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

 

[Dannevegas]

Talking about Sio Kali earlier, I wonder if the Warriors gave him time at centre during the season because he tries to go over players often in the brief bits I’ve seen of him like a Hurrell or Kata often did? Different types of players but all seem to enjoy the contact and physicality. I think this is where Pompey is underrated in his choice of taking contact or putting a step on, Berry not far behind. Leiataua seems to be another that seems to choose to go over top of rather than some footwork

Definitely not a kata and Hurrell type imo. He is closer to a Karapani and Mariner, moves like them even stronger in contact. Obviously a couple things in his game he needs to work on to make the jump to grade.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

raphael Sio & Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi are rapid.

 

[Noitall]

Definitely not a kata and Hurrell type imo. He is closer to a Karapani and Mariner, moves like them even stronger in contact. Obviously a couple things in his game he needs to work on to make the jump to grade.

Played some games at centre either way I’m pretty sure? Just an observation that seems to take contact rather than try to avoid a defender in the brief bits I’ve seen was where I was talking about in respect to Hurrell or Kata. I may be off in my observations only seeing a small sample as mentioned and agree they very different types overall, those other two like a Talakai type of centre. A memory sticks in my mind of both, Hurrell smashing Tupou’s teeth and Kata so cleanly fending Anthony Don off in open field

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

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

Thats not saying much.

 

[sup42]

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.

He looks like a center to me. Good acceleration without the top end speed, enough to hit a hole and destroy the fullback with that footwork he has.

He also has a few tricks with his hands, which is another great sign.

I know someone will read this and say what about the defence at center well you can ask that of any ex winger center and not know till they move permanently.

He is a great prospect though, his instincts for making space are A+.

As for the lazy gait he has, it is there, I agree, he cruises which is where he gets reeled in.

But this is not laziness Per Se, this is a running style, and it can be improved hugely via a specialist sprint program.

 

[Wrighty]

Thanks John Nick. Just things I come across and not always on the mark but I find the player market interesting and just post for anyone else sharing that interest

Plus one to John Nick. You are a major asset to this web site Noitall and a thoroughly nice person let me also add. Thanks for keeping the news cycle ticking over.

 

[Noitall]

Plus one to John Nick. You are a major asset to this web site Noitall and a thoroughly nice person let me also add. Thanks for keeping the news cycle ticking over.

You’re a champion Wrighty, thanks mate. Enjoy conversing with you and respect your opinions, and that goes for all because I’m just a fan like everyone else and enjoy the space to give my own opinions. Looking at my volume of posting, I might have to change my username to nomatesatall

 

[Five&Last]

Top 5 fastest in the club imo
1. Akp
2. Metcalf
3. Norris
4. Kali
5. Dwz

My top 5 fastest at the club

1. Kaian Olsen
2. AKP
3. Alfred Leweni
4. Raphael Sio
5. Brandon Norris

 

[cock_o]

My top 5 fastest at the club

1. Kaian Olsen
2. AKP
3. Alfred Leweni
4. Raphael Sio
5. Brandon Norris

I've got
1. Kaian Olsen
2. AKP
3. Alfred Leweni
4. Brandon Norris
5. Raphael Sio

 

[Five&Last]

Definitely not a kata and Hurrell type imo. He is closer to a Karapani and Mariner, moves like them even stronger in contact. Obviously a couple things in his game he needs to work on to make the jump to grade.

More to the game than just straight speed. That highlights package just showed different breakaway tries or corner finishes really (actually looked too casual in a lot of them). Basically just a try scoring compilation.

Kali has got a great step on him, amazing footwork and incredibly balanced/strong through contact. None of which really shown on that highlights package.

Doesn't crack my top 5 fastest but definitely one of the more complete outside backs at the club.

Anyone spotted him in preseason yet?

 

[Boston Boy]

Speed over 100m is almost certainly AKP. Speed off the mark and over 40m is where breaks get made, but the most explosive are rarely the fastest over 100m. I would probably rate Leka being top 10 over 40m. It can be quite surprising. I would guess that if its true that Kali was the fastest it would have to be over 40m, not 100m.

 

[Five&Last]

Speed over 100m is almost certainly AKP. Speed off the mark and over 40m is where breaks get made, but the most explosive are rarely the fastest over 100m. I would probably rate Leka being top 10 over 40m. It can be quite surprising. I would guess that if its true that Kali was the fastest it would have to be over 40m, not 100m.

