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

 

[Noitall]

Is NAS still a possibility for us? Having a guy like him coming off the bench could really put us into contender territory.

I’ve been watching his instagram like the stalker I am after he’s just reinstated it. I’m not sure he’s in a good place? Where players often have their teams or sponsors, he has 5018 which I presume is Wellington area code being that’s where he’s from. Just today under it says never meant to fit in

 

[Canonball]

So Almost $1Million must be like 975 or 980. Can't be 990 or that would be a tease.

Here is Zero Tackles list of top salaries and there are not that many people making over $1M

NRL Highest Paid Players

A list of the highest paid rugby league players in the NRL. Only players with reported contract values are listed.

www.zerotackle.com

Please don't have a crack at this post if you don't rate Zero Tackle. Thanks.

According to the source Moses is $1,3M as is Cleary. Hynes is on $1M exactly
So we are paying him as much as Nicho. I wonder if they did comparables like they do in real estate and compared him to Nicho. I would have Metcalf on a good day as being better than Hynes. so long as he recovers well from his injury.

Not having a crack at you, but this just popped up for me on another feed and i just had to say 'wtf'? none of these would be on my wah's shopping list, not even close:

FIVE November 1 targets: New Zealand Warriors

Who could head across the Tasman in 2027?

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Ref]

Unless there was wife and baby health issues that needed immediate family support, Metcalf was never leaving.
We have the money to pay him fairly, he loves the club and he knows we are stacked with generational talent that have been and will be developed properly.
What could have been if we had the likes of Mohawk, George, Webster et al in 1995.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

I’ve been watching his instagram like the stalker I am after he’s just reinstated it. I’m not sure he’s in a good place? Where players often have their teams or sponsors, he has 5018 which I presume is Wellington area code being that’s where he’s from. Just today under it says never meant to fit in

Sounds like he needs some Webby love

 

[Ref]

Not having a crack at you, but this just popped up for me on another feed and i just had to say 'wtf'? none of these would be on my wah's shopping list, not even close:

FIVE November 1 targets: New Zealand Warriors

Who could head across the Tasman in 2027?

www.zerotackle.com

I’d buy Lemuelu if we needed forwards but we don’t.

 

[Noitall]

Sounds like he needs some Webby love

My thoughts exactly

 

[CWC]

Meaney makes sense if there is nobody out there but that Falongo is a weapon. We need someone next year otherwise it’s basically developing Linnane or Inch for ‘27

 

[Noitall]

Not having a crack at you, but this just popped up for me on another feed and i just had to say 'wtf'? none of these would be on my wah's shopping list, not even close:

FIVE November 1 targets: New Zealand Warriors

Who could head across the Tasman in 2027?

www.zerotackle.com

Nick Meaney would solve some kicking issues. You’re right though, pretty underwhelming

 

[Noitall]

Meaney makes sense if there is nobody out there but that Falongo is a weapon. We need someone next year otherwise it’s basically developing Linnane or Inch for ‘27

Tom Chester was regarded highly too at one stage as fullback and centre but missed the whole 2025 season with acl injury. Probably lost a yard of pace too

 

[Warriors55]

Awesome News, Lockdown Healey next and young Sio Kali as well.

Healey definitely the priority now to extend past 2027 but that may not come for a while.

Not sure about CHT. If they only see him as a 6 I don't want him blocking Jett/Linnane/Inch and co for more than 1 year which is when his contract ends. If they see CHT as a 14 long term then I am onboard for sure but I can't see that happening with Egan and Healey in the 17.

CHT will be starting 6 next year and deservedly so but I would transition probably Jett into first grade in 2027 as other teams will come knocking if we don't.

The more I think about it the more it seems Egan or Healey will have to leave. Their contracts both end at the same time and both will want to start. We already know other clubs want to sign Healey.

