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

 

[Five&Last]

I like the Timoko idea too but I think getting Tolu Kolua over the line should be priority.

Our center pipeline is actually not terrible but we don't have a genuine fullback coming through until Jeremiah Lemana.

If we give Kolua a 3 year deal at 800k to play fullback, Lemana will be turning 22 by the time that deal finishes.

Ratcliffe who has a slightly lower ceiling will also be turning 23.

If we can find the funds to get both I think we are sorted. We have enough internal promotion to cover any forward departures.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

View: https://spotify.link/pJnBvXrvPXb

Detailed analysis on who’s coming off contract position by position, very good listen if you’ve got the time.

 

[cock_o]

I like the Timoko idea too but I think getting Tolu Kolua over the line should be priority.

Our center pipeline is actually not terrible but we don't have a genuine fullback coming through until Jeremiah Lemana.

If we give Kolua a 3 year deal at 800k to play fullback, Lemana will be turning 22 by the time that deal finishes.

Ratcliffe who has a slightly lower ceiling will also be turning 23.

If we can find the funds to get both I think we are sorted. We have enough internal promotion to cover any forward departures.

How good if we lose Niukore Capewell and RTS and use the cash to get Kolua and Timoko.

 

[Leon Black]

Would be all over Timoko. A genuine game breaker you can throw the ball to and just say "do something".

RTS, CNK, DWZ and probably TT too are all on the outs within 2 seasons. We have spots in the back 5 to fill. We can purchase 1-2 without cutting off the local talent from succeeding if they're good enough.

Not sure about Timoko, nearly got dropped last season for clear defensive issues.

 

[Leon Black]

Timoko’s defence increasingly being pointed to as problematic for the Raiders. Their right edge definitely began to leak points in the later rounds & into the finals.

Put him inside AKP and it will be like an LA Freeway… astounded hardly anyone picked up on the well publicised defensive issues that had him close to being dropped

 

[Leon Black]

https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36772

 

[sup42]

Not sure about Timoko, nearly got dropped last season for clear defensive issues.

That is the problem yes. I would still be ok with us taking a punt based off the lack of better options both here and in the market place.

 

[Makasene]

That is the problem yes. I would still be ok with us taking a punt based off the lack of better options both here and in the market place.

Not really a punt though unfortunately.

Him going to market means we will have to pay top-dollar.

Not something I would be prepared to do.

Timoko is actually a bit of a myth... I have watched him closely many times out of interest and he's pretty underwhelming. Does have a highlight play in him though.

 

[CWC]

Just get one of those Koula, Timoko, or Drinkwater whoever and chuck him at fullback, Roger can cover next year lol, and they’re not ruling out an extension so i dont know what the CNK is here in ‘27 so we have to play him in ‘26 is about, we trying to win a premiership or rip off season ticket holders?

 

[Five&Last]

Just get one of those Koula, Timoko, or Drinkwater whoever and chuck him at fullback, Roger can cover next year lol, and they’re not ruling out an extension so i dont know what the CNK is here in ‘27 so we have to play him in ‘26 is about, we trying to win a premiership or rip off season ticket holders?

We’re not getting an established fullback like Drinkwater.

It’s someone we can sell an opportunity for a positional switch or larger role like Koula.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

How many kahunas can someone have?

12

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Put him inside AKP and it will be like an LA Freeway

And some want Jahream Bula as well. Fuck me, Timoko , AKP & Bula!? Might as well throw in the towell and accept the spoon with the amount of tries that will be scored against us lol.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Put him inside AKP and it will be like an LA Freeway… astounded hardly anyone picked up on the well publicised defensive issues that had him close to being dropped

Up until this season a lot on here hadn’t even worked out that DWZ was a major defensive liability, so to pick up Timoko’s problems playing for a side that wasn’t the Warriors was easily a bridge too far.

