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	✔​	✔​
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​
Kayliss Fatialofa	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: 28/30
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

 

[Noitall]

Everyone talks about AKP’s speed meaning tries, and yes, that’ll happen. But Webby might use him a bit differently early on.
If he plays on the Right, his main job could be kick chase. With his speed, he can be brutal chasing kicks, forcing errors and pinning teams inside their own 20. That actually fits our game plan perfectly.
Webster’s system is all about pressure and field position. AKP doesn’t need to score heaps of tries straight away to be effective, if he’s winning the chase and keeping teams stuck deep, he’s doing his job.
The tries will come later. For now, he can be a weapon just by doing the hard stuff well.

Will be interesting to see if he gets to start this year.

That was Berry’s biggest attribute too, I think the club will be really hoping he can stay healthy to earn an extension

 

[Blain]

If you consider DWZ’s mutual option for 2027, both are potentially playing for the spot of the experienced winger in the squad? I presume DWZ would be able to negotiate another contract now too having that option for 2027? I think what made DWZ such a weapon in 2023 was his combination with others. He and Berry had something cooking with their kick chase and the loss of Berry to injury hurt DWZ because they really had a connection, also CNK and DWZ struck up a great understanding with CNK playing that extra set of hands from fullback and DWZ scoring a lot of tries from it. While I would take RTS every day, I think DWZ deserves an opportunity with a broken wrist coming into 2025 and those factors of those he had a combination with not staying healthy or form dropping. Webster is defensively minded first and foremost and I think whoever is the stronger in that facet will win out. Mellars looks like there’s a toughness about him

Is DWZ on a mutual option for 2027? That would leave us in a perfect spot to chose between DWZ or RTS for 27. I don't think you can have 2 in our side as we lack spark in the back with CNK at 1. Let alone in 2 years time.

 

[Noitall]

Is DWZ on a mutual option for 2027? That would leave us in a perfect spot to chose between DWZ or RTS for 27. I don't think you can have 2 in our side as we lack spark in the back with CNK at 1. Let alone in 2 years time.

You’re not going to want to know the source

 

[Blain]

Zerobrains? I'll ignore if that's the case.

 

[Fizurg]

Is DWZ on a mutual option for 2027? That would leave us in a perfect spot to chose between DWZ or RTS for 27. I don't think you can have 2 in our side as we lack spark in the back with CNK at 1. Let alone in 2 years time.

I could be wrong but i think mutual means either party can take up the offer. The only difference is the salary. Typically the club pays more if they take up the offer. If the player takes up the offer they earn less.

 

[Blain]

I could be wrong but i think mutual means either party can take up the offer. The only difference is the salary. Typically the club pays more if they take up the offer. If the player takes up the offer they earn less.

Mutual options can have endless amounts of conditions- But I think your interpretation is a popular one.

 

[Falcon]

Webster stuck with DWZ in 2025 despite 1.5 errors per game, 2024 he was 1.3 & 2023 was also 1.5. AKP has a career average of 1.3. If he's scoring tries regularly and making around 130m pg then Webster won't care too much and as fans we'll probably overlook it as we did with DWZ in 2023

It would be slightly bemusing for the club to say they need speed, sign a noted speedster, and then not play him.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

It would be slightly bemusing for the club to say they need speed, sign a noted speedster, and then not play him.

I think it depends on combinations.

Variables -

If pompey is inside him(pause) and CNK is FB(Obviously) you have two strong, experienced defenders more than capable to cover his obvious defensive flaws.
And having someone like Capes on the same side helps tremendously.

Ali as his center would be tricky. CNK & Capes have a lot of work to do with that pairing.

Shifting DWZ to accommodate AKP and partner up with Berry would also work. Berry being a solid defender.
And also depends on which backrower is on their side. Nuikore? Won't work. To slow & cumbersome. Leka? While a tremendous talent, Defensively, Can get caught out of position often. Could work.
Laban, Works for me. Huge engine, speed & big body. Does have a similar problem as Leka. Misreads plays on defense. He is a probable for me tho.