 

[Horriors2013]

I’ve been watching his instagram like the stalker I am after he’s just reinstated it. I’m not sure he’s in a good place? Where players often have their teams or sponsors, he has 5018 which I presume is Wellington area code being that’s where he’s from. Just today under it says never meant to fit in

I think he's referring to his size

 

[Horriors2013]

Nick Meaney would solve some kicking issues. You’re right though, pretty underwhelming

Yeah I don't see Tyran Wishart being chased by us. Meaney is a good option, a bit more dangerous than Charnze yet safe enough. Covers centre, 2 positions we have injury-prone players. I'd bag him.

 

[Warriors55]

Would not mind Meaney for the right price but no way to Wishart. More halves is the last thing we need with so many good young guys coming through our system.

 

[Wrighty]

To the Luke Warm on Luke Brigade that I was a member of. Jeez you come around quick when you see him speak from the heart in the video. Secondly in a worst case scenario that he loses all his speed when he comes back from his ACL history, time will show this was the right move in the long run no matter how things pan out with Metcalf. He is our dog in the fight and we have treated him well and that will be noticed by other Australians who are thinking of coming here. This move plays the long game well and shows we are a club with good values rather than letting ourselves be outbid because he got an ACL and we were worried about injuries.

.

 

[mrblonde]

"I see Metcalf wants more experience playing behind those tiring Warriors forwards, Rabs!" is how Gus would have called it. I think that was one of his cliches?

So now Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Taine Tuaupiki, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin to nail down or let go...

I see Roger not being offered another go-round, same with Freddy and Marata. Martin too if he's not keen on being the new 14.

 

[Horriors2013]

Yes, the club has had setbacks with Australian players wanting to go home. We should also celebrate the players that come here and get settled in NZ. We have had quite a few that have ended up staying here after they retire. Sure they eventually head back but the fact they love their time in NZ is a good thing for the club.

Here we have a young couple with a baby happy to be here in New Zealand. In the video he mentions his partner encouraging him to chase his dream.

That video with Metcalf talking about the club is great to hear. The club has doing a lot of the right things after returning from covid. A good endorsement for the management (Georhe and his team) and the football department with McFadden and Webster.

A word of advice for the next star we need signed up. Sign your contract and get it announced before heading off on your honeymoon. It helps stop the Aussie league scribe rumour mill and a lot of time/debate around here.

Yeah man. I really want Luke to succeed with us. It would be a great story. I'm so stoked. We're always a threat with him on the field.

 

[Horriors2013]

I'm happy for Inch to learn the game at Flegg level. There's no guarantee he'll be a gun for us and I believe we'll need to be patient with him. Jett is one season closer to his debut after last year. But we'll also need to be prepared for him to stumble, splutter and occasionally be amazing for at least his first year in first grade and likely two.

It's literally a game of inches (had to have my go). St George going after Jett now.

 

[Horriors2013]

Now we can sign Drinkwater or the Manly outside back

I can only dream. Queensland heat or Auckland... rain and wind. Drinkwater would make us hot faves.

 

[Warriors55]

"I see Metcalf wants more experience playing behind those tiring Warriors forwards, Rabs!" is how Gus would have called it. I think that was one of his cliches?

So now Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Taine Tuaupiki, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin to nail down or let go...

I see Roger not being offered another go-round, same with Freddy and Marata. Martin too if he's not keen on being the new 14.

Of those guys I would re-sign Berry and TT with CHT a maybe and Capewell a maybe for a 1 year extension but probably not.

RTS I think will be gone but if not maybe a 1 year extension at most depending on how Kali and AKP are tracking.

Lussick, Niukore, Boyd, TMM I would not re-sign.

 

[Wrighty]

"I see Metcalf wants more experience playing behind those tiring Warriors forwards, Rabs!" is how Gus would have called it. I think that was one of his cliches?

So now Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Taine Tuaupiki, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin to nail down or let go...

I see Roger not being offered another go-round, same with Freddy and Marata. Martin too if he's not keen on being the new 14.

I read yesterday somewhere it is "known" he (RTS) has now signed with R360.