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

 

[Hitro]

I wonder if he got the Fish seal of approval after these past weeks in kiwis camp.

Definitely one of the benefits of having Stacey as kiwis coach. Gets to see these guys and build a relationship, pass judgement on where he’s at.

 

[WAH MAN]

Funny guy. Im in the black suit. Not even lying. Check my full name on my license. Brad Hangi Pitt.

It says Brad Hangi Pants

 

[Cces]

Zyon Maiu’u left in February
Montoya left October '24
Volkman left December '23
Curran left October '23
Lingi Kepu left September '23
BMM, Kina Kepu & Otukolo left January '23

Surely someone goes early this offseason.

 

[Falcon]

Definitely one of the benefits of having Stacey as kiwis coach. Gets to see these guys and build a relationship, pass judgement on where he’s at.

I think part of the disciplinary issues has stemmed from not being entirely happy at the storm in recent seasons. He needs a change of scenery and I think if he was also to shave off a few kgs to add some mobility he’d be even more menacing.
Seeing some of his old rugby clips prior to moving to league, he had great mobility and was nimble on his feet.
I’d love to have him at the club for a couple of seasons.

 

[CWC]

The Pam's version of kini

Tini

 

[Defence]

I just think he needs to change his tackling technique- he’s still a menace with ball in hand- just needs to stop whacking people in the head
Our coaching staff can get him back on track- his best may be behind him but he can still make an impact, no doubt about that.
A change would do him good.
Bring him home.

 

[Dannevegas]

I just think he needs to change his tackling technique- he’s still a menace with ball in hand- just needs to stop whacking people in the head
Our coaching staff can get him back on track- his best may be behind him but he can still make an impact, no doubt about that.
A change would do him good.
Bring him home.

If we end up getting him, he should take Maratas spot on the bench.
Could see Marata to storm happening, and would free up a spot for us to get Ponga over as well

 

[CWC]

He spoke at this event last weekend
View attachment 14917
Sione ain't happy with someone
View attachment 14918

Ya I wouldn't be happy if the photo of the recruitment manager or CEO talking to the guy rumored to be sought after by the same club a few months ago gets leaked, maybe it's Gus' spy lol

 

[Victor_Radley's_Scrotum]

I just think he needs to change his tackling technique- he’s still a menace with ball in hand- just needs to stop whacking people in the head
Our coaching staff can get him back on track- his best may be behind him but he can still make an impact, no doubt about that.
A change would do him good.
Bring him home.

Get the deal done brother.

 

[CWC]

NAS would be more reasonable at $400K since he is suspended half the time, him and Ford will rack up incorrect playing the ball errors lol

Why was he not in the last 2 kiwis games? Injured or not picked? Either way 1 out of 3 games.....

 

[juju]

NAS would be more reasonable at $400K since he is suspended half the time, him and Ford will rack up incorrect playing the ball errors lol

Why was he not in the last 2 kiwis games? Injured or not picked? Either way 1 out of 3 games.....

Calf injury.

But he didnt play that well vs Samoa in game 1.

 

[CWC]

Calf injury.

But he didnt play that well vs Samoa in game 1.

Man sounds like we're really doing him a favor if us or anyone gives him another NRL contract

 

[snake77]

Do they actually have a source or are they joining the dots from this Herald article? Like I'm about to do.

“Nothing is off the table. I just need a bit of time off,” he said via The New Zealand Herald over the weekend.
“[It's been] a crazy last couple of years, I just need to find a bit of joy back into my game. If I were to stay in rugby league, I would probably try to find a place where I can enjoy my football again.
"I've got a lot to give, I still believe my best years are in front of me. I just need to find a place that can unlock that.
“I was even looking at having a full year off and just focusing on my mental health. We're living in a different age of phones and everything, it's really frying everyone's [brains] and dopamine receptors… so just to get away.”

If there is something to this. Like others have posted. Likely someone needs to move on. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit going on there.

The quotes about enjoying the game and wanting to find somewhere to enjoy his football, get the best out of him. That is something the current Warriors setup has been good at. Worth mentioning at praising since the opposite has often been the case.

If they have made an offer now that he has been released. It might not be a bad thing instead of trying to get the Storm to pay some of the freight and making it difficult. Come back later and deal on your own terms. There might also be something with him being in the Kiwis setup and talking to some of the Warriors guys.

Could also be it's the offseason and sites are squeezing out content now things have slowed down.

 

[snake77]

I just think he needs to change his tackling technique- he’s still a menace with ball in hand- just needs to stop whacking people in the head
Our coaching staff can get him back on track- his best may be behind him but he can still make an impact, no doubt about that.
A change would do him good.
Bring him home.

To start with, he could stop whacking his teammates in the head. Then move on to lowering the target with the opposition.

 

[Dannevegas]

NAS would be more reasonable at $400K since he is suspended half the time, him and Ford will rack up incorrect playing the ball errors lol

Why was he not in the last 2 kiwis games? Injured or not picked? Either way 1 out of 3 games.....

Because the other forwards, Clark, Willson, Whyte on the bench are better than him.
Naufahu Whyte doesn’t suit being in Aussie ay, maybe he wants to come home as well lol. He’s a top 3 prop atm.

 

[Noitall]

Because the other forwards, Clark, Willson, Whyte on the bench are better than him.
Naufahu Whyte doesn’t suit being in Aussie ay, maybe he wants to come home as well lol. He’s a top 3 prop atm.

Get NAS in the right frame of mind and fitness and nobody offers the impact he does and generates that ruck speed. I hoped we’d have a shot at Naufahu Whyte but roosters know what they’ve got and locked him up on good money. He was competing with Siua Wong over there only a couple of seasons ago, but similarly to what gets said about Leo Thompson, he changed in Kiwis camp with his initial selection. He grew and surpassed Wong and is now probably their premier middle forward potentially even surpassing Lindsay Collins

 

[Naynay]

I’m cool with it at the right price if it comes to pass, his disciplinary record would be a concern with us though

I dont think there is a right price now Melbourne aren’t gonna chip in. Cant see him taking a small contract.

 

[tajhay]

I dont think there is a right price now Melbourne aren’t gonna chip in. Cant see him taking a small contract.

He would have received a payout to be released from his final 2 years of his contract at Storm. No way is he leaving 1.7m on the table. Same thing that Lodge did time and time again.

Judging from his quote that he is also prepared to take a year off to work on his mental health indicates that any deal would be for one year and then he will be off to R360 anyway.

 

[CWC]

TBH with NZ media contacting him after the reports and his response....I hope we are not paying too much for this

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Not to be confused with “forgiveness”

But I am a true believer in the idea, that given a second chance a man can change his stars.

Barnett was hardly a saint before he came here. Now look at him.

IF…. Webby can cast his magic on him.
There is no more impactful, intimidating and fearsome player in the NRL……
Then Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

It’s a risk, but you need to take risks to win the NRL. I say sign him.