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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

doom scrolling so likely take no notice however...

View attachment 14812

This would be a weird signing considering the stocks in the backrow, unless Capewell goes to Brisbane?

 

[Noitall]

This would be a weird signing considering the stocks in the backrow, unless Capewell goes to Brisbane?

Niukore has disappeared after Cook Islands selection?

 

[sup42]

This would be a weird signing considering the stocks in the backrow, unless Capewell goes to Brisbane?

Well if this rumor is true (big if) you would be silly not to look at him seriously.

He would walk into our game day 17 every day of the year irrespective of our young guns potential.

 

[Cces]

Tanwah in 2025 outplayed the following former warriors halves

Kodi in his warriors version
Ata hingano
Mason lino
Seas O’Sullivan warriors version
Ash Taylor
Ronald volkman

This list includes 3 guys who's NRL debuts were at the Warriors, a 1-game Warrior who was medically retired shortly afterwards, SOS who also began his Warriors career with an identical 4W-5L record and Kodi Nikorima who played 40 games for the club before even playing Halfback.
If you need to compare these guys to Boyd, who had 69 NRL appearances prior to this season, it shows how underwhelming he has been in first grade to date.
How does he compare to Brett Seymour, Chad Townsend, Jeff Robson & Blake Green?

 

[chrisnz]

Well if this rumor is true (big if) you would be silly not to look at him seriously.

He would walk into our game day 17 every day of the year irrespective of our young guns potential.

I agree he is better than some junior talent we have but the thing is not by much and the potential some of them has probably surpasses Riki and by adding him to the fray you block them from some 1st grade experience that and he's a rep player and premiership winner so the kids coin gets taken I would be okay if he was a cheaper replacement for capes or marata but if not then it's a pass for me.

 

[WAH MAN]

Smart business. He's likely to only play just over half a season next year isn't he? Not worth upgrading

It's ideal and win win I reckon. Even if he plays half the season and it's from halfway to the end of the season I'll be happy

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I agree he is better than some junior talent we have but the thing is not by much and the potential some of them has probably surpasses Riki and by adding him to the fray you block them from some 1st grade experience that and he's a rep player and premiership winner so the kids coin gets taken I would be okay if he was a cheaper replacement for capes or marata but if not then it's a pass for me.

Surely signing another backrower means someone's changing roles?

I doubt we'll be able to manage having Riki, Laban, Leka, Fatialofa and EIT sniffing around as specialist edge back rowers

Riki would make sense as we need more experience once Capewell and Marata finish up end of nek year as we'd be quite rookie heavy, especially in our pack.

Maybe Laban moves to the middle, or one of Leka, EIT or Fatialofa makes a move to centre?

 

[JaggedJ]

Are any of these rumours credible? All looks like a "trust me bro" source.

 

[Wrighty]

Are any of these rumours credible? All looks like a "trust me bro" source.

I think people would love to discuss the Riki rumour but people like me are waiting to hear it cross referenced in another source before we make an excited post about the chance of him coming here.

 

[Wrighty]

This list includes 3 guys who's NRL debuts were at the Warriors, a 1-game Warrior who was medically retired shortly afterwards, SOS who also began his Warriors career with an identical 4W-5L record and Kodi Nikorima who played 40 games for the club before even playing Halfback.
If you need to compare these guys to Boyd, who had 69 NRL appearances prior to this season, it shows how underwhelming he has been in first grade to date.
How does he compare to Brett Seymour, Chad Townsend, Jeff Robson & Blake Green?

Remember I have only seen Chad and Blake in my tenure as a fan.

Chad Townsend vs Blake Green vs 2025 Tanah Boyd
Chad and Blake were better and classier. However Tanah 2025 version was in their ballpark and this is a legitimate comparison. I am expecting him next year, with another preseason under his belt to draw even closer to Chad and Blake. Blake did not goal kick so Tanah has that over him.
Chad's distribution and Blake's distribution was the primary area where they were superior. In 2021 when Chad Townsend played for the Warriors he had 4 Try Assists in 5 games at a ratio of 80%. Tanwah was not far behind with 7 try assists from 9 games or 78%.
Right now he is a more inexpensive version of Chad Townsend and Blake Green but he is improving and those two players are where he should be aiming to be. While Metcalf can aim for being compared with a higher echelon of players.

Tanah is better than where CHT was at the same age and will project to he a better player two years from now provided he stays in a team that can get him front foot ball. He does not have the ability to be effective in a team losing the grind as was evidenced at the Titans.

I think we should try to keep Tanwah.

 

[Dannevegas]

Well if this rumor is true (big if) you would be silly not to look at him seriously.

He would walk into our game day 17 every day of the year irrespective of our young guns potential.