Are you just talking top 30?

Leka wouldn’t be top 10 over 40m across all grades

We have some very quick outside backs coming through

Will be interesting to see how AKP muscle he’s put on effects his speed

 

[Noitall]

Speed over 100m is almost certainly AKP. Speed off the mark and over 40m is where breaks get made, but the most explosive are rarely the fastest over 100m. I would probably rate Leka being top 10 over 40m. It can be quite surprising. I would guess that if its true that Kali was the fastest it would have to be over 40m, not 100m.

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNKdw7UT4t3/

Just digging a bit further, I think you’re spot on and it’s even possibly over 20m he could be talking about?

 

[Tragic]

My top 5 fastest at the club

1. Kaian Olsen
2. AKP
3. Alfred Leweni
4. Raphael Sio
5. Brandon Norris

I never even heard of 1 and 3. Are they good or just fast?
My take on AKP is that he is kinda good in that he can find a way to be in the right place on attack and he is fast so takes advantage of any opportunity. But he aint all that in positioning, one on one D and average under the high ball

 

[Noitall]

Turks, Chinese or Russians playing tricks on us.

Or yanks

 

[Tragic]

I get them quite frequently....

Yeah they target the wealthy or blokes who might want to meet a Nigerian prince on a secluded island. Ifyou fall into both categories it must be hell.

 

[Hitro]

New Zealand Warriors NRL-ish Depth Chart For The 2025/26 Summer — The Niche Cache

Prepare for your festive period yarns with this basic guide to NZ Warriors depth.

theniche-cache.com

another great article by this guy

 

[Hitro]

He looks like a center to me. Good acceleration without the top end speed, enough to hit a hole and destroy the fullback with that footwork he has.

He also has a few tricks with his hands, which is another great sign.

I know someone will read this and say what about the defence at center well you can ask that of any ex winger center and not know till they move permanently.

He is a great prospect though, his instincts for making space are A+.

As for the lazy gait he has, it is there, I agree, he cruises which is where he gets reeled in.

But this is not laziness Per Se, this is a running style, and it can be improved hugely via a specialist sprint program.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heFdnQSy3uE&t=191s

Was playing centre in 2024 NSW Cup, maybe heading back there with MGT leaving. Walker referred to him as a centre below

Dylan Walker names four players to watch in 2025

How far will the New Zealand Warriors go this season?

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Theking267]

Kali is similar to Ronald Mulitalo. Mulitalo also came through the grades as a centre. Webby does like converting wingers into centre’s like Graham-Taufa so probably doing the same thing with Kali.

 

[Viking]

I never even heard of 1 and 3. Are they good or just fast?
My take on AKP is that he is kinda good in that he can find a way to be in the right place on attack and he is fast so takes advantage of any opportunity. But he aint all that in positioning, one on one D and average under the high ball

1. was the starting winger in the Harold Matthews final this year and will play Matts again next year, 3. is a Fijian speedster from Nelson College (I think).

I can only go off highlight videos which neither of these boys have. I'm basing these ratings on speed over 60m as a 100m run in league is very rare. 60m is where you should be at max velocity before starting to decelerate (speed maintenance) and most of these players won't be doing the speed endurance training needed for speed maintenance over the last 40m of a 100m race. Which is where the 100m race is won and lost.

1. AKP - There'd be no point buying him if he isn't the fastest.
2. Metcalf - I'm tempted to put him at 1. over 60m. Over 100m AKP has him beat.
3. Lewini - Because he's Fijian and older than Olsen but I'm just guessing here.
4. Olsen - The lightest here so power to weight ratio will be better than the rest and he should get faster as he gets older.
5. Sio - Straight line, long range finisher that could be anywhere in this list if he put his mind to it.
6. Taupiki - Maybe the highest stride frequency in this list and would be rated higher if he lengthened his stride out a bit. Even 5 cm more per stride would make him a metre or two faster over 60m.

RTS, Charnze, DWZ, Kali and Norris could be anywhere in this list but the first 3 are in the 95 to 100kg club and the other 2 would be nudging 90kgs too. The 6 I've listed range between 80 to high 80s. Speed is often about the power to weight ratios.