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	✔​	✔​	✔​
Freddy Lussick	✔​
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	✔​	✔​
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: 30/30
2026 Supplementary: 1/6

2027 Top 30: 21/30
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

 

[sup42]

Not really a punt though unfortunately.

Him going to market means we will have to pay top-dollar.

Not something I would be prepared to do.

Timoko is actually a bit of a myth... I have watched him closely many times out of interest and he's pretty underwhelming. Does have a highlight play in him though.

I should have clarified when I said punt I really meant the gamble being whether we could improve his major flaw, rather than thinking about the money (although I agree with everything you said on the financial punt - but we seem to sit on oceans of dead cash at any given time).

We are taking that punt on AKP. Which is strange after three years of trying to improve the defence of the Warriors.

You really have to wonder what that decision is about, we all know the speed is attractive, but to go so far against the grain by hiring basically another but faster Dallin is a really risky decision.

They MUST be thinking they can improve weaker players defensively, the only evidence for that theory is one game, the last game of the season, where they did a great job vs Penrith's attacking edge plays. Dallin was well covered in that game, not a very big sample size, but perhaps they think they cracked the code when it mattered, in their last game, in a final.

I would love to ask Webster two questions, one is what they did differently to set up the defence in that final, and I would like to know whether it was a product of his inside knowledge of Penrith's play - actually I want three questions, better shout him another beer or three in my day dream then ask whether he plans on replicating that approach, because if it was just for Penrith, and there is no plan for a continuance then I think I would tell the bloke he needs to deploy it against everyone - irrespective of how the opposition play.

That system they used against Penrith made our poor defender (looking at you Dallins Wing spot/? AKP next year) look better. In such a system perhaps they could squeeze someone like Timoko.

 

[Boston Boy]

We are taking that punt on AKP. Which is strange after three years of trying to improve the defence of the Warriors.

Speed is like beauty, you do some silly things to get it sometimes. I am personally happy we got him. At worst he is as bad as DWZ defensively, at best he is a long range strike weapon that changes our attack on his side also creating opportunities for his centre and second rower.

 

[CWC]

Defense you can coach, attack is kinda gifted

Webby tend to employ the jam in policy to make it simpler, Dallin just stood in the middle lol. Although he does pull off some gems at times

 

[Boston Boy]

Defense you can coach, attack is kinda gifted

Webby tend to employ the jam in policy to make it simpler, Dallin just stood in the middle lol. Although he does pull off some gems at times

All the best defenders though had a bit of dog in them when they were young and were gifted with the intensity, strength and mental toughness. You can tell.

 

[CWC]

All the best defenders though had a bit of dog in them when they were young and were gifted with the intensity, strength and mental toughness. You can tell.

Or the love for writing poetry

 

[sup42]

Speed is like beauty, you do some silly things to get it sometimes.

Exactly and those forlorn longings usually end in tears, which is why we don't do it, because we are trying to build a culture of success that is sustainable and above all else consistent.

I am ok with it myself, but not gonna fool myself into thinking it will work out. Seen this movie too many times.

I am ok with it because any roster can afford to carry one or two projects. This is a project. A long shot. Worth a crack Nigel.

I won't be shocked if AKP starts in the NSW cup.

 

[Kav1]

Think it’s really hard to know what’s in store for CNK because his ability to fill positions could be that he’s outside back cover? Every chance Webster picks him at fullback but he also made many of the changes for 2025 that people were noticing with players like SJ and Tohu Harris struggling and bringing in a host of young guys. CNK seems like he plays a huge leadership role and would imagine he’s one that drives standards

He also spends a great deal of "taking it up" which gives the forwards a break. Here's a thought to throw into the mix - play him at lock where speed is not that important and where he provides other qualities such as leadership, defense and durability.

 

[Kav1]

My response to where Boyd fits after 2026

I see us not re-signing TMM

So our 2027 halves become

Metcalf
CHT
Boyd
Linnane
Cleary
With one of those playing a 14 utility role.

Without Boyd there would not be enough first grade experience in the group beyond Metcalf and CHT, provided my assumption is correct that we don't re-sign TMM. It was a hard year for TMM to show his wares and build momentum into his season as he had to come off the bench.

I found your statistical comparison to CHT interesting. Maybe they are very roughly about as good as each other. Back in the day we used to regard Chad Townsend as being the benchmark for an NRL standard half. Both of them are there or there abouts of being NRL standard although CHT had clearly the better year out of the two of them.

You pointed out Boyd is a weak defender. I don't tend to judge halves too much on defence as long as they are reasonable.

Are there any stats to back up Boyd's weak defense?

 

[tajhay]

Are there any stats to back up Boyd's weak defense?

Player Comparison

nzwarriors.com

 

[Noitall]

He also spends a great deal of "taking it up" which gives the forwards a break. Here's a thought to throw into the mix - play him at lock where speed is not that important and where he provides other qualities such as leadership, defense and durability.

Could hold a top 30 spot like Bunty did and play nsw cup bringing a good work ethic to the next crop? Also depth in plenty of positions when called upon