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

 

[Theking267]

The amount of hype he’s getting on twitter is crazy

Is it justified? Haven’t really got to watch him play other then a couple of highlights

He’s got a great highlight package which has gone viral even at the NSW Cup level. Questions over the fact he didn’t play big minutes when others graduated to the NRL. Got surpassed by Salalilo by the end of the year at Cup level. Has the potential to be a great interchange forward but nothing more than that at this stage.

 

[Zaggo]

he is not an effective winger in try scoring positions unless it is within the 22m of the oppositions try line

Are there really many times you can say its a genuine try scoring position when we've got the ball outside of the 22?

Obviously linebreaks are great but they're usually the result of individual brilliance rather than genuinely being in try scoring position. He's certainly had a few of those from the wing too, especially in our own half to get us on the front foot.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Are there really many times you can say its a genuine try scoring position when we've got the ball outside of the 22?

Obviously linebreaks are great but they're usually the result of individual brilliance rather than genuinely being in try scoring position. He's certainly had a few of those from the wing too, especially in our own half to get us on the front foot.

Agree fully, imo the dads army winger brigade (RTS, D Tupou and Alex Johnson) have shown that there is still plenty of value left in those old legs.

Don't get me wrong, if RTS is the difference between us signing an elite youngster or not youd have to consider it, but next year hell provide more than enough go forward, and will finish most tries that he's given a chance to, and will probably only miss that top 10-15% of tries that he would have scored if he was a little quicker.

 

[CWC]

I mean RTS is the complete package minus ability to score tries from our own in goal *cough* *cry*

Luke can cover that role and our biggest issue is not getting down to the red zone but scoring in it and Roger's deadly when he gets a chance. We just lack a playmaker out wide

 

[WAH MAN]

Someone at Timoko's level would make an immediate difference to our attack despite his supposed defensive frailties, we're really being let down by Rocco's injuries and Ali apparently not ready for nrl. Sorry Raiders but it's about time Matthew got homesick for Penrose.

Ali might be ready this season. Still young enough to get it.

 

[Cces]

On social media I see lots of people upset about Toby Crosby. No doubt he has great highlights but he seems a flat track bully. 4 tries this year but none against playoff teams. Season average of 83m per game but here's his #'s pg against the top 6:
Dragons (3 games) - 46m
Eels (2) - 107m
Jets (2) - 59m
Raiders (2) - 69m
Panthers (2) - 64m

11 games against the top 6 & broke 100m just once, in a 54-4 rout against the Eels

 

[skinnydippng]

so has there been any talk anywhere about CHT extending or not i’m scared

not asking whether we want him to cause i feel like a lot of people here may not, but is it odd there hasn’t been any rumours of any club sniffing around (maybe because he was on rep duties they’re just letting him have more time off and we will get a deal done soon? think after his good season it’d be rude for the club to say they’re going to wait and see how he goes?)

 

[sup42]

On social media I see lots of people upset about Toby Crosby. No doubt he has great highlights but he seems a flat track bully. 4 tries this year but none against playoff teams. Season average of 83m per game but here's his #'s against the top 6:
Dragons (3 games) - 46m
Eels (2) - 107m
Jets (2) - 59m
Raiders (2) - 69m
Panthers - 64m

I am a big fan.

But.....while saddened by the release, I think people need to get a grip, when you have players like Fatialofa and Leka, Dimitric, Gannon, and EIT....oh and Laban...I mean the club has done nothing wrong here....it is a case of excess.

We have done Crosby a favor, if he takes off at Penrith I am sure he has been told he is welcome back home in future.

For me it came down to a straight Crosby vs Fatialofa arguement.

Very similar players in terms of being Try scorers, tackle busters, and fast with loads of power.

Surely you have to give the edge to the league specialist over the convert in such metrics right? surely the guy that has committed to the sport their whole lives is the safer option over a convert.....and that is without looking at who is going to be ready sooner (while not guaranteed, the league guy has a big head start).

 

[Cces]

I am a big fan.

But.....while saddened For me it came down to a straight Crosby vs Fatialofa arguement.

Very similar players in terms of being Try scorers, tackle busters, and fast with loads of power.

