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

 

[Inruin]

I agree but why?

A centre is just as capable as a winger to do the hard yards and RTS could pull out 200+m?

Wings and Fullbacks are already back for the kick to take hit ups. They are getting more opportunities to run back with kick return metres an early hit ups in the set.

 

[Cces]

He also played there against Tonga running 117m and scoring a try. But yeah, I still think it's a game plan thing where we don't use our centres for the majority of grunt work.

His best game at Centre for the Warriors was 120m, a try & 6 tackle breaks. It was the only time he's played right Centre for either the Warriors or Kiwis. If he's playing Centre, that's his best fit

 

[Damo]

I agree but why?

A centre is just as capable as a winger to do the hard yards and RTS could pull out 200+m?

My guess would be keeping them fresh for the run chase aspect of Websters game plan?

I think that's more reflective of RTS and his strengths than anything.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I agree but why?

A centre is just as capable as a winger to do the hard yards and RTS could pull out 200+m?

Likely as generally they have more to do in defence. This can be very side of the field specific though as some teams predominately attack one side.

 

[Naynay]

My guess would be keeping them fresh for the run chase aspect of Websters game plan?

I think that's more reflective of RTS and his strengths than anything.

I think so, we use them mainly defensively. But i think that also mostly comes down to having Berry and Pompey. Seems that when Ali was in for the Roosters game it was give him early ball and let him barge over.

 

[Milking!]

My guess would be keeping them fresh for the run chase aspect of Websters game plan?

I think that's more reflective of RTS and his strengths than anything.

I reckon Rocco is a prime example of this - as a yardage player, he’s probs NRL average, but as a kick-chase grass-cutting machine he’s elite. Makes sense to put his focus and energy on that

 

[Username: Required]

Anyone seen this?


View: https://youtu.be/f4TdrtClMvs?si=W1oYHpEVCIzBHgdm

They make a point about Niukore (discussion about retaining him starts at the 22 min and 40 second mark) about him having his best year last year, but also (apparently) being unhappy here.

 

[Cces]

Anyone seen this?


View: https://youtu.be/f4TdrtClMvs?si=W1oYHpEVCIzBHgdm

They make a point about Niukore (discussion about retaining him starts at the 22 min and 40 second mark) about him having his best year last year

Podcast can't be an easy thing to do but these guys are too much of cheerleaders. Niukore had the most missed tackle pg to go with fewest tackles pg & lowest metres pg in his 3 seasons at the club

 

[Noitall]

Anyone seen this?


View: https://youtu.be/f4TdrtClMvs?si=W1oYHpEVCIzBHgdm

They make a point about Niukore (discussion about retaining him starts at the 22 min and 40 second mark) about him having his best year last year, but also (apparently) being unhappy here.

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting, I wonder what the reason for his unhappiness at the club has been? If he’s not happy on good money, we might struggle to keep him? Or potentially better to let him go? Big season needed from him to prove his worth wherever he’s considering? Not sure on any of those who I’d lean towards keeping at present out of those? Huge amount of competition within the squad

 

[Noitall]

Podcast can't be an easy thing to do but these guys are too much of cheerleaders. Niukore had the most missed tackle pg to go with fewest tackles pg & lowest metres pg in his 3 seasons at the club

I do think it was his best season at the club so far, which probably points to how underwhelming he’s been for the value but played a big portion of games in a season where injuries were cruel. Needs a big season, but if he’s not happy here, let him walk. There was talk of broncos potentially letting Capewell go too early when they had a season where they under delivered? Could be something for us to consider, but in saying that, they bounced back when Maguire came onboard

 

[Cces]

I do think it was his best season at the club so far, which probably points to how underwhelming he’s been for the value but played a big portion of games in a season where injuries were cruel.

I'd take his 22 game season in 2023 which had 22m more per game, an offload count equal to '24+'25 combined & a 3% better tackle efficiency any day over his lower impact, more cumbersome but slightly less injured/suspended 2025

 

[Noitall]

I'd take his 22 game season in 2023 which had 22m more per game, an offload count equal to '24+'25 combined & a 3% better tackle efficiency any day over his lower impact, more cumbersome but slightly less injured 2025

Yeah that’s true, I think he was a big part of SJ’s hot form that year too

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

I like what he brings, but the hard fact is that he has to make room for the younger guys now. I’d love to see him in Perth.

 

[Noitall]

I like what he brings, but the hard fact is that he has to make room for the younger guys now. I’d love to see him in Perth.

Add a n and an i and you’ve got it spot on with current form. He’d make an impact reunited with Papali’i and with Leota

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Add a n and an i and you’ve got it spot on with current form. He’d make an impact reunited with Papali’i and with Leota

Only if we get Casey McLean in return

 

[Noitall]

Only if we get Casey McLean in return

We can’t use him as a bargaining tool unfortunately with him coming off contract, but Casey McLean would be the ultimate

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting, I wonder what the reason for his unhappiness at the club has been? If he’s not happy on good money, we might struggle to keep him? Or potentially better to let him go? Big season needed from him to prove his worth wherever he’s considering? Not sure on any of those who I’d lean towards keeping at present out of those? Huge amount of competition within the squad

He probably has been told he wont be retained beyond this year. I say put him in cup forbthe year and then send him to Perth.

 

[SJ2k]

We can’t use him as a bargaining tool unfortunately with him coming off contract, but Casey McLean would be the ultimate

Also the fact that he is extremely mid and not worth shit in a trade. Is he the last of the legacy signings where we over paid for kiwis who showed a bit of form? Honestly don't see him offering much over Bunty but for double the money. Sooner we're done with him the better.

Only reason to keep him is we can't recruit anyone else and must have a ton of cap anyway. Mostly because we did it to ourselves and have no choice.

He's my number 1 player to get off the books no doubt. DWZ 2nd if he's on anywhere close to the reported amount. DWZ has performed far better though. Time to go to the glue factory for both of em as far as i'm concerned. Niukore is shitter and we have WAY better forward stocks than backs, so the obvious priority.

 

[snake77]

I'm interested to see where Niukore will play this year. Will he finally transition full time to being a middle forward?

The younger backrowers have built up some experience now. Gannon can cover 11,12 and 13. So, hopefully if we have a plan to have him playing in the middle we can see it through.

Barnett, JFH and Clarke are the obvious starting middles. Depending on the make up of the bench I would favour Ford for his work rate and Vaimauga. Vaumauga I like his offloads and he does provide a bit of impact when he comes on.

If Niukore is training hard and forces someone out that's great as it should force a few others to train hard and perform to get their way in.

We have decisions to make on a few players this year. A few getting on a bit. Need to ensure we get our retention to a point we are timing when they move on. Better to have a few leave a year early instead of play on a year too long.