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	✔​	✔​
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​
Kayliss Fatialofa	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: 28/30
2026 Supplementary: 2/6

2027 Top 30: 20/30
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]

I think Gannon will start at Cup replacing Going. The starting 17 is pretty settle for next year. The only change will be the fact that Leka will start & Marata will probably move to the bench.

 

[sup42]

Well he hasn't even done a NRL pre season before. Because he hasn't played a game in the Warriors or NRL attacking or defence systems before. Because he is only 22. He isn't coming across as a finished product. He will be here to work his way into the team as regular in 2027 IMO, once Capewell and Marata are likely gone.

A few are jumping on my question about him getting on the park above our current players and the answer is injury and origin etc - I 100% agree, and even stated he will get time in NRL no doubt for 2026. What point I was making is that I don't see him cracking our top side unless there are guys out. Will he eventually move his way up the pecking order above a couple of those guys? Hopefully. But he needs time in the NRL and Warriors system before doing that, hence why I think 2026 is a important year in his development.

Lets be honest, we are all guessing at the best of times and Gannon's situation is hardly typical.

There is a cognitive bias towards Super league players for a number of reasons I won't go into here notwithstanding Super league is a weaker competition.

I'm not pointing the finger, one mans guess is as good as another in such cases.

I am sure the coaches are still figuring out the enigma that is Gannon's future.

In such cases Webster is the type of coach that focuses on what is in the players best interest ergo if Gannon goes Cup footy it will be a decision made based off giving him the best platform to succeed.

At other clubs Gannon may well just be chucked in there, but at other clubs there is a depth of experience and star power that would make an early debut less of a big deal.

We will see, I am very excited, he can play, he has a lot of experience, and his game is pretty well rounded (biggest weakness I have seen is a Wade Egan style throw yourself at tackles head injury style looseness in the contact. He will need to sort that out).

 

[Brightman]

Just goes to show how strong our club has become, all this talk of which new recruits or juniors will make the top side on the back of the top side making the finals with many debutants and young guns filling in along the way for key senior players now returning from injury whilst the NSW cup team sweeping all aside took the trophies and Harald Mats doin the business back to back..

Loving the new standards the club is forging!!

 

[Billyspleen75]

I texted in a question to Cam George on Sport Nation this morning.
How many spots are available in the top 30, and are EIT / Fatialofa on the top 30 (as those are 2 that there's confusion over) ?

He confirmed we have 28 players.
Then when asked about EIT/Fatialofa he said ahhh I think they're in the development space.

So, probably one of them is the 28th player and one is on a development deal, i don't know?

But definitely 28

Good interview if you have time.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gIFJ8mPNtTEaxTWFw3AOu?si=DWLDbmWMTlKkXpRoWRilCw

 

[Noitall]

I texted in a question to Cam George on Sport Nation this morning.
How many spots are available in the top 30, and are EIT / Fatialofa on the top 30 (as those are 2 that there's confusion over) ?

He confirmed we have 28 players.
Then when asked about EIT/Fatialofa he said ahhh I think they're in the development space.

So, probably one of them is the 28th player and one is on a development deal, i don't know?

But definitely 28

Good interview if you have time.


View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gIFJ8mPNtTEaxTWFw3AOu?si=DWLDbmWMTlKkXpRoWRilCw

Was there one this morning? This one seems to be from March when Dylan Walker was departing the club?

 

[Billyspleen75]

Was there one this morning? This one seems to be from March when Dylan Walker was departing the club?

My bad, I linked the wrong one. Updated now

 

[Noitall]

My bad, I linked the wrong one. Updated now

Thanks mate

 

[Evil_Mush]

I think most of us G-Annons treat the ginger as an exciting prospect rather than an expensive instant savior from the west

Wait, he's ginger?! I never knew, let's start him in round one! Need more ginger representation so I can feel seen!

 

[Noitall]

I texted in a question to Cam George on Sport Nation this morning.
How many spots are available in the top 30, and are EIT / Fatialofa on the top 30 (as those are 2 that there's confusion over) ?

