Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment and Retention Discussion​

Player	2026​	2027​	2028​	2029​	2030​
Grant Anderson	-​	✔​	✔​	✔​
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	✔​	✔​	✔​
William Warbrick	-​	✔​	✔​	✔​
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔​	M​
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: 22/30
2027 Supplementary: 0/6

2027 Gains: Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), William Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)
2027 Losses: Mitchell Barnett (Brisbane Broncos), Marata Niukore (Newcastle Knights), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Wakefield Trinity)

Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin
Will be off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2028 from November 1st, 2026: 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

 

[JaggedJ]

Hey all, don’t know if this has been asked before on this forum. If it has I apologise. More so a question in regards to Marata Niukore. How do we all feel about him heading into this season, I do believe he’s on way too much money and needs to step up this season. If he doesn’t I believe he’s should be on the out.

It's his last season with us.

May start in the middle, will end up on the bench, may not be in the top 17 at seasons end.

 

[Wrighty]

Hey all, don’t know if this has been asked before on this forum. If it has I apologise. More so a question in regards to Marata Niukore. How do we all feel about him heading into this season, I do believe he’s on way too much money and needs to step up this season. If he doesn’t I believe he’s should be on the out.

Kia ora welcome to the forum, by your post count this looks like you first post.

I think Marata's perception is severely hampered by his price tag. If he cost $500k then we would all regard him as a good player. He is reliable, although he is not elite he is an NRL standard player, and he holds his own in big games. I think he is best suited to the middle at this stage of his career rather than playing on edge as he is rapidly losing his lateral defensive mobility. I like him and he has been a loyal servant of the Warriors. There is never any noise about him causing problems in the dressing room, or scandals involving drugs, or breaking a pokie machine. He is professional operator on and off the field. I hope we re-sign him but obviously for about $400K or even $350K rather than his present high price.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

I'd say he is probably Bears bound after this season. Good luck to him!

 

[Riz]

Kia ora welcome to the forum, by your post count this looks like you first post.

I think Marata's perception is severely hampered by his price tag. If he cost $500k then we would all regard him as a good player. He is reliable, although he is not elite he is an NRL standard player, and he holds his own in big games. I think he is best suited to the middle at this stage of his career rather than playing on edge as he is rapidly losing his lateral defensive mobility. I like him and he has been a loyal servant of the Warriors. There is never any noise about him causing problems in the dressing room, or scandals involving drugs, or breaking a pokie machine. He is professional operator on and off the field. I hope we re-sign him but obviously for about $400K or even $350K rather than his present high price.

I agree for the most part, but there's absolutely no chance we resign him post 26'.

 

[Noitall]

I agree for the most part, but there's absolutely no chance we resign him post 26'.

We went after NAS as cover for Barnett and have plenty of second rowers and not as many front rowers on the cusp, depending on his season I wouldn’t be angry if we kept him on less salary and playing front row. Barnett’s seasons have been almost as disrupted as Metcalf’s so one year increments could be handy? Potentially some impact off the bench too

 

[snake77]

Just a thought …
If Lomax was to come here who would you offer in return?
Capewell ? Nikoure? Egan? Clark?
We’re short on OB and have back up in the forwards .

Any club looking at Lomax after the last few years need to prepare that it likely will be only for one season.

He was prepared to move on even with a potential 10 year ban. Now a few months later he's back looking for opportunities. I've seen comments from a manager from the organisation that looks after him trying to cover the reasoning to move on from the Dragons and the Eels. Eels due to a change of coach from when he signed, also the position he's playing. On the position at some point he needs to realise he's a winger.

Of those names Capewell and Nikoure may not be here next year. Even then I'd rather keep them and have a settled squad. Egan and Clark are a definite no.

Until he sorts out his Eels situation and signs with the Storm. We don't know what the thinking is from both sides. He may sign for one year and head off to R360 or as they are a consistent top 8 side he may be happy to commit for longer. The Storm may just want him for the season to cover Paoenhuyzen leaving or use the cap space from Katoa's medical stand down.

Lomax is a no for me. Good player and goal kicker. He caused us a lot of headaches against the Dragons in 2024. But still a no for me.

 

[Canonball]

Any club looking at Lomax after the last few years need to prepare that it likely will be only for one season.

He was prepared to move on even with a potential 10 year ban. Now a few months later he's back looking for opportunities. I've seen comments from a manager from the organisation that looks after him trying to cover the reasoning to move on from the Dragons and the Eels. Eels due to a change of coach from when he signed, also the position he's playing. On the position at some point he needs to realise he's a winger.

Of those names Capewell and Nikoure may not be here next year. Even then I'd rather keep them and have a settled squad. Egan and Clark are a definite no.

Until he sorts out his Eels situation and signs with the Storm. We don't know what the thinking is from both sides. He may sign for one year and head off to R360 or as they are a consistent top 8 side he may be happy to commit for longer. The Storm may just want him for the season to cover Paoenhuyzen leaving or use the cap space from Katoa's medical stand down.

