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

 

[WAH MAN]

I’m slightly bewildered about all the talk of EIT transitioning to the middle. It’s been noted he’s got a big engine, and can play centre, but also fairly light at 96kg so why can’t he be a very mobile back rower?

He has the ability to do all of it.

*Edit - and can currently play middle and as he ages might become thicker and heavier

 

[sup42]

I’m slightly bewildered about all the talk of EIT transitioning to the middle. It’s been noted he’s got a big engine, and can play centre, but also fairly light at 96kg so why can’t he be a very mobile back rower?

People are just trying to fit all these gun backrowers in somewhere eh.

I get that line of thinking, but you can guarantee that the club will end up needing all of them throughout the season just to cover the back row.

 

[Noitall]

People are just trying to fit all these gun backrowers in somewhere eh.

I get that line of thinking, but you can guarantee that the club will end up needing all of them throughout the season just to cover the back row.

I hope Niukore plays predominantly in the middle. The club said the interest in NAS was for cover of the Barnett injury and can’t forget he’s missed big portions of 2 of the 3 seasons he’s been here

 

[Makasene]

I'm not sure Nicho Hynes agrees with that.


View: https://www.tiktok.com/@nrldopey/video/7409520909775637767

That's a great play but kind of sums up his issue.

In this case, the ball was sent to him.

His well noted issue is his inability to get involved when the ball is not going his way.

 

[Makasene]

I'm not sure Nicho Hynes agrees with that.


View: https://www.tiktok.com/@nrldopey/video/7409520909775637767

That's a great play but kind of sums up his issue.

In this case, the ball was sent to him.

His well noted issue is his inability to get involved when the ball is not going his way.

 

[~Navigator~]

Contract plays: Warriors make key 2026 moves, but will consistency be the result? - NRL News - Zero Tackle https://share.google/eYJhtJSV2GuWhyN0j

 

[Dannevegas]

I’m slightly bewildered about all the talk of EIT transitioning to the middle. It’s been noted he’s got a big engine, and can play centre, but also fairly light at 96kg so why can’t he be a very mobile back rower?

Because we have 1000 of them already. He’s the one most suited to transition to middle I reckon.
Played prop in his debut, 140 metres, 1 try 0 missed tackles

 

[Damo]

His well noted issue is his inability to get involved when the ball is not going his way.

I put that down to a game plan issue. Our centres don't get involved, just look at Charnze at centre.

 

[Brightman]

I put that down to a game plan issue. Our centres don't get involved, just look at Charnze at centre.

Is using CNK a valid example to support your statement, how many games has he played for the Wahs at centre?

I don't disagree with pointing to the game plan, but can someone explain to me how our centres should get more involved if the ball is not distributed their way. Our wingers and fullback field kicks and make the kick returns, then what? Are the centres supposed to take the 3rd and 4th hit ups?

Maybe i'm mistaken but I thought his non-selection had more to do with his off the ball work eg. kick chase ala Berry..

 

[Damo]

Is using CNK a valid example to support your statement, how many games has he played for the Wahs at centre?

I don't disagree with pointing to the game plan, but can someone explain to me how our centres should get more involved if the ball is not distributed their way. Our wingers and fullback field kicks and make the kick returns, then what? Are the centres supposed to take the 3rd and 4th hit ups?

Yes - CNKs output at centre (when compared to his Fullback output) was highlighted multiple times when he played there. I just put it down to the gameplan instead of criticising CNK for doing less work and agree with your second point.

 

[Cces]

Because we have 1000 of them already. He’s the one most suited to transition to middle I reckon.
Played prop in his debut, 140 metres, 1 try 0 missed tackles

He came on for Laban in his debut & made a tryless 56m

 

[sup42]

I put that down to a game plan issue. Our centres don't get involved, just look at Charnze at centre.

Pompey is a boss off the ball. Which is about Pompey rather than the game plan.

Charnze you have to factor in is underdone in the spot and there is probably an element of lip dropping....which magically disappeared for the Kiwis.

Jones and Kearney are clones of the homogenous Storm Panther defence and territory games off the ball, ergo Charnze himself was the change agent in the sudden come to Jesus as a center in the black and white Jumper.

 

[Damo]

Pompey is a boss off the ball. Which is about Pompey rather than the game plan.

Charnze you have to factor in is underdone in the spot and there is probably an element of lip dropping....which magically disappeared for the Kiwis.

Jones and Kearney are clones of the homogenous Storm Panther defence and territory games off the ball, ergo Charnze himself was the change agent in the sudden come to Jesus as a center in the black and white Jumper.

Totally irrelevant to my point though as we are talking about Warriors centres and game plan, nothing to do about the Kiwis and their game plan.

 

[Naynay]

Because we have 1000 of them already. He’s the one most suited to transition to middle I reckon.
Played prop in his debut, 140 metres, 1 try 0 missed tackles

Also the game is moving towards more mobile forwards, when paired with a traditional prop would be a strong combo