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: 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

 

[Playdaball]

Would CNK make the top 20 fastest players at the warriors?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Would CNK make the top 20 fastest players at the warriors?

At least the top 30!

 

[BabylonPink]

Would CNK make the top 20 fastest players at the warriors?

Probably....
But tbf he only has to be faster than the opposing top 20

 

[Ref]

Would CNK make the top 20 fastest players at the warriors?

Out of our top 30 maybe only Niukore.

 

[Brightman]

Would CNK make the top 20 fastest players at the warriors?

Yes


Just because Ed Kosi has left the Wahs..

 

[Noitall]

Boost for Penrith Panthers fans as new recruits tipped for big role in 2026 season

The Penrith Panthers have welcomed a number of fresh faces heading into next year. Find out more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Sounds like Tom Ale and Kalani Going are going well at Penrith. I reckon Ale is going to do well there

 

[Noitall]

New Zealand Warriors confirm contract upgrade for young forward

He turned down a move to the Panthers a few months ago.

www.zerotackle.com

Confirmation Kayliss Fatialofa is on a top 30 contract for 2026 and 2027

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I know this is recruitment, so fucken ban me mods! But all I want to say is merry Christmas to all of you. I hope you are having a great start to the holiday and please all take care of one another.

Much love and cant wait to go again in 26.

 

[Worried2Death]

Pretty happy with Santa for bringing us AKP, finally speed out wide to finish breaks and take us nek level. Excited to see if it works out that way.

 

[WHB]

Is he a hooker or a halve like either of his brothers?

Could be a center like there sister Abigail.

 

[Noitall]

Could be a center like there sister Abigail.

Just when you think a Roache is gone, another turns up. Talented family

 

[chrisnz]

Merry Christmas all was watching all sj's trys and God it's been a min since we had the speed required for full field trys hope akp explodes next year can the webby effect remain undefeated numbers say that it's not a fluke especially on 1st year proformances

 

[WHB]

Boost for Penrith Panthers fans as new recruits tipped for big role in 2026 season

The Penrith Panthers have welcomed a number of fresh faces heading into next year. Find out more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Sounds like Tom Ale and Kalani Going are going well at Penrith. I reckon Ale is going to do well there

Didnt fit into Webby's plans.

Looks like Panthers are going for extra speed in there pack for 2026.
Tom and Kalani fit that mould.

 

[Noitall]

Didnt fit into Webby's plans.

Looks like Panthers are going for extra speed in there pack for 2026.
Tom and Kalani fit that mould.

There’s been massive excitement for the potential of Toby Crosby I’ve seen on their forum but Kalani Going is one many are talking about. I think the overall thought is they picked up some great recruits from us

 

[Defence]

There’s been massive excitement for the potential of Toby Crosby I’ve seen on their forum but Kalani Going is one many are talking about. I think the overall thought is they picked up some great recruits from us

They did but the ones we kept are even better.

 

[Dannevegas]

He has been good for us, a decent fill in full back.

But if the rumors are true, It could signal an exciting shift at Mt Smart to exploring more dynamic options for this season.

If the coaching staff are letting Taine go because they going with an experimental fullback (e.g. Linane converts to the position in NSW cup) then I would be happy with that outcome.

Even Dallin is a better fullback option if we are going to mitigate the loss of kick return meters from using AKP, and unlike CNK, Dallin has pace and is a genuine finisher.

So, If it is happening because we are in the year of experimenting with the back line issues then I say great.

I have been one hundred percent behind the safety first approach Webster brought to the club, but we now have a foundation, we have a culture, we have a toughness that should see us go more experimental with our backline from here in search of unlocking something new.

They did it with Metcalf, it is time to do it with their problematic fullback and Center berths.

I would even like to see Gannon get a run at center over our ne'er do well never fit at the same time center options.

Anything to get Leka and Capewell out of the Centers and to put someone in their place with a bit of a pass on them makes sense to me.

Even give Sio Kali a go, take some risks this year, it is time, we have rebuilt the forward pack, we now need to spend a year rebuilding the backline, and the following year have a shot at the title.

What is the obsession about our fullbacks and kick return metres? The only duller option for fullback than CNK would be Dallin.

I hope we keep Taine and use him how the cup team does, he pops up everywhere in attack and is on the ball a lot.
The way Webby uses the fullback really stuffs our attack, really only limiting them to the right side and being used as a battering ram.

Personally I hope Linnane is getting reps there this pre season.

 

[watcher]

One person who doesnt figure in FB talk is TMM, and he is proven from his Broncos days. Fast, good defender, ball playing skills. To me he has the most versatlity since Lance Hohaia.

 

[Noitall]

They did but the ones we kept are even better.

Yeo honest about Panthers’ 2026 recruitment strategy: ‘We pretty much just raided them’ | Sporting News Australia

Penrith Panthers captain Isaah Yeo says he’s excited heading into 2026 following a much-needed freshen up of the NRL squad.

www.sportingnews.com

Isaah Yeo reckons they raided us

 

[sup42]

What is the obsession about our fullbacks and kick return metres? The only duller option for fullback than CNK would be Dallin.

I hope we keep Taine and use him how the cup team does, he pops up everywhere in attack and is on the ball a lot.
The way Webby uses the fullback really stuffs our attack, really only limiting them to the right side and being used as a battering ram.

Personally I hope Linnane is getting reps there this pre season.

WTW?/ What the Watene!?

Why would you say that our previously fastest player with the most flair and skill at chiming in on back line moves and finishing them with zero space in front of him is a duller option than CNK?

The Zelezniak is one of the high light reel greats of the NRL when used appropriately. The guy is fkn killer in the red zone, we just have shit centers and a shit fullback on attack killing Dallin's buzz of late.

Dallin is a very capable looking fullback when he has played there for the Kiwis. People say that is a small sample size. But that is kind of the point, he adapts well to the position when forced to add hock, he can only get better at it.

Defending at fullback for a player with Dallin's myopic vision - i.e. his tendency to 'come off his wing' and try to chop the ball off from a last pass is exactly what you want in a fullback.

I think it would be a revelation for Dallin to be allowed to follow the ball side line to side line with no reigns on him. like using a life hack or a cheat code "chase the ball Dallin! Don't stand still....fetch"

As for your question about why the obsession with kick return meters - the team that spends more time in opposition territory tends to win the game.

We do not have Payne Haas in our team to roll us down field on tackle four - we have lean props instead that do not bend the line.

Configurations like our mobile forward pack are vulnerable being pinned if we do not get a kick start roll on off our back three.

We also store energy in the batteries of our forward pack, which translates to powering our game plan for territory, starting with our own kick chase deep near opponents lines.

Otherwise yeah I dunno why we bother with running meter fullbacks.

I know Brisbane get away with Walsh at the back largely because they have Haas to compensate....

 

[Warriorsfan92]

One person who doesnt figure in FB talk is TMM, and he is proven from his Broncos days. Fast, good defender, ball playing skills. To me he has the most versatlity since Lance Hohaia.

That’s why he’s a good 14..