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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

What's everyone's thoughts on a Wayde Egan extension

Would be pretty cut throat to not re-sign him given he's been with us through some dark periods.

But if Sam Healey continues on a trajectory towards becoming a starting hooker by 2028. And if we re-sign CHT on a two year deal (2027 as halves depth, transitioning to hooker/utility depth in 2028).

Then also factoring in Makaia Tafua, Braelan Marsh, Rico Lemalie progression.

Plus he's approaching that Luke Keary territory where you don't know how many more head knocks he can sustain.

I would say by the end of his next contract we haven't really progressed well, then its time to move on from him.

We need to make a lot of finals and he needs to show hes the man when it counts.

His form the last couple of years has dipped big time at the back end of the seasons.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

The real question is what more can he put out, the original post was talking about his try involvements. He was up there for that stat for 6s. Out side of tackle breaks his stats are very comparable and close to Ethan strange who got the dally m 5/8 of the year but you would be silly to say you need more out of strange.

Deffo agree with this.

It sucks, because with Metcalf getting injured CHT tends to get tarred with the 'he didn't lead us around well enough' claim, which imo was never his role.

If we're looking at Egan/Boyd/CHT/CNK spine to start the year I think we're likely to struggle.
A few on here has mentioned Linnane as a full back potentially, stating he was rated highly, even over Fletcher Hunt at the Knights. If he was able to do a job and go even 2/3rds as well as Fletcher Hunt did in the 1 jersey I'd be tempted to give him a few games at the beginning of the year and tell him to go for it.

Imo it won't happen, but it would certainly make things interesting

 

[roguei]

Deffo agree with this.

It sucks, because with Metcalf getting injured CHT tends to get tarred with the 'he didn't lead us around well enough' claim, which imo was never his role.

If we're looking at Egan/Boyd/CHT/CNK spine to start the year I think we're likely to struggle.
A few on here has mentioned Linnane as a full back potentially, stating he was rated highly, even over Fletcher Hunt at the Knights. If he was able to do a job and go even 2/3rds as well as Fletcher Hunt did in the 1 jersey I'd be tempted to give him a few games at the beginning of the year and tell him to go for it.

Imo it won't happen, but it would certainly make things interesting

I'm pretty sure Linnane hasn't played any games of cup yet. So i don't seem him joining the starting 17 untill at least late into the year. But i could be wrong.

Interesting to see so many people wanting major shakeups to the starting 17 next year. Hopfully it's because we've got some amazing talent coming in. As we've done pretty well this year IMO, so a major shakeup would have to come with damn good results straight away to excuse it.

 

[skinnydippng]

The real question is what more can he put out, the original post was talking about his try involvements. He was up there for that stat for 6s. Out side of tackle breaks his stats are very comparable and close to Ethan strange who got the dally m 5/8 of the year but you would be silly to say you need more out of strange.

I thought strange was the obvious winner out of the three nominees for 5/8 of the year (munster, burton) and with munster as a runner up of course the third pick was just making up the numbers.. how CHT wasn’t considered as that token third option with his 18 assists compared to burton’s 4 (!)

 

[WAH MAN]

I have full confidence in our other halves to master the "kick to Leka" play.

Even with Metcalf our attack was vanilla at best, his speed just added some sprinkles to mask it. CHT would only be the perfect foil if we had a very different fullback.

We don't, so we need more out of our 6 in regards to creating space and manipulating defences.

I remember he was running at centre when he set a few tries for Roger up

 

[Theking267]

I thought strange was the obvious winner out of the three nominees for 5/8 of the year (munster, burton) and with munster as a runner up of course the third pick was just making up the numbers.. how CHT wasn’t considered as that token third option with his 18 assists compared to burton’s 4 (!)

He also had 8 tries to go along with his 18 TA.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

He also had 8 tries to go along with his 18 TA.

He could be the perfect 13. Not fast enough to be an attacking 9. Would be a dependable option off of the bench. Has an average kicking game for a half. Ok passing game. But lacks speed to be an attacking threat at 6. What he does offer is elite defense, heart & a huge motor.

Add some kgs to his 6ft frame., And we have a 13 that can play as a half/link when needed. And wack kients on dee!

