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	✔​	✔​	✔​
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	✔​	✔​
Connor Bowden	U​	U​	✔​
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: 29/30
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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Hypothetically if POS says they can release Ponga early for Healey in return, what would you do?

Can we trade healey to the panthers instead for Mclean and take Freddy Lussick of thier books?

 

[Five&Last]

A shame for byford. Looks the goods but likely stuck behind Sikuvea and Tuiloma.

They also signed Albert Balchin to effectively replace Byford.

Byford wouldn't get a look in at SG ball next year with Tuiloma and Balchin rotating at lock

 

[Five&Last]

Some extra context to the Vaigafa signing

View attachment 15057


Also, am I right in saying that a large number of the juniors that we sign are managed by Invictus? I wonder if there's some kind of closer than usual working relationship between them and the club?

He didn't even start for Kirwin State HS.

He seems like depth to fill out the SG ball squad. Doubt he plays much.

 

[Kaos A.D.]

Is the cooling period for getting Nas over yet

 

[Noitall]

Is the cooling period for getting Nas over yet

Instagram page has returned overnight

 

[Hitro]

They also signed Albert Balchin to effectively replace Byford.

Byford wouldn't get a look in at SG ball next year with Tuiloma and Balchin rotating at lock

Interested in anyone knows anything about balchin. He seemed to be in and out of the Canterbury

Instagram page has returned overnight

pretty sure he was heading off to Bali after Kiwis with Mulitalo and some others. Might be a make a decision when I'm back sort of operation.

 

[Five&Last]

Interested in anyone knows anything about balchin. He seemed to be in and out of the Canterbury

Wasn’t based in Aus I don’t think. Was at St Paul’s this year and flew over for the odd game. I don’t think he touches Sikuvea or Tuiloma, but he looked decent in the schools tournament

 

[Noitall]

pretty sure he was heading off to Bali after Kiwis with Mulitalo and some others. Might be a make a decision when I'm back sort of operation.

Bet they were nervous seeing him go through the airport after his escapade last time

 

[Fizurg]

With the Warriors running teams in all the age group comps nowadays. Does that mean they have more contracted young players? It feels like with these new systems in place that promising Kiwi youth are less likely to fall through the gaps or head to Aus teams. Or have there always been this many young players at the club and they were more scattered and less visible?

 

[Blain]

With the Warriors running teams in all the age group comps nowadays. Does that mean they have more contracted young players? It feels like with these new systems in place that promising Kiwi youth are less likely to fall through the gaps or head to Aus teams. Or have there always been this many young players at the club and they were more scattered and less visible?

100%. 3 Youth teams, NSW cup and NRL. You're talking well over 100 players who play for the club, vs 50-70 odd pre covid. And they are all made up of basically boys at school.