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

 

[Ref]

I played for a premier club in 1994 and DB Bitter we’re the sponsors and the booze was cheap at HQ. Got used to it.

 

[Ref]

I played for a premier club in 1994 and DB Bitter we’re the sponsors and the booze was cheap at HQ. Got used to it.

Furthermore as a Southlander who started going to pubs in circa 85/86 underage as you do and the cops didn’t give a flying ****.
The automatic beer was DB Draught unless you asked for something else.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

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

I got love for the gingers.
Cos all of y'all are like this
View attachment InShot_20251212_131421668.mp4

 

[Wrighty]

OK here it is - the much waited for Sio Kali highlight package. The first 80% of it is pretty meh where he nearly gets mowed down by the cover defender and you start questioning whether he is fast enough for the NRL. However hang in there until the last three tries which I presume were later in the season. In the last three tries he seems two yards faster and like he has X factor. So maybe he got better as the season went along.


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

 

[Riz]

OK here it is - the much waited for Sio Kali highlight package. The first 80% of it is pretty meh where he nearly gets mowed down by the cover defender and you start questioning whether he is fast enough for the NRL. However hang in there until the last three tries which I presume were later in the season. In the last three tries he seems two yards faster and like he has X factor. So maybe he got better as the season went along.


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

The last couple of seasons he's had a string on injuries, the latter highlights are when he finally had a run of games where he managed to stay on the park. He's definitely got the goods if he can be a bit less fragile.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

OK here it is - the much waited for Sio Kali highlight package.

yeah... hope he's kicking on because he looks downright slow in these (that run alongside TT is not flattering) and with a habit of taking his foot off the gas & showboating waaaaay to early.

 

[WAH MAN]

yeah... hope he's kicking on because he looks downright slow in these (that run alongside TT is not flattering) and with a habit of taking his foot off the gas & showboating waaaaay to early.

It is a young warrior wingers obligation to show boat and do pre try celebrations

 

[~Navigator~]

From night shifts to NSW Cup star: Makaia Tafua’s full-time rugby league gamble pays off

The Warriors hooker has traded draining overnight water-main shifts for a relentless rugby league pursuit, with the club backing the 21-year-old as one of its strongest young prospects.

pmn.co.nz

 

[snake77]

From night shifts to NSW Cup star: Makaia Tafua’s full-time rugby league gamble pays off

The Warriors hooker has traded draining overnight water-main shifts for a relentless rugby league pursuit, with the club backing the 21-year-old as one of its strongest young prospects.

pmn.co.nz

Articles like that are interesting. We see how they perform on the field and pick out issues. You don't know what else is going on that could affect someones performance.

The lower grades where guys trying to supplement their footy income with a job that is likely getting them worn out as well. Night shifts wouldn't be great preperation for being an athlete.

Gould told a story earlier in the year about one player people said wouldn't make it coming through the ranks as he was often late to training. He asked has anyone talked to him? He sat down with the player and found out he was working his backside off and having to do a big commute across town for training. Gould got him a job closer to Penrith or maybe at the club. Think he may have had the guys new boss comment how great a worker he was. The player, Moses Leota.

I've been at a few NSW Cup games and would often hear the friends/family cheering for Tafua. Since then I've tried to watch him a bit more. He's had less big runs since then but he's developing well. A season or two back his passing looked to be struggling, that may have been due to being tired from work now reading that.

He's had a few seasons getting NSW Cup game time. A lot better development than we'd have in years gone by. He was named a few times in 21 before getting removed later in the week. He could be in line for a debut next season.

 

[Wah's Up]

OK here it is - the much waited for Sio Kali highlight package. The first 80% of it is pretty meh where he nearly gets mowed down by the cover defender and you start questioning whether he is fast enough for the NRL. However hang in there until the last three tries which I presume were later in the season. In the last three tries he seems two yards faster and like he has X factor. So maybe he got better as the season went along.


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

Your tears have hardly dried from your "Crosby" love affair and now you have a new crush

 

[Matiunz]

yeah... hope he's kicking on because he looks downright slow in these (that run alongside TT is not flattering) and with a habit of taking his foot off the gas & showboating waaaaay to early.

he didn’t really look to be ‘gone’ when he was in the clear, thought he’d get run down on the premature showboating. Also had a couple of “put it down son “ moments in the in goal that may cost him a try

 

[JaggedJ]

Kali looks pretty elusive from start to finish in that video. Not sure what I'm seeing differently, but I don't have an issue with his pace in any of those clips.

 

[Noitall]

Kali looks pretty elusive from start to finish in that video. Not sure what I'm seeing differently, but I don't have an issue with his pace in any of those clips.

According to the warriorholic he’s the fastest at the club

 

[Tookey 2.0]

According to the warriorholic he’s the fastest at the club

Even over AKP? Really exciting if that's the case

 

[WAH MAN]

Even over AKP? Really exciting if that's the case

My eye speedometer says AKP is faster. I thought Norris had the wheels too.

 

[Noitall]

Even over AKP? Really exciting if that's the case

It was on a recent brief bit I saw of him breaking down positions but that could have changed?

 

[Wrighty]

Kali looks pretty elusive from start to finish in that video. Not sure what I'm seeing differently, but I don't have an issue with his pace in any of those clips.

Look again at the first few breakaway tries where one of the cover defenders is giving up 20 metres to Kali initially but nearly catches him. DWZ and Roger would be significantly faster.

 

[sup42]

Articles like that are interesting. We see how they perform on the field and pick out issues. You don't know what else is going on that could affect someones performance.

The lower grades where guys trying to supplement their footy income with a job that is likely getting them worn out as well. Night shifts wouldn't be great preperation for being an athlete.

Gould told a story earlier in the year about one player people said wouldn't make it coming through the ranks as he was often late to training. He asked has anyone talked to him? He sat down with the player and found out he was working his backside off and having to do a big commute across town for training. Gould got him a job closer to Penrith or maybe at the club. Think he may have had the guys new boss comment how great a worker he was. The player, Moses Leota.

I've been at a few NSW Cup games and would often hear the friends/family cheering for Tafua. Since then I've tried to watch him a bit more. He's had less big runs since then but he's developing well. A season or two back his passing looked to be struggling, that may have been due to being tired from work now reading that.

He's had a few seasons getting NSW Cup game time. A lot better development than we'd have in years gone by. He was named a few times in 21 before getting removed later in the week. He could be in line for a debut next season.

Crazy doing nights while training like a pro.
Bad for mental health, bad for the body.
People have to work to survive these days.
Still, at some point you gotta prioritize and go all in on the dream.

Makes you wonder what sort of guidance our kids get (like all families it will be variable).

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

There’s a saying people that play multiple sports at a young age end up benefitting when they specialise.

Players that have a holistic approach to life prior to going full time professional (study, work, family time, etc) I believe end up better balanced players

 

[mrblonde]

It is a young warrior wingers obligation to show boat and do pre try celebrations

Or to raise his arms in celebration as he's diving for the line.
And Drop. The. Fucking. Ball.
Happened at least once. I think it was Mr Fa'afili...