 

[Boston Boy]

Put him inside AKP and it will be like an LA Freeway… astounded hardly anyone picked up on the well publicised defensive issues that had him close to being dropped

I like Timoko on attack but you are right! AKP and him in a backline would be bad. To get a backline right defensively you can't have more than 1 person suspect defensively. That way the backline can kind of train him into what to do, and they generally adapt and improve. That is why DWZ is so frustrating because he doesn't seem to learn after all these years of first grade. With Boyd coming in after the Metcalf injury, it created doubt and people lost a step because they were weary of Boyd missing a tackle and DWZ became even worse because of the uncertainty. The result was that, that created horrible defensive reads. We got upset at DWZ (Which he should be better, but the problem is bigger than just him) if we throw Timoko out there, we would have a nightmare.

 

[John Nick]

I like Timoko on attack but you are right! AKP and him in a backline would be bad. To get a backline right defensively you can't have more than 1 person suspect defensively. That way the backline can kind of train him into what to do, and they generally adapt and improve. That is why DWZ is so frustrating because he doesn't seem to learn after all these years of first grade. With Boyd coming in after the Metcalf injury, it created doubt and people lost a step because they were weary of Boyd missing a tackle and DWZ became even worse because of the uncertainty. The result was that, that created horrible defensive reads. We got upset at DWZ (Which he should be better, but the problem is bigger than just him) if we throw Timoko out there, we would have a nightmare.

I will add that a good defensive fullback can help with the organisation of the outside backs.Matthew Ridge was a master at the art of calling players to slide or jam and fill gaps.

 

[Five&Last]

I would be surprised to see Timoko leave the Raiders. They've done a lot for him, including assisting his mother get a job with the club and helping her with accommodation.
I understand through the grapevine that Matt and his mother now live just down the road from each other in Canberra and he's really tight with her.
So it would take a big offer to break up a good thing that he's got going over there.

My thinking is that it wouldn't take a big offer. For him Auckland is still probably home. He lived here until he was 18. Probably one of the later movers of kiwis in their prime over in Aus. The defensive issues should be reflected in the price, otherwise I'm actually happy with our center stocks moving forward (I'm probably in the minority there)

 

[Noitall]

I like Timoko on attack but you are right! AKP and him in a backline would be bad. To get a backline right defensively you can't have more than 1 person suspect defensively. That way the backline can kind of train him into what to do, and they generally adapt and improve. That is why DWZ is so frustrating because he doesn't seem to learn after all these years of first grade. With Boyd coming in after the Metcalf injury, it created doubt and people lost a step because they were weary of Boyd missing a tackle and DWZ became even worse because of the uncertainty. The result was that, that created horrible defensive reads. We got upset at DWZ (Which he should be better, but the problem is bigger than just him) if we throw Timoko out there, we would have a nightmare.

I wonder if it’s something like we have with DWZ sometimes and even a strong defender like Berry can look all at sea. Tamale as winger was let go by dragons because of defensive frailties and others like Jed Stuart spent time over that side. He had similar thing last year playing next to Cotric, Rapana and Albert Hopoate at different times. Kris has also been called out for his defence at times and think so much has to do with cohesion on the edge. He’s totally a strike centre, but yeah it could be a bloodbath next to AKP

 

[JaggedJ]

I like the Timoko idea too but I think getting Tolu Kolua over the line should be priority.

Our center pipeline is actually not terrible but we don't have a genuine fullback coming through until Jeremiah Lemana.

If we give Kolua a 3 year deal at 800k to play fullback, Lemana will be turning 22 by the time that deal finishes.

Ratcliffe who has a slightly lower ceiling will also be turning 23.

If we can find the funds to get both I think we are sorted. We have enough internal promotion to cover any forward departures.

The biggest issue with our centre/wing pipeline is they're more fragile than a vampire in sunlight.

Berry, Ali, Kali, Pasikala etc

 

[Blain]

Timoko is a great option if Berry doesn't show us he's an NRL centre next year. I agree with above though, I can't see him leaving the Raiders.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Timoko is a great option if Berry doesn't show us he's an NRL centre next year. I agree with above though, I can't see him leaving the Raiders.

I couldn’t see fish leaving the panthers either