He’s extremely handsome but massively over rated. I’d start both Laban and Leka ahead of him and still have Fatialofa, Eddie and Neal coming through. A bit of a pointless signing if this is true

 

[Dannevegas]

Surely signing another backrower means someone's changing roles?

I doubt we'll be able to manage having Riki, Laban, Leka, Fatialofa and EIT sniffing around as specialist edge back rowers

Riki would make sense as we need more experience once Capewell and Marata finish up end of nek year as we'd be quite rookie heavy, especially in our pack.

Maybe Laban moves to the middle, or one of Leka, EIT or Fatialofa makes a move to centre?

wouldn’t mind it if we release capewell, turn Fatialofa into a centre and Eddie into a middle

 

[sup42]

He’s extremely handsome but massively over rated. I’d start both Laban and Leka ahead of him and still have Fatialofa, Eddie and Neal coming through. A bit of a pointless signing if this is true

One hundred game one hundred meter ninety two percent tackling machine actually.
He is one of the best forwards in the game.

I don't call that overrated.

 

[WAH MAN]

One hundred game one hundred meter ninety two percent tackling machine actually.
He is one of the best forwards in the game.

I don't call that overrated.

Has a premiership

 

[Cces]

Tanah is better than where CHT was at the same age

They only differ by 1 year in age so it's very easy to put them side by side. They are very different players however and one has primarily been a #7 and the other a #6.

Comparing CHT's career, exactly one year ago, to Boyd's current:

CHT - 71 games (51 as a starting Half), 11 Tries, 20 Try Assists, 27 Forced Drop Outs, 1 Field Goal, 3 40/20s, 167 missed tackles

TB - 78 games (55 as a starting Half), 9 tries, 25 Try Assists, 33 Forced Drop Outs, 3 Field Goals, Zero 40/20s, 240 missed tackles

Flip of a coin offensively for me but a clear winner defensively.

Extending Boyd, as you'd like, seems a highly unnecessary option to do

 

[Dannevegas]

One hundred game one hundred meter ninety two percent tackling machine actually.
He is one of the best forwards in the game.

I don't call that overrated.

The weak point of the broncos is there second row. If he’s one of the best forwards he would’ve been picked for the kiwis.

 

[Dannevegas]

Has a premiership

Thanks to Walsh, who apparently isn’t better than Charnze haha

 

[Noitall]

Surely signing another backrower means someone's changing roles?

I doubt we'll be able to manage having Riki, Laban, Leka, Fatialofa and EIT sniffing around as specialist edge back rowers

Riki would make sense as we need more experience once Capewell and Marata finish up end of nek year as we'd be quite rookie heavy, especially in our pack.

Maybe Laban moves to the middle, or one of Leka, EIT or Fatialofa makes a move to centre?

Think it was last preseason we were linked to him too? Certainly been in the last couple of years. Having a premiership might see him keen on a higher salary now?

 

[kos]

They only differ by 1 year in age so it's very easy to put them side by side. They are very different players however and one has primarily been a #7 and the other a #6.

Comparing CHT's career, exactly one year ago, to Boyd's current:

CHT - 71 games (51 as a starting Half), 11 Tries, 20 Try Assists, 27 Forced Drop Outs, 1 Field Goal, 3 40/20s, 167 missed tackles

TB - 78 games (55 as a starting Half), 9 tries, 25 Try Assists, 33 Forced Drop Outs, 3 Field Goals, Zero 40/20s, 240 missed tackles

Flip of a coin offensively for me but a clear winner defensively.

Extending Boyd, as you'd like, seems a highly unnecessary option to do

They only differ by 1 year in age so it's very easy to put them side by side. They are very different players however and one has primarily been a #7 and the other a #6.

Comparing CHT's career, exactly one year ago, to Boyd's current:

CHT - 71 games (51 as a starting Half), 11 Tries, 20 Try Assists, 27 Forced Drop Outs, 1 Field Goal, 3 40/20s, 167 missed tackles

TB - 78 games (55 as a starting Half), 9 tries, 25 Try Assists, 33 Forced Drop Outs, 3 Field Goals, Zero 40/20s, 240 missed tackles

Flip of a coin offensively for me but a clear winner defensively.

Extending Boyd, as you'd like, seems a highly unnecessary option to do

Nice analysis
As always

But if I m looking at the future
Maybe the guys got improvement in him
Cht has certainly has improved over time
Good let alone very good halves hard to find particularly home grown ones
Coach will probably chew over his performance in 26 with Cappy vs all the young halves and determine a way forward in the back half of 26
I mean it’s like the share market
Last years returns / performance are not really helping to see this years performance
Yeah I know it’s a crap analogy

 

[Warriors55]

Would be very surprised if we signed Riki unless we are offloading someone. But even then we have plenty of cover. Let's see.