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

 

[Naynay]

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.

Dont think Tapine will leave the raiders after the whole rebuilt his life after newcastle. Like if we was going to it would have been during the 2023? drama with ricky

 

[Completion Rate]

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?

This is the number one challenge for the game in NZ.

 

[Leon Black]

Bit like the ol Jayden Nikorima is better than Kodi.

Liam Foran… all timer that guy

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Liam Foran… all timer that guy

Im still thinking about what kepu twin is best?

 

[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!

View: https://www.youtube.com/live/0L3OJbXT-6M?si=jZDc7I6r5kQlB6ds

National 18s final from a couple of months ago between Akarana and Canterbury from 4:03.

 

[Five&Last]

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!

Saw this kid at the SG ball preseason training, the ginger hair stood out. Good to hear that you rate him.

 

[Five&Last]

View: https://www.youtube.com/live/0L3OJbXT-6M?si=jZDc7I6r5kQlB6ds

National 18s final from a couple of months ago between Akarana and Canterbury from 4:03.

Kenny Lafituanai is such a beast. Expecting a big Harold Matts season from him next year

 

[Five&Last]

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!!!

It's more the lack of confidence in other options. CNK will lead us to 9th place on the ladder. Linnane is a mystery box and could be anything... he could even lead us to 9th place on the ladder.

Linnane was more than a year younger than Sharpe when they were carving up Flegg together. He was a superior prospect to Sharpe at that time. But he’s since missed out of a lot of development. So I don’t think anyone is pointing at Sharpe as a reason Linnane should be playing. Completely different paths.

The playmaking and speed combination is what everyone is after (i.e. Reece Walsh). I guess none of us really know until we see how Linnane is moving around the pitch, if the two ACL's have zapped some of his athleticism he'll be a non factor next year and probably more.

 

[Makasene]

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?

Heaps and heaps man.

It may have changed but when I was at school, League comps were being played on a Tuesday night.

I went to a 'Rugby' School, League wasn't even an option.

 

[WAH MAN]

Heaps and heaps man.

It may have changed but when I was at school, League comps were being played on a Tuesday night.

I went to a 'Rugby' School, League wasn't even an option.

League in my community was outside of school offerings. So it was rugby Saturday. League Sunday. They couldn't stop you unless you wanted to be in the first xv

 

[CWC]

We get excited about Linnane because of these highlights lol, the guy runs like a Papenhuyzen and has a boot


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7srSXk1GlTw

 

[3rdstriker]

We get excited about Linnane because of these highlights lol, the guy runs like a Papenhuyzen and has a boot


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7srSXk1GlTw

Looks like his ceilings very high.

 

[Horriors2013]

Looks like his ceilings very high.

Man it's like we have a fair amount of brilliant players who could get a season-ending injury just like that. We should allow robotic body parts so every player stays in the game year-round

 

[Horriors2013]

I'm already looking to trials. I'm going to have a keen eye on: Mellars, Linnane, AKP, Leiataua, Gannon. I'm praying for an injury-free run fir all of them. I want them to be consistent FGers next year. If I get my wish, it will be our year LESH GO!

 

[Noitall]

I'm already looking to trials. I'm going to have a keen eye on: Mellars, Linnane, AKP, Leiataua, Gannon. I'm praying for an injury-free run for all of them. I want them to be consistent FGers next year. If I get my wish, it will be our year LESH GO!

I agree, and with the addition of Fatialofa for me. Hoping for no second year syndrome from Halasima and Vaimauga after breakout years

 

[Horriors2013]

It's more the lack of confidence in other options. CNK will lead us to 9th place on the ladder. Linnane is a mystery box and could be anything... he could even lead us to 9th place on the ladder.

Linnane was more than a year younger than Sharpe when they were carving up Flegg together. He was a superior prospect to Sharpe at that time. But he’s since missed out of a lot of development. So I don’t think anyone is pointing at Sharpe as a reason Linnane should be playing. Completely different paths.

The playmaking and speed combination is what everyone is after (i.e. Reece Walsh). I guess none of us really know until we see how Linnane is moving around the pitch, if the two ACL's have zapped some of his athleticism he'll be a non factor next year and probably more.

Funny. I was thinking the other day that Newcastle specialize in Linnane-like players. Sharpe was first that came to mind. Kurt Giddley another.

 

[Horriors2013]

I agree, and with the addition of Fatialofa for me. Hoping for no second year syndrome from Halasima and Vaimauga after breakout years

Holy crap! I was just going to say this 2nd year syndrome. Halasima had good stats but had no impact in an admittedly declining Tongan team. But Vaimauga looks consistent.

Fatialofa is a weapon. FG in 2026 would be quite a meteoric rise. But if he makes it, he'd probably go centre.

 

[Noitall]

Holy crap! I was just going to say this 2nd year syndrome. Halasima had good stats but had no impact in an admittedly declining Tongan team. But Vaimauga looks consistent.

Fatialofa is a weapon. FG in 2026 would be quite a meteoric rise. But if he makes it, he'd probably go centre.

Fatialofa had plenty of games 18th man and could really impress in the preseason. Perhaps the preliminary final was a sign they see Halasima a centre next season? Really feel like Leiataua has one centre locked up in a matter of time once he’s fixed what they want him to. Always thought he’d make a handy fullback too

 

[Jaffa J]

Im still thinking about what kepu twin is best?

Paul Turner is our future

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Fatialofa had plenty of games 18th man and could really impress in the preseason. Perhaps the preliminary final was a sign they see Halasima a centre next season? Really feel like Leiataua has one centre locked up in a matter of time once he’s fixed what they want him to. Always thought he’d make a handy fullback too

Man if I had $1 for every year that I thought either Rocco or Ali had a centre spot locked up and were due to have a break out year, id have like $5 right now.

No, I mean Rocco had a good half year in 2023, but apart from that our centres have largely been promise with not much delivery.

Will be interesting to see what they do with Leka, and if they try to fix one of our problematic center issues.

Man, we really are overdue for either Rocco or Ali to smash it next year....