Lomax is a no for me. Good player and goal kicker. He caused us a lot of headaches against the Dragons in 2024. But still a no for me.

Lomax story is the latest perennial controversy - last year it was Galvin - and the media over there is loving it - any other club would be extremely foolish to get involved at this point, when it's definitely going to court, and being touted as a potential landmark labour relations in sport judgement ... some stupid takes have been witnessed already ... imo mostly from storm supporters trying to say their club is blameless in this

 

[Five&Last]

He seems to have been in the Warriors system for a while.

Lots about him on his insta. Sounds like a dedicated good young kid. Only 14 and ticking all the boxes. Good luck to him as he chases his dream.


View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIiglcaRc9L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Strange seeing how incredible he looks in those highlights then realising he’s too young to even play Harold Matthews.

One to watch in 2027 for sure.

 

[WAH MAN]

Hey all, don’t know if this has been asked before on this forum. If it has I apologise. More so a question in regards to Marata Niukore. How do we all feel about him heading into this season, I do believe he’s on way too much money and needs to step up this season. If he doesn’t I believe he’s should be on the out.

Barney endorsed Marata at early pre season. Webby loves an incumbent.

Forum mostly thinks he's expendable unless he's permanently returned to the middle. The rest is up to Marata.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Barney endorsed Marata at early pre season. Webby loves an incumbent.

Forum mostly thinks he's expendable unless he's permanently returned to the middle. The rest is up to Marata.

Contract years have done stranger things.

 

[Theking267]

Barney endorsed Marata at early pre season. Webby loves an incumbent.

Forum mostly thinks he's expendable unless he's permanently returned to the middle. The rest is up to Marata.

He would be fine to keep on a lesser deal as squad member as he can cover a number of positions. The issue of course is that Laban is probably better suited to that role of the bench & then Bishop Neal is still in the pipeline who also fits that role

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

He would be fine to keep on a lesser deal as squad member as he can cover a number of positions. The issue of course is that Laban is probably better suited to that role of the bench & then Bishop Neal is still in the pipeline who also fits that role

Laban is ready to be a starter for me, especially by next season when Niukore is gone. Laban is agile and more physically gifted than niukore.

Im 100% starting Laban next season.

I mean, if Corey Horsburgh punched Niukore in the face in a cup game, Don you think Niukore would just stand there and watch? Laban looks mature beyond his years.

 

[Theking267]

Laban is ready to be a starter for me, especially by next season when Niukore is gone. Laban is agile and more physically gifted than niukore.

Im 100% starting Laban next season.

I mean, if Corey Horsburgh punched Niukore in the face in a cup game, Don you think Niukore would just stand there and watch? Laban looks mature beyond his years.

Laban definitely shaping as a future captain of the club. Probably won’t start this year with Leka looking like he will take Niukore starting role. But he’s definitely likely to take Capewell’s starting spot in 27. As it is highly unlikely we resign Capewell for 27

 

[borgy]

I agree for the most part, but there's absolutely no chance we resign him post 26'.

Yep .... we should have a full house of NRL edge forwards by then...

 

[Noitall]

 

[Muddogz]

it’s a big season for Niukore, we have a logjam of backrowers and probably a prop light. I think he does a lot that doesn’t appear on a stat sheet but at this stage I’d be moving on.

Capewell I’d be keen on resigning if he shows good form this season. He’s tough, experienced and a leader of men. I was a bit underwhelmed with Labans physicality last year, and I think at this stage he’s got a bit to work on.

 

[Damo]

View attachment 15628

Dally M if it was based on pre season

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Bit of a love hate thing going with Niukore just because I think he's capable of having much more impact on games than he's shown cause he certainly has the physical attributes for it.

Hate that he's seemingly content to cruise by with 6/10 performances when probably his salary demands (and plus he's capable of it) 8/10 displays every week.

If he kills it this season and goes absolute gangbuster ill be happy cause it'll really help our cause, but at the same time ill be fucking annoyed cause ill be wondering why u had to wait for contract renewal year to hit your straps.

 

[Inruin]

Bit of a love hate thing going with Niukore just because I think he's capable of having much more impact on games than he's shown cause he certainly has the physical attributes for it.

Hate that he's seemingly content to cruise by with 6/10 performances when probably his salary demands (and plus he's capable of it) 8/10 displays every week.

If he kills it this season and goes absolute gangbuster ill be happy cause it'll really help our cause, but at the same time ill be fucking annoyed cause ill be wondering why u had to wait for contract renewal year to hit your straps.

Do you think that second row is his spot? He should be more devastating there than he shows. I seem to recall him playing more of lock at the Eels or certainly the games I remember him standing out in were there I think? I just don't know how to feel about his performances here. I think you have probably summed it up quite nicely. The contrast in energy and impact from the young guns is certainly noticeable in comparison.

 

[JaggedJ]

Dally M if it was based on pre season

At the rate our ex-players are going there will be no more houses in Penrith to train down by the time the season starts.