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

 

[Blain]

MSN

Looking at his season this year, he's a NSW cup bench player. Big unit though.

 

[Riz]

Talented young Cantabrian signs Warriors deal

Last year Rene Frame was playing first XV rugby for Selwyn Schools. This week he was in Auckland after being snapped up by the Warriors' under-19...

www.odt.co.nz

I was really impressed by this kid in the Canterbury Bulls 18s this season, great to see we've picked him up!

 

[Leon Black]

I'm pretty sure Linnane hasn't played any games of cup yet. So i don't seem him joining the starting 17 untill at least late into the year. But i could be wrong.

Interesting to see so many people wanting major shakeups to the starting 17 next year. Hopfully it's because we've got some amazing talent coming in. As we've done pretty well this year IMO, so a major shakeup would have to come with damn good results straight away to excuse it.

I don’t get the hype or over confidence in Linnane, zero NSW Cup experience whereas Fletcher Sharpe and Hunt both excelled at the level, albeit for short periods, before progressing and excelling at NRL level.

Can’t go off the old, ‘he was as good as Sharpe in season 23 or 24…’ means nothing. It’s like saying Omar Slaimankhel was as good as SJ at Toyota Cup level in 2010!!!

 

[Falcon]

I think Tom Ale moving to the Panthers on a 1 year deal is to leverage expansion team opportunities-

Talented young Cantabrian signs Warriors deal

Last year Rene Frame was playing first XV rugby for Selwyn Schools. This week he was in Auckland after being snapped up by the Warriors' under-19...

www.odt.co.nz

I was really impressed by this kid in the Canterbury Bulls 18s this season, great to see we've picked him up!

Talented young Cantabrian signs Warriors deal

Last year Rene Frame was playing first XV rugby for Selwyn Schools. This week he was in Auckland after being snapped up by the Warriors' under-19...

www.odt.co.nz

I was really impressed by this kid in the Canterbury Bulls 18s this season, great to see we've picked him up!

Great to hear @Riz that you rate this kid.
Fantastic another Cantab signing on with the Warriors.
It will be a positive in encouraging other players the region to move into league, or continue to play with the carrot of a contract with a pathways age grade side.
As a proud Cantab who has had to put up with Crusaders this and Crusaders that and the Crusaders are the be all and end all over the years ( they were awesome) reading about players with talent in the region making the most of their skills in taking a league contract is ‘refreshing’ rather than going down the well worn and crowded rugby road looking for opportunities.

 

[Teets]

Great to hear @Riz that you rate this kid.
Fantastic another Cantab signing on with the Warriors.
It will be a positive in encouraging other players the region to move into league, or continue to play with the carrot of a contract with a pathways age grade side.
As a proud Cantab who has had to put up with Crusaders this and Crusaders that and the Crusaders are the be all and end all over the years ( they were awesome) reading about players with talent in the region making the most of their skills in taking a league contract is ‘refreshing’ rather than going down the well worn and crowded rugby road looking for opportunities.

Interesting quote in that article, "“Growing up with him, I’ve always loved league. I’ve always preferred watching it, I just never got to play it.”

Makes me wonder how many kids in NZ just never play league because it's not at their school or they didn't have a local competition, or they couldn't play both codes because of clashes etc?

 

[SBW1]

How likely are we to get a major new signing for next year or is our 2026 pretty much settled?

 

[Noitall]

MSN

Are we interested?

 

[Noitall]

Looking at his season this year, he's a NSW cup bench player. Big unit though.

His brother is a bit bigger even

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Talented young Cantabrian signs Warriors deal

Last year Rene Frame was playing first XV rugby for Selwyn Schools. This week he was in Auckland after being snapped up by the Warriors' under-19...

www.odt.co.nz

I was really impressed by this kid in the Canterbury Bulls 18s this season, great to see we've picked him up!

Great player. Very talented hooker

 

[Noitall]

Talented young Cantabrian signs Warriors deal

Last year Rene Frame was playing first XV rugby for Selwyn Schools. This week he was in Auckland after being snapped up by the Warriors' under-19...

www.odt.co.nz

I was really impressed by this kid in the Canterbury Bulls 18s this season, great to see we've picked him up!

Gee we’re picking up a lot of dummy halves with already having a few floating around in Healey, Auloa, Taufua, Marsh and Lussick still here

 

[Spence]

How likely are we to get a major new signing for next year or is our 2026 pretty much settled?

I hope so, but we have a full 30 man squad already, so would need to release a player to sign a new one.

 

[cock_o]

I don’t get the hype or over confidence in Linnane, zero NSW Cup experience whereas Fletcher Sharpe and Hunt both excelled at the level, albeit for short periods, before progressing and excelling at NRL level.

Can’t go off the old, ‘he was as good as Sharpe in season 23 or 24…’ means nothing. It’s like saying Omar Slaimankhel was as good as SJ at Toyota Cup level in 2010!!!

Bit like the ol Jayden Nikorima is better than Kodi.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Do we reckon any of the Kiwi boys could be getting the itch to return home?
Kino, Mclean, Timoko would all walk into a starting spot here, would love a compassionate release for one of these boys.

Can't believe McLean's only 19!

