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: 21/30
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

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Disappointing if we lost LM but the way the cards are falling its looking likely. Big risks either way for us and other clubs. Will make it tough for us next year and we need to bring on the Jetts and the other young guys. Shame but he has to look after himself and family. Footy careers are relatively short.

I don’t think it’s on the cards at all. That would mean he plays out next year on his same contract, no upgrade. He then joins the Dragons on $1m/year until 2031. He will be 32 that year, and unlikely to demand a monster salary unless he wins comps at the dragons.

Conversely we upgrade him for 26, pay him $1m for two more years, he earns nearly the same but gets to renegotiate a new contract at aged 30, with a bit of fuel left in the tank and the cap has increased for the 22hundreth time.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Maaaaaaaate....

You wanna use a last name in here please? Given the current scenario with Mr Metcalf lol.

Nearly spat out my water when I read your comment

I was excited until I clicked on the link Lol. Still am. I like Hanson.

 

[Inruin]

Maaaaaaaate....

You wanna use a last name in here please? Given the current scenario with Mr Metcalf lol.

Nearly spat out my water when I read your comment

not intentional, honest

 

[Inruin]

Just don't see Flanno and Mets being a match - don't think it'll happen - I think it's just a matter of business and his extension with us will be announced just before christmas

Didn't Flanno hold Luke back when they were at the Sharks? Would seem an unlikely pairing....

 

[John Nick]

I don’t think it’s on the cards at all. That would mean he plays out next year on his same contract, no upgrade. He then joins the Dragons on $1m/year until 2031. He will be 32 that year, and unlikely to demand a monster salary unless he wins comps at the dragons.

Conversely we upgrade him for 26, pay him $1m for two more years, he earns nearly the same but gets to renegotiate a new contract at aged 30, with a bit of fuel left in the tank and the cap has increased for the 22hundreth time.

Hopefully you are right. Just thought the signing of Hansen and the Dragons loss of Illias might have some significance. But hey it's that time of the year again with all the spitballing. Here's hoping

 

[Noitall]

FIVE November 1 targets: New Zealand Warriors

Who could head across the Tasman in 2027?

www.zerotackle.com

Zero tackle targets they think we should look at and an explanation why

 

[Tookey 2.0]

FIVE November 1 targets: New Zealand Warriors

Who could head across the Tasman in 2027?

www.zerotackle.com

Zero tackle targets they think we should look at and an explanation why

Pretty lame list imo.

If we were to lose Marata, Capewell, Roger, Lussick, TMM, Rocco and DWZ that's over 3 mill of our cap.

I think we'd be looking at a big name or three to offset those losses.

Man our team is going to go through a few significant changes over the next 2 years, let's hope it's for the better

 

[JaggedJ]

Pretty lame list imo.

If we were to lose Marata, Capewell, Roger, Lussick, TMM, Rocco and DWZ that's over 3 mill of our cap.

I think we'd be looking at a big name or three to offset those losses.

Man our team is going to go through a few significant changes over the next 2 years, let's hope it's for the better

The first 3 make some sense. Utility back, utility spine, recovering from an ACL. Pretty Warrior like signings.

The other 2 - meh. EIT pretty much fits that description so no need to look elsewhere.

At least they realise where our question marks are.

Fullback would be my #1 priority, but not sure what the realistic options are.

 

[Cces]

That is odd how his kick has been shelved because last year he averaged 130m per game off his boot

He must've had some big games early in that season because his final 5 outputs were 81m, 0m, 0m (only 12 mins), 0m (11 mins) & 98m

 

[cock_o]

The first 3 make some sense. Utility back, utility spine, recovering from an ACL. Pretty Warrior like signings.

The other 2 - meh. EIT pretty much fits that description so no need to look elsewhere.

At least they realise where our question marks are.

Fullback would be my #1 priority, but not sure what the realistic options are.

Definitely no need to recruit back rowers for the 2027 season once Niukore and Capewell are gone.
Still got:
Leka Halasima
Jacob Laban
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Kayliss Fatialofa
Bishop Neal
That's with Gannon playing lock.

 

[Noitall]

He must've had some big games early in the season because his final 5 outputs were 81m, 0m, 0m (only 12 mins), 0m (11 mins) & 98m

Luke Hanson

The The Knock On Effect NSW Cup profile of Luke Hanson including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.warriors.kiwi

Not sure but average kicking metres for 2025 are 33.5, pretty minimal as you pointed out but average kicking metres for 2024 are 130m as his stats here indicate

 

[Cces]

Luke Hanson

The The Knock On Effect NSW Cup profile of Luke Hanson including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.warriors.kiwi

Not sure but average kicking metres for 2025 are 33.5, pretty minimal as you pointed out but average kicking metres for 2024 are 130m as his stats here indicate

My stats relate to 2024 too. In his last 5 games of that season he averaged just 89.5m metres so he must have gone reasonably large in his prior 13 games to get that average to 130m

 

[Wrighty]

This is a small point in favour or Taine being our fullback ahead of CNK to counter the "but he gets rag dolled"

Taine is listed at 83Kgs
He is heavier than both Trai Fuller and Jye Gray who each weigh 78kgs

 

[Noitall]

My stats relate to 2024 too. In his last 5 games of that season he averaged just 89.5m metres so he must have gone reasonably large in his prior 13 games to get that average to 130m

Your point stands though that his kicking has been minimal this season. Looked like he didn’t do a huge amount last year either but less this year for sure

 

[Hitro]

Definitely no need to recruit back rowers for the 2027 season once Niukore and Capewell are gone.
Still got:
Leka Halasima
Jacob Laban
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Kayliss Fatialofa
Bishop Neal
That's with Gannon playing lock.

Can't see us recruiting back rowers for the foreseeable future, so much quality coming through as you rightly point out.

 

[Inruin]

My stats relate to 2024 too. In his last 5 games of that season he averaged just 89.5m metres so he must have gone reasonably large in his prior 13 games to get that average to 130m

From memory I think he played 7 (or at least was the main half) for a fair few games last season which would have bumped up his kicking numbers last season.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I reckon Laban has a point to prove next year. His mates Leka & Demi solidified their spot in the 17. He was also in the mix, but in and out of our 17 due to injuries. He’s one of our best juniors, make no mistake about it, expecting a big year from him in 2026.

 

[Noitall]

Can't see us recruiting back rowers for the foreseeable future, so much quality coming through as you rightly point out.

Always liked Connelly Lemuelu, could put a few kilos on him and shift him to the middle? Skilful guy

 

[Noitall]

I reckon Laban has a point to prove next year. His mates Leka & Demi solidified their spot in the 17. He was also in the mix, but in and out of our 17 due to injuries. He’s one of our best juniors, make no mistake about it, expecting a big year from him in 2026.

Think Leiataua is in that same place too. Kayliss Fatialofa finished the year on the extended bench plenty and expect him to debut if he keeps impressing in preseason. He and EIT could be in competition for that second row spot, EIT has shown he can handle playing in the middle too

 

[Wrighty]

What are Kayliss Fatialofo's measurements