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

 

[BabylonPink]

Chanel is a good 6 imo.
Competitive. Kicks ok. Passes ok. Defends well.
Definately a pass mark. Not setting the world alight , but imo don't need him too. Does his job.

 

[Dannevegas]

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 start Healey at 9 ahead of Egan. CHT 14, still have Tafua, Auloa and Martin does a decent job at 9 if needed.

Healey may not have the best pass at times but with an already Vanilla spine he’s exactly what we need at 9 a quick up tempo hooker.

 

[Dannevegas]

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

He’s far better than Fletcher Hunt imo. He’s on par with Fletcher Sharpe possibly could be better due to his superior ball playing. I think he definitely needs to be in the spine somewhere. It might be a risk but it’s time Webby takes some, especially in the spine

 

[Five&Last]

I would start Healey at 9 ahead of Egan. CHT 14, still have Tafua, Auloa and Martin does a decent job at 9 if needed.

Rico Lemalie is a better prospect than Auloa and Marsh. I need to see more but he might even be better than Tafau long term.

 

[Dannevegas]

Don’t know if it’s been talked about already, but I wonder if Ponga is a genuine chance of coming here next year and beyond. Regarding his comments on sports nation saying nz is his home and who he is and all that. I’d take him for sure.

 

[Makasene]

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

That's the game for us now. Prioritise and begrudgingly allow others to go.

By all accounts, Fatialofa had a foot out the door. They are not like-for-like and possibly not connected at all but if an upgraded offer to Fatialofa comes at the expense of Crosby, that's a fair assessment.

In time, we will lose someone that we really didn't want to and I shudder to think how the forum will handle it

 

[Five&Last]

That's the game for us now. Prioritise and begrudgingly allow others to go.

By all accounts, Fatialofa had a foot out the door. They are not like-for-like and possibly not connected at all but if an upgraded offer to Fatialofa comes at the expense of Crosby, that's a fair assessment.

In time, we will lose someone that we really didn't want to and I shudder to think how the forum will handle it

Seems weird that a club like Penrith doesn't have young guns to fill those roster spots on minimum salary

Would have to assume Crosby is a development contract. If he was top 30, he would've been announced with Ale/Going and can't see him relocating for the same NSW cup T+T contract he was on here.

 

[Five&Last]

He’s far better than Fletcher Hunt imo. He’s on par with Fletcher Sharpe possibly could be better due to his superior ball playing. I think he definitely needs to be in the spine somewhere. It might be a risk but it’s time Webby takes some, especially in the spine

Linnane to fullback is looking like the play more and more each day.

The only question I have is how he is under the high ball.

Everything else I'm sold on. Get CNK out of that number 1 jersey pls.

 

[Brightman]

If he played for a team based in Australia he would have

well then he should go to the Bears..

 

[Tookey 2.0]

A 5/8 is a playmaker.

Some posters like to judge a player by their own emotions about the player and not by what their position actually requires.

Some teams have the halves take a side each and set up the attack on that side. Others try to work together on set plays.

But it's also about what the team needs. What is the side's balance?

CHT is one of those players you can point out good things about him, but none of you fans can clearly point out how CHT plays 5/8 well. Even though Luke has been given the keys, how does CHT support or compliment him? Does he consistently back up offloading forwards to link the backline? Does he get lots of try assists? Is he an organizer? Can he take the pressure off Metcalfe when he's heavily marked or having an off day?

I see him go quiet often. He doesn't direct the attack. Which is what a 5/8 should do. He might spot a gap but he's not fast enough to exploit it and link to his outsides. His best asset is his defence.

What you guys describe is an average good guy who does his role well. If that's the case why did our attack suck in the second half of the season? Why did it look directionless? Because he can't lead a team around.

I'm not calling him a bad player. Just pointing out that he's not a top 4 half and therefore not going to be in a gf winning team.

Lol pretty sure stats ain't emotions fella!

I've been one of CHTs harshest critics for years now, and even though he had a great year ive said that still I don't think he's going to be our 6 going forward.

All I'm saying is when you score 8 tries and have 18 try assists across the year as a play maker, you're probably not the biggest piece of the problem that needs fixing.

 

[Makasene]

Seems weird that a club like Penrith doesn't have young guns to fill those roster spots on minimum salary

Would have to assume Crosby is a development contract. If he was top 30, he would've been announced with Ale/Going and can't see him relocating for the same NSW cup T+T contract he was on here.

They are kind of the anti-us

A production line of high-class backs. We got the forwards coming through.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

He’s far better than Fletcher Hunt imo. He’s on par with Fletcher Sharpe possibly could be better due to his superior ball playing. I think he definitely needs to be in the spine somewhere. It might be a risk but it’s time Webby takes some, especially in the spine

Ahhh my bad, I meant Sharp, who looked really good.

Too many Fletchers in that team!

 

[maddog]

well then he should go to the Bears..

Maybe you should as well. The general public in Perth don't know much at all about rugby league so you should fit in well

 

[Five&Last]

We've signed two more Nelson College rugby players as part of next years SG ball squad. 1st five Wiremu Makea and wing Alfred Leweni

 

[Brightman]

Maybe you should as well. The general public in Perth don't know much at all about rugby league so you should fit in well

Maybe you should be a NSW selector, you'd fit right in.. and QLD will keep winning!

Did you know Egan was a halfback in the Penrith junior catchment and that when he joined the Panthers development pathways he was competing against Nathan Cleary and co. Hence why he converted to a hooker, it was his only viable chance of cracking the NRL squad which he has and full credit to him.
But still, CHT has done this and more, Healy plays a lot like Harry Grant in his early career and Egan could go to the Bears or stay with Warriors but very likely won't play origin like Barney or Capes!!

 

[Noitall]

We've signed two more Nelson College rugby players as part of next years SG ball squad. 1st five Wiremu Makea and wing Alfred Leweni

The fuck is going on at that school? Warriors, rabbits and knights pick up highly regarded players now more

 

[Noitall]

Wiremu Makea

Looks like a NZ touch rep in under 18’s. I’ve got a young relative in the team too

 

[Five&Last]

Also signed Waisake Ravosai to SG ball, younger brother of breakout Jersey Flegg player Emosi Ravosai. Not much info available on him currently though.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

We've signed two more Nelson College rugby players as part of next years SG ball squad. 1st five Wiremu Makea and wing Alfred Leweni

That’s 5 going into league from Nelson college, 3 at the warriors, one at rabbits & one at the knights. Turning into a bit of a hub down there for a small town.

 

[Noitall]

Think raiders might be interested in TMM