With all due respect, I really don't think this is accurate. In the last 2 years, across all grades, Crosby has 9 tries (with over half of these in U21s) and Fatialofa 18 tries (with 78% of these in NSW Cup).
Once we know who our 5 Development/Supplementary contracts have been given to, in addition to Cleary, then we'll get a better idea of who was prioritized over Crosby

 

[Wrighty]

With all due respect, I really don't think this is accurate. In the last 2 years, across all grades, Crosby has 9 tries (with over half of these in U21s) and Fatialofa 18 tries (with 78% of these in NSW Cup).
Once we know who our 5 Development/Supplementary contracts have been given to, in addition to Cleary, then we'll get a better idea of who was prioritized over Crosby

Crosby played prop. 9 tries in 2 years is an excellent effort from that position.

 

[Cces]

Crosby played prop. 9 tries in 2 years is an excellent effort from that position.

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vaea also plays Prop & has 7 tries in the last 2 years but we don't hear about these.
Crosby's hype exceeds him

 

[Canonball]

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vaea also plays Prop & has 7 tries in the last 2 years but we don't hear about these.
Crosby's hype exceeds him

There were those highlights tho... I'm with you cces, reckon this is a win win for him and the club - we get to retain the top prospects and might have the option of crosby after some development elsewhere later

 

[Wrighty]

There were those highlights tho... I'm with you cces, reckon this is a win win for him and the club - we get to retain the top prospects and might have the option of crosby after some development elsewhere later

It's a loss for the club. However I am a big fan of his so take that into account with my view.

He should have played edge. I always assumed they played him at prop just as a learning exercise,

 

[Warriorsfan92]

There’s clearly a relationship built between the panthers & the warriors, which has extended to recruitment. They’ve sent over their spiritual leader, the coaches son & Luke Hanson, we’ve sent over Ale, Moimoi, Crosby, kalani, essentially all in the last year or so.

There’s clearly convos happening between the two clubs eg we can’t keep this guy but he’s extremely talented, we’d recommend him, or this guy has potential but needs to leave our environment, or in our case sending Cleary to get out of the Sydney headlights or fish heading back to his homeland.

The reality is, we can’t keep them all. What it does look like though, is we’ve not only kept the best ones but we’ve locked them down to long term deals eg Leka, Demi, Laban, tanner, kayliss, Neal.

Who knows, they might go over there, develop & come home, just like we might do with Cleary. If there’s any other club in the NRL that I’d want a positive relationship with, it’s the panthers. If we could, and recruitment requires it, I’m sure we could take some of their juniors, like they’ve done to us, in the future.

Another positive is, the best club in the history of the NRL is taking players from our club. This indicates that we’re selecting quality players in the pathways program, developing them into NRL players that are worthy enough to be recruited.

That shows our pathways system is working, albeit the talent being distributed, but revisiting my first point, I believe firmly we’re keeping the best of the best. This only points to long term success for our club.

 

[Wrighty]

 

[Warriorsfan92]

View attachment 14998

Meh

 

[Naynay]

I agree Crosby is a loss, the potential was there. We do have a decent production of forwards and really he would be waiting a while with Barney > JFH > Demetric > Ganon > TSS probably clogging up the middles for the next 3 years atleast

My issue with him is the club hopping, i dont follow Super rugby but it looks from the outside he jumps around to where might offer first grade (which from a personal level he should but club wise we seem to be building a pipeline)

 

[Neo]

It's a loss for the club. However I am a big fan of his so take that into account with my view.

He should have played edge. I always assumed they played him at prop just as a learning exercise,

Why edge? He doesn’t look to have dynamic footwork or an offload. His strength seemed to be post contact metres and the ability to draw in additional defenders, which made him suited to the middle

 

[Wrighty]

Why edge? He doesn’t look to have dynamic footwork or an offload. His strength seemed to be post contact metres and the ability to draw in additional defenders, which made him suited to the middle

His has genuine gas. They can teach him a side step with some drills. He has pace. Real pace. Gas is wasted at prop.

 

[Kav1]

On social media I see lots of people upset about Toby Crosby. No doubt he has great highlights but he seems a flat track bully. 4 tries this year but none against playoff teams. Season average of 83m per game but here's his #'s against the top 6:
Dragons (3 games) - 46m
Eels (2) - 107m
Jets (2) - 59m
Raiders (2) - 69m
Panthers (2) - 64m

11 games against the top 6 & broke 100m just once, in a 54-4 rout against the Eels

Are you sure about all this? Where does it come from?