we’ve tried CHT at 7 in the past but it hasn’t worked, but do you think he’s at a stage of his career he could handle it better with the right five eighth with him? He was young before and largely thrown in because of SJ’s departure and his boot has actually come along well, plenty of try assists too

I personally don't think he's the guy to lead a team around. I think he's got some really good qualities - great defence and a lot of heart, and he has the ability to make some really nice attacking plays, but for me, if the games on the line he's not the guy you want with the ball in his hands.

Playing devil's advocate tho, he's only 26 and we've seen a lot of the top tier halves in the last 5 or so years play until they're 35 so he could still turn it around and become elite? Who knows

 

[Noitall]

I personally don't think he's the guy to lead a team around. I think he's got some really good qualities - great defence and a lot of heart, and he has the ability to make some really nice attacking plays, but for me, if the games on the line he's not the guy you want with the ball in his hands.

Playing devil's advocate tho, he's only 26 and we've seen a lot of the top tier halves in the last 5 or so years play until they're 35 so he could still turn it around and become elite? Who knows

I’m probably more talking about him bringing the gap if we lose Metcalf end of 2027 if who we’re considering to take isn’t quite there? Cleary joining the top 30 in 2027 does give the impression that he’s viewed as the successor though?

 

[Hitro]

I hope Penrith aren't sniffing around Eddie Ieremia-Toeava. Off contract next year and yet to sign an extension. Would've thought we;d be able to lock him up but Penrith missed out on Kayliss so could be their plan B? Would be good to see him locked down asap.

 

[WAH MAN]

Not with the NRL team

Look, if he kicks on and becomes the guy I will be happy for him and happy about it. But my prediction based on evidence so far is that he won't. I don't know. But that's my stance. But thanks for the correction

 

[Playdaball]

I heard on a podcast that CHT was going to test the open market .

 

[Noitall]

Major career twist for Jett Cleary as Warriors in danger of losing two star halves

Nathan Cleary's younger brother Jett could profit from the Warriors situation. More here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Pretty speculative but does give the impression of Cleary at least becoming a depth halve from 2027 with him joining the top 30. Perhaps that’s a holdup with Metcalf that it was mentioned that he wants 3 years but we think that might be too long and others ready that may be blocked?

 

[Warriors55]

Major career twist for Jett Cleary as Warriors in danger of losing two star halves

Nathan Cleary's younger brother Jett could profit from the Warriors situation. More here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Pretty speculative but does give the impression of Cleary at least becoming a depth halve from 2027 with him joining the top 30. Perhaps that’s a holdup with Metcalf that it was mentioned that he wants 3 years but we think that might be too long and others ready that may be blocked?

I would love to see Jett and Luke both in the halves in 2027 but it does give us some peace of mind that if Luke does leave we have Jett waiting in the wings and the sky is the limit for him.

Metcalf will definitely want 3 years but fingers crossed he does sign the 2 year extension and we can see how things progress.

A 3 year extension for Metcalf (taking him through to end of 2029) could block some young halves coming through especially if Metcalf doesn't come back well from injury or suffers more injuries.

I am pro Metcalf 100% but if Jett, Inch and Linnane for example smash it next year in the lower grades, come 2027 & 2028 they will be pushing for starting positions.

I even think it is possible that if Metcalf doesn't return until mid season next year and Boyd doesn't cut it again, Jett may get a chance in first grade much sooner than people think and that will be for the better of the club I believe.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I would love to see Jett and Luke both in the halves in 2027 but it does give us some peace of mind that if Luke does leave we have Jett waiting in the wings and the sky is the limit for him.

Metcalf will definitely want 3 years but fingers crossed he does sign the 2 year extension and we can see how things progress.

A 3 year extension for Metcalf (taking him through to end of 2029) could block some young halves coming through especially if Metcalf doesn't come back well from injury or suffers more injuries.

I am pro Metcalf 100% but if Jett, Inch and Linnane for example smash it next year in the lower grades, come 2027 & 2028 they will be pushing for starting positions.

I even think it is possible that if Metcalf doesn't return until mid season next year and Boyd doesn't cut it again, Jett may get a chance in first grade much sooner than people think and that will be for the better of the club I believe.

I'm wondering what the go is with Chanel too... contracted until the end of 2026, if he were to sign somewhere else for 2027, do we still stick with him as 6 in 2026, or do we start to rotate some of that lot (Cleary, Linnane and Inch) and give them opportunities in first grade in 2026.