The common denominator here is CNK. Mr Chatty, Mr Energy. The backline defence director.
None of this works for AKP if CNK is out and someone like Tuaupiki is at the back.
Rts isn't a big talker. He is all action. Tuaupiki is not a talker either. Nor is he a great defender.

For AKP to work, CNK needs to be his steering wheel. Rocco or Pompey his bodyguards. Laban or Capes to be his cover.

You can shuffle the centres & backrowers around and it still might work.
But, It fails if CNK isn't there barking orders from the back.

 

[Noitall]

I think it depends on combinations.

Variables -

If pompey is inside him(pause) and CNK is FB(Obviously) you have two strong, experienced defenders more than capable to cover his obvious defensive flaws.
And having someone like Capes on the same side helps tremendously.

Ali as his center would be tricky. CNK & Capes have a lot of work to do with that pairing.

Shifting DWZ to accommodate AKP and partner up with Berry would also work. Berry being a solid defender.
And also depends on which backrower is on their side. Nuikore? Won't work. To slow & cumbersome. Leka? While a tremendous talent, Defensively, Can get caught out of position often. Could work.
Laban, Works for me. Huge engine, speed & big body. Does have a similar problem as Leka. Misreads plays on defense. He is a probable for me tho.

The common denominator here is CNK. Mr Chatty, Mr Energy. The backline defence director.
None of this works for AKP if CNK is out and someone like Tuaupiki is at the back.
Rts isn't a big talker. He is all action. Tuaupiki is not a talker either. Nor is he a great defender.

For AKP to work, CNK needs to be his steering wheel. Rocco or Pompey his bodyguards. Laban or Capes to be his cover.

You can shuffle the centres & backrowers around and it still might work.
But, It fails if CNK isn't there barking orders from the back.

Capewell was highly represented for missed tackles for memory? Mainly because of the pressure he puts on defensively

 

[John Nick]

Capewell was highly represented for missed tackles for memory? Mainly because of the pressure he puts on defensively

Particularly with kick chase plays. Would put pressure on the catcher but not make the actual tackle. Stats against him for an effort play.

 

[Noitall]

Particularly with kick chase plays. Would put pressure on the catcher but not make the actual tackle. Stats against him for an effort play.

I don’t know too much about it but from what I understand the right edge is predominantly the kick chaser? Is that a rule? I agree with the premise that AKP would excel in this area, but it seems both wings are filled currently? One training picture on instagram has AKP outside Pompey, not that that means much. Could there be a chance they have another go at RTS centre on the right? Struggling to see where everyone fits if AKP is in the team? Which I agree it seems he was brought here for a purpose and would be odd not to play him

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Capewell was highly represented for missed tackles for memory? Mainly because of the pressure he puts on defensively

I moreso like how capes positions players. Whether its pointing or pushing lol, Players into position. He's vocal and has a ton of experience.

 

[John Nick]

I moreso like how capes positions players. Whether its pointing or pushing lol, Players into position. He's vocal and has a ton of experience.

Exactly. The best I have seen at this was Ridge when playing with Manly at FB

 

[JaggedJ]

I don’t know too much about it but from what I understand the right edge is predominantly the kick chaser? Is that a rule? I agree with the premise that AKP would excel in this area, but it seems both wings are filled currently? One training picture on instagram has AKP outside Pompey, not that that means much. Could there be a chance they have another go at RTS centre on the right? Struggling to see where everyone fits if AKP is in the team? Which I agree it seems he was brought here for a purpose and would be odd not to play him

Internationals don't come back until after Xmas don't they? Hard to get a gauge on anything before the full squad is back.

Injuries are going to happen. AKP will get his chance. Whether or not he takes it though....

 

[Noitall]

Internationals don't come back until after Xmas don't they? Hard to get a gauge on anything before the full squad is back.

Injuries are going to happen. AKP will get his chance. Whether or not he takes it though....

Niukore is back, though he only played the one game for the Cook Islands. I think you’re right though regarding internationals. I assume your final thought is the situation regarding AKP?