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

 

[Dannevegas]

He also mentioned that if we had an attacking Fullback such as Ponga, we’d be a better side .
Interesting ….

That’s obvious

 

[Dannevegas]

I reckon Berry is an injury away from his Warriors career over, which would be devastating because he is nrl quality but the games he’s managed since debut is too few. Leiataua I thought was interesting how they shifted him from right centre to left before he made his way out of first grade. Pompey’s biggest asset is his ability to stay healthy, to which I hope I haven’t just cursed him. I believe he’s our best centre at setting his winger up with Berry following and both our best defensive centres

When it comes to setting up their outside men(an important asset if you’re trying to crack it at centre) I think Leiataua is the best at that by far, Followed by Berry then Pompey. Like u said Pompey’s best strength is his availability and reliability on Defence although he has had some shocking moments 1 on 1. Pretty dangerous in the opponents 20 metre line as well, his speed limits him from being a constant threat anywhere on the park

 

[Noitall]

When it comes to setting up their outside men(an important asset if you’re trying to crack it at centre) I think Leiataua is the best at that by far, Followed by Berry then Pompey. Like u said Pompey’s best strength is his availability and reliability on Defence although he has had some shocking moments 1 on 1. Pretty dangerous in the opponents 20 metre line as well, his speed limits him from being a constant threat anywhere on the park

I’d go Pompey still for setting up his outside man, that game against the broncos where he almost set Montoya up for the winner but grabbed the jersey, he set those two up at will with his flick passes. Their stats are probably similar in a lot of ways but Pompey has the greater sample of games in 2025 with 25 against Leiataua’s 8. In the last couple of seasons Leiataua has only offered 2 try assists from 6 and 8 games. He scored 3 tries in those 8 games and Pompey offered 7 try assists and 11 tries in his 25 games

 

[Cces]

Get the impression everyone they want to extend has been and who hasn’t, it’s up to them to earn another contract? You think he’s one they’ll hold onto CCeS?

I think they'd love to retain him. He's a well liked team member & the club have already invested half a decade in him. From a business perspective it currently makes no sense to offer him an extension but I think if he plays something like 12 out our first 14 games the club will look to extend him.
Personally I wouldn't unless he's happy to be paid as a player sitting outside the top 20 in the roster

 

[Defence]

Hmm interesting- I would’ve thought berry is the best at giving his winger space- that’s the first thing I noticed about him.
Funny how we all see it differently.

 

[Naynay]

It seems our strategy is to bring all the youngsters through as second rowers then as they physically mature specialise them by their strengths.

Bigger heavier players front row.
Faster players centre
All rounders stay second row
Ball handler lock

I think we’ve honestly just been lucky that we had a bunch of 2nd rowers come through, I do think a couple will have to be moved along.

Club seems to value Leka and Laban as the guys (given the long term extension to 29), Demitric has already been moved along to a lock style, EIT i would expect to go middle and Kayliss probably centre to fit them all in.

Its more just when you have a stack of talented players you just have to do what you can to fit them and they have to do what they can to fit into the spots on offer.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I think going back about 4 years ago we were overloaded in second rowers.

Eg E. Katoa and Curren looked elsewhere for opportunity.

I think it’s more than lots coming through, I think we’ve deliberately stacked the position, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[Noitall]

Hmm interesting- I would’ve thought berry is the best at giving his winger space- that’s the first thing I noticed about him.
Funny how we all see it differently.

2023 was his best sample with 8 try assists from 16 games but it’s not somewhere he’s strongly represented in either other than that. Obviously not stringing games together has had a bearing over that

 

[Defence]

2023 was his best sample with 8 try assists from 16 games but it’s not somewhere he’s strongly represented in either other than that. Obviously not stringing games together has had a bearing over that

So that stat has him a fair way ahead of the other 2 then?
One in every two games.

 

[Inruin]

So that stat has him a fair way ahead of the other 2 then?
One in every two games.

Also coincided with SJ's best year creating the space for him and DWZ. Berry did well with the quick hands passes but I don't think he is one to create the space himself.

 

[Noitall]

So that stat has him a fair way ahead of the other 2 then?
One in every two games.

CNK had a lot more that year and everything was set up for DWZ’s wing. Pompey had 11 from 27 games too with Montoya outside in 2023. Based on that sample I guess you’d say Berry is the strongest but as you initially said we all see things different, still stand by my initial view

 

[Defence]

Also coincided with SJ's best year creating the space for him and DWZ. Berry did well with the quick hands passes but I don't think he is one to create the space himself.

Hmm maybe- have a look at some of the touches in this video though- he’s class….

View: https://youtu.be/Poq5gkyEgIY?si=N1nN4F75pnGlMVIo

 

[Cces]

So that stat has him a fair way ahead of the other 2 then?
One in every two games.

Berry has 2 try assists in his last 26 games which doesn't make great reading

 

[Inruin]

Hmm maybe- have a look at some of the touches in this video though- he’s class….

View: https://youtu.be/Poq5gkyEgIY?si=N1nN4F75pnGlMVIo

I'm not saying he is a slug!

Just suggesting his 2023 stats are a bit skewed by SJ's form that year.

Also not a fan of his defence if we are being critical

 

[Dannevegas]

I’d go Pompey still for setting up his outside man, that game against the broncos where he almost set Montoya up for the winner but grabbed the jersey, he set those two up at will with his flick passes. Their stats are probably similar in a lot of ways but Pompey has the greater sample of games in 2025 with 25 against Leiataua’s 8. In the last couple of seasons Leiataua has only offered 2 try assists from 6 and 8 games. He scored 3 tries in those 8 games and Pompey offered 7 try assists and 11 tries in his 25 games

Na I’d die on this hill lol. Pompey’s good but Ali is Elite at distributing, especially with the quick tap ons

 

[Inruin]

Na I’d die on this hill lol. Pompey’s good but Ali is Elite at distributing, especially with the quick tap ons

I'd say Pompey is all round solid with odd flashes of great, and resilient.

Ali has xfactor that we need but can't stay on the pitch.

 

[Noitall]

I'm not saying he is a slug!

Just suggesting his 2023 stats are a bit skewed by SJ's form that year.

Also not a fan of his defence if we are being critical

Also DWZ played 20 games that year and scored 24 tries and Montoya played 27 games and scored 11 tries. Either the right side finished better or many more plays were set for that side

 

[Inruin]

Also DWZ played 20 games that year and scored 24 tries and Montoya played 27 games and scored 11 tries. Either the right side finished better or many more plays were set for that side

The later. Heavily right side dominant in attacking plays that year.

 

[Cces]

The later. Heavily right side dominant in attacking plays that year.

Ed Kosi bagged 4 from 6 games to begin the year in that position too

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.tiktok.com/@pompeyszn/video/7537634456438312210