Same question regarding Metcalf, if he leaves so we try to blood some of the newer boys?

What ever happens I hope we don't lose both CHT and Metcalf at the same time. I imagine starting from scratch in 2027 would put our premiership window back a year or two

 

[Noitall]

I hope Penrith aren't sniffing around Eddie Ieremia-Toeava. Off contract next year and yet to sign an extension. Would've thought we;d be able to lock him up but Penrith missed out on Kayliss so could be their plan B? Would be good to see him locked down asap.

Hopefully Toby Crosby is their consolation prize. You haven’t heard anything have you that they might be?

 

[Hitro]

Hopefully Toby Crosby is their consolation prize. You haven’t heard anything have you that they might be?

no, just putting 1 + 1 together and getting 6.

He might be under contract still as they changed the rules for developed players a couple of years back whereby if they have played less than 6 state cup or NRL games they can't be approached until after round 6 of their final year of their contract. Not sure how it works, but sounds plausible that he might still be under contract till then.

 

[mrblonde]

Thats because it is about money.

Any player in his situation would go to market and find out his value. Doesn’t mean he’s gone.

I don't suppose Luke's just got himself a new player agent who obviously isn't getting a cut of Luke's current deal, but obviously would get a cut if Luke got himself a new deal? And More Moolah for Luke = More Moolah for Luke's Player Agent?

And it's not like Luke's part of a team who were shite in 2025 so he's politely going to knock back any offer the Warriors make because he can't see himself playing finals if he stays at the Warriors..

That’s is definitely not allowed.

You can’t talk to any teams until you can formally receive offers, otherwise it’s tampering

Metcalf said it in an interview earlier in the year. He was asked if he had been in discussions with other clubs and he responded no that’s not allowed

I think it's kind of like Jersey (According to the undercover cop in "Tweeter And The Monkey Man") where everything's legal as long as you don't get caught.
With the NRL, players and clubs can play footsie with each other under the table (which everyone in the media knows they do, as do the NRL but of course they will deny happens) but NO HAND HOLDING Until November 1! And club and player move in together and get engaged on November 2.

 

[Cces]

we have Jett waiting in the wings and the sky is the limit for him.

What makes you think that his potential is that high?
He only got a combined 21 minutes, all in garbage time, across the 3 most important NSW Cup team games of the season & had one of the lowest win percentages in the entire squad

 

[tajhay]

and get engaged on November 2.

They can lodge paperwork to get enaged on November 2.

People forget about the 10 day cooling period.

Current club gets informed that the player has received an offer from a rival which gives them final chance to up their offer or not. If a club is annoyed, they can waive their right to the 10 day cooling period ( i think panthers did that with Luai didnt they?), but in most cases if they want the player to stay, they have the final say in increasing their offer/convince the player to stay at the club or just say best wishes and move on with their own recruitment pieces.

Metcalf is well within his rights to do exactly that. Its just like contractors in other industries, why would you just blindly extend without looking at what other options there are (money or otherwise). There is never any harm in looking around to see what else is there even if you are contemplating other options or not.

 

[CWC]

I mean wouldn’t we hear some kind of “Metcalf is coming home and he will look for a new team Nov 1st bidding war” rather than what we are seeing now? Unless he can’t state that intention until Nov 1st?

Plus if he’s staying he should be treated as a long term marquee warrior not a stopgap, dude’s a weapon if he stays on the field

 

[Warriors55]

What makes you think that his potential is that high?
He only got a combined 21 minutes, all in garbage time, across the 3 most important NSW Cup team games of the season & had one of the lowest win percentages in the entire squad

There are many reasons why I think his potential is that high.

He has incredible ball skills, has vision, takes the line on, has a great short passing game, and that is not even getting to his kicking game which is still improving. He doesn't have the pace of say Luke Metcalf but Jett is the type of player who can play off the cuff and see opportunities that others can't. He also has the controlling temperament of his brother and that is something he needs to keep improving. I am in no way saying he is going to be better than Nathan but he has so much potential and he plays differently to his brother.

Jett is young so has made mistakes and will make more mistakes along the way but I would not swap him for any other junior half in the comp.

If he is the starting 7 in Cup at the start of next year he will smash it and be pushing for Tanah's 7 jersey in first grade while Luke is out.