 

[Muddogz]

I thought CHT had a good season, he is better suited with Metcalf as they are both hybrid halves who play a mix of off ball and on ball. Struggled to get involved with Boyd who is a more traditional 7.

It’s about the balance of the backline. When you’ve got CNK, CHT, Boyd, Pompey and Berry all in the same backline and Egan as hooker you are going to have issues scoring as none of them are elusive runners.

No problems here with re-signing CHT as 6 but we’d need change ups in other positions to move up to contender status for me.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Going and Ale join the panthers for the 2025 season.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Going and Ale join the panthers for the 2025 season.

Good to see Going with another gig in the NRL universe

 

[JaggedJ]

The real question is what more can he put out, the original post was talking about his try involvements. He was up there for that stat for 6s. Out side of tackle breaks his stats are very comparable and close to Ethan strange who got the dally m 5/8 of the year but you would be silly to say you need more out of strange.

And yet ignoring stats, CHT wouldn't come close to Strange based on just watching the games.

Stats are nice, but can be very misleading.

 

[maddog]

Couple more head knocks and Egan's corner would need to throw in the towel. Then Healey would be number one number 9.

I think your comment has no basis. It's a pretty obvious statement he's made. Egan gets HIA or other injury at the drop of a hat.

Sam Rapira was a good player, but his size meant he got injured a lot because of sheer extra effort he had to put in to compensate. Happens to most good 'small' players.

Egan's good. But he's doing something wrong to get injured all the time. It's not luck. You'd be better off with a stronger 9 who lasts the season but has a different upside. Healey's that man.

You guys are dreaming if you think Healey is a better hooker than Egan, it's not even close and shows a real lack of understanding of the hooker position in the modern game.

Egan is top 3 and I would rate him only behind Grant, we are lucky to have him.

 

[CWC]

I'm pretty sure Linnane hasn't played any games of cup yet. So i don't seem him joining the starting 17 untill at least late into the year. But i could be wrong.

Interesting to see so many people wanting major shakeups to the starting 17 next year. Hopfully it's because we've got some amazing talent coming in. As we've done pretty well this year IMO, so a major shakeup would have to come with damn good results straight away to excuse it.

IMO the major shake up calls are probably reflective of the win/loss ratio after Metcalf injury and he'll be out for 5-10 rounds again to start the year

The pack stock is perfectly fine IMO we just have glaring weaknesses in the backline on both sides of the ball or ability to stay on the field, to turn the pack’s awesome work into points

We signed Boyd and Cape late in the off-seasons so hoping for another top up after November…

 

[Naynay]

And yet ignoring stats, CHT wouldn't come close to Strange based on just watching the games.

Stats are nice, but can be very misleading.

Just going of watching is more misleading.

strange bust a lot of tackles and was involved in a couple big plays which stand out at the end of the day they ended up with the same try involvements.

 

[kos]

Going and Ale join the panthers for the 2025 season.

In fact both of them are mow on Penrith top 30 list.
Ivan has been letting players go and grabbed these guys.
He must see gold where Webster saw dust,

 

[maddog]

In fact both of them are mow on Penrith top 30 list.
Ivan has been letting players go and grabbed these guys.
He must see gold where Webster saw dust,

Or some minimum wage filler, see how much game time they get in first grade.

Tom Ale I could see going alright but Going is a strange signing for them.

 

[kos]

Or some minimum wage filler, see how much game time they get in first grade.

Tom Ale I could see going alright but Going is a strange signing for them.

Top 30
One year deal
Going has a great attitude
We will see

 

[Brightman]

Egan is top 3 and I would rate him only behind Grant, we are lucky to have him.

Top 3 you reckon? Why hasn't he been selected for SoO yet, or even Serbia..

 

[roguei]

In fact both of them are mow on Penrith top 30 list.
Ivan has been letting players go and grabbed these guys.
He must see gold where Webster saw dust,

Both are great players and i really hope both kick on in FG, they deserve it. But i don't think it's a scenario where one team loses out or picked badly. We have great forwards on those positions coming up the pipelines, so we don't need them. Where as the panthers lack that at the moment. You could reverse the sitatuation for backs, where the panthers seem to never lack for em.

 

[Damo]

Crosby definitely off to Panthers also, one of his friends instagram posts mentions he's off to Australia/Panthers very soon.