He confirmed we have 28 players.
Then when asked about EIT/Fatialofa he said ahhh I think they're in the development space.

So, probably one of them is the 28th player and one is on a development deal, i don't know?

But definitely 28

Good interview if you have time.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gIFJ8mPNtTEaxTWFw3AOu?si=DWLDbmWMTlKkXpRoWRilCw

Geez I got emotional when he said we’re ready to challenge and think he’s right about having a healthy squad at the right time of the season. So I took from that we’re happy with our front row stocks, perhaps we’ve come to that conclusion after we got turned down by potentially Moale and NAS? We’ve got 28 players and didn’t seem to insinuate we’re strapped for cash? Not convinced he really knows the contract status of EIT and Fatialofa but really appreciate you posting that, was a great listen

 

[Brightman]

Haha come on man, bit of a silly question. Hes started there only the 1 time, but he's been moved there a couple of times from memory.

It was a rhetorical question, not seeking an answer but to prompt a bit more reflection. In giving a silly answer you've almost got it figured but need some help from @Defence

It’s a fair question.
I’d let him setting an edge- that’s his spot and he’s ready imo.
Always reminded me of nanai- some kids just have the gift.

Nanai is the blueprint, a lethal edge forward.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

It was a rhetorical question, not seeking an answer but to prompt a bit more reflection. In giving a silly answer you've almost got it figured but need some help from @Defence

Nanai is the blueprint, a lethal edge forward.

I could be wrong, and @Defence please correct me as I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it seems to me that Defence was saying it's a fair question to consider if Leka could be moved to centre due to the space he would be afforded.

Fairly similar to what I was saying, although I agreed then, and still do think that it's highly unlikely they'll move Leka from 2nd row. It's the off-season and it's fun to debate things even if they don't happen.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSB7HN7iRk6/

Wonder who the hooker is that he alludes to that comes into the top 30? Auloa or Marsh?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSB7HN7iRk6/

Wonder who the hooker is that he alludes to that comes into the top 30? Auloa or Marsh?

Surely Tafua.

 

[CWC]

Wait, he's ginger?! I never knew, let's start him in round one! Need more ginger representation so I can feel seen!

Are you now inspired to play lock for the Warriors when you grow up?

 

[Riz]

Surely Tafua.

Yeah, Tafua is next in line in my opinion.

 

[Five&Last]

I texted in a question to Cam George on Sport Nation this morning.
How many spots are available in the top 30, and are EIT / Fatialofa on the top 30 (as those are 2 that there's confusion over) ?

He confirmed we have 28 players.
Then when asked about EIT/Fatialofa he said ahhh I think they're in the development space.

So, probably one of them is the 28th player and one is on a development deal, i don't know?

But definitely 28

Good interview if you have time.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gIFJ8mPNtTEaxTWFw3AOu?si=DWLDbmWMTlKkXpRoWRilCw

I know it's McFadden's remit etc but isn't this just blatantly wrong? Or am i tripping?

EIT was confirmed top 30 ages ago (kinda concerning that our CEO thinks he's development)

So he's saying Fatialofa isn't top 30? I thought that was confirmed somewhere too?

Very confusing

 

[CWC]

Eddie and Fats panic digging the garage to find the contracts after hearing this interview

 

[Evil_Mush]

Are you now inspired to play lock for the Warriors when you grow up?

Well I'm 44 now and a tad over 5'6, I think I've done all the growing I can do

 

[Theking267]

I know it's McFadden's remit etc but isn't this just blatantly wrong? Or am i tripping?

EIT was confirmed top 30 ages ago (kinda concerning that our CEO thinks he's development)

So he's saying Fatialofa isn't top 30? I thought that was confirmed somewhere too?

Very confusing

That’s why he shouldn’t be talking about recruitment when he doesn’t know himself

 

[Fizurg]

Well I'm 44 now and a tad over 5'6, I think I've done all the growing I can do

Creeping me out how similar we are in specs.