I remember there was news a few years ago around Nikora being keen on coming over to NZ, I know there had been whispers about us looking at Riki recently, I wonder if we're still on the look out for a experienced edge....seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Cronulla this year. One of the better hole runners in the comp, could be great for Leka to learn from?

Is prefer we don't sign any more edges or back rowers, but if we did I'd be open to Nikora, with Sharkies chipping in a little

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Do we reckon any of the Kiwi boys could be getting the itch to return home?
Kino, Mclean, Timoko would all walk into a starting spot here, would love a compassionate release for one of these boys.

Can't believe McLean's only 19!

I remember there was news a few years ago around Nikora being keen on coming over to NZ, I know there had been whispers about us looking at Riki recently, I wonder if we're still on the look out for a experienced edge....seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Cronulla this year. One of the better hole runners in the comp, could be great for Leka to learn from?

Is prefer we don't sign any more edges or back rowers, but if we did I'd be open to Nikora, with Sharkies chipping in a little

I think you will find McLean will satisfy the itch to return home this weekend. CommBank is not far from where he was born. Would love to have him here though but could not see Penrith letting him go.

 

[Warriors55]

What's everyone's thoughts on a Wayde Egan extension

Would be pretty cut throat to not re-sign him given he's been with us through some dark periods.

But if Sam Healey continues on a trajectory towards becoming a starting hooker by 2028. And if we re-sign CHT on a two year deal (2027 as halves depth, transitioning to hooker/utility depth in 2028).

Then also factoring in Makaia Tafua, Braelan Marsh, Rico Lemalie progression.

Plus he's approaching that Luke Keary territory where you don't know how many more head knocks he can sustain.

If we can extend Healey i would not extend Egan. Its harsh but Healey looks to be the future.

 

[snake77]

Do we reckon any of the Kiwi boys could be getting the itch to return home?
Kino, Mclean, Timoko would all walk into a starting spot here, would love a compassionate release for one of these boys.

Can't believe McLean's only 19!

I remember there was news a few years ago around Nikora being keen on coming over to NZ, I know there had been whispers about us looking at Riki recently, I wonder if we're still on the look out for a experienced edge....seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Cronulla this year. One of the better hole runners in the comp, could be great for Leka to learn from?

Is prefer we don't sign any more edges or back rowers, but if we did I'd be open to Nikora, with Sharkies chipping in a little

They likely have some of the NZ boys in their ear about returning home, playing together, win a premiership etc. Having our guys in camp talking about being back in NZ, the crowds the club is getting to games probably helps. Each guy will be different; it might wear off when they get back home. Or their partner isn't keen on moving.

The club, when questioned about difficulties attracting players, said we'd be surprised who has come to us asking about coming here.

They made it seem like they turned them down due to who we had, the salary cap, and moving towards being a development club. I know we are moving to a development club. There will still be times we need to recruit.

Their you'd be surprised is a nice way to deflect the question. To me this could be tested in the next few years. Two of the last three years have been good on the field and the crowds make playing at MT Smart more appealing.

If we keep performing on the field.
Can management attract the players needed to push us to the next level?
Or are more players asking about coming here?

 

[Cces]

Apart from Niukore, the current roster was all signed by Webster/McFadden. I know that amongst your squad you want some players with a point of difference but so far Webster seems to be a system based coach & we often hear the "next man up" phrase but the Hooker & Fullback options at the club seem to go against that theory. Egan, Healey & Lussick are so wildly different in their playing styles. Healey could realistically make more Tackle Breaks & dish off more Offloads in one single game than the other two could provide in an entire season. Egan could rack up more Line Break Assists in a half than Lussick could in 10 games. Compare CNK to Tuaupiki too & they're polar opposites.
What's the direction in these positions medium term?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Bit like the ol Jayden Nikorima is better than Kodi.

Im seriously not excited about any youngsters unless they are playing cup.

 

[Damo]

Do we reckon any of the Kiwi boys could be getting the itch to return home?
Kino, Mclean, Timoko would all walk into a starting spot here, would love a compassionate release for one of these boys.

Can't believe McLean's only 19!

I remember there was news a few years ago around Nikora being keen on coming over to NZ, I know there had been whispers about us looking at Riki recently, I wonder if we're still on the look out for a experienced edge....seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Cronulla this year. One of the better hole runners in the comp, could be great for Leka to learn from?

Is prefer we don't sign any more edges or back rowers, but if we did I'd be open to Nikora, with Sharkies chipping in a little

The closest in my opinion would be Tapine, looked to be deep in the feels when he returned home with his whanau to his marae in some socials I seen around the Pacific Champs.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Do we reckon any of the Kiwi boys could be getting the itch to return home?
Kino, Mclean, Timoko would all walk into a starting spot here, would love a compassionate release for one of these boys.

Can't believe McLean's only 19!

I remember there was news a few years ago around Nikora being keen on coming over to NZ, I know there had been whispers about us looking at Riki recently, I wonder if we're still on the look out for a experienced edge....seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Cronulla this year. One of the better hole runners in the comp, could be great for Leka to learn from?

Is prefer we don't sign any more edges or back rowers, but if we did I'd be open to Nikora, with Sharkies chipping in a little

Don't know if our cap is that compassionate!