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

 

[Boats n Hoes]

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.

He runs a pretty ineffective line at 2nd row for mine (altho that may have a bit to do with the halves hes running off), it's pretty straight up n down. Already someone like Leka who has footwork looks way more threatening. Then again just shortening up the defensive line has its benefits.
But for me I think he probably should be transitioning to the middle. He has the physical attributes to initiate fast ptb's which for a team not overly blessed with strike like us is a godsend. Wether he has the motor for this the big question tho, can for sure be developed.

 

[sup42]

WARRIORS SECURE YOUNG GUN ON THREE-YEAR DEAL

The Warriors have secured one of New Zealand’s most exciting young prospects on a three-year contract.


A member of last year’s New Zealand Maori team, Aizaya Wanakore-Chase, has secured his future with the club until at least the end of the 2028 season and spend this year in the club’s pathways academy before being promoted to the U17s Harold Matthews Cup program in 2027.

An exciting talent who plays a number of different roles, the youngster who primarily plays in the centres or on the wing has already achieved several honours throughout his young career to date despite being only 14 years of age.

This includes being named the U13 Cooks Islands captain, winning the U13s Pacific Youth Cup MVP in 2024, being named the Aotearoa NZ Maori Rugby League U14s MVP and securing the U14s ARL Region of Origin MVP in 2024.

“He’s an amazing young talent. He’s only 14 but is so explosive. He’s got great balance, phenomenal footwork and strength in the tackle,” his manager Ngahina Capper of Tairanga Ake told foxsports.com.au.

“He comes from a kura kaupapa background which means he’s been raised in a Maori school. He’s really kind of grounded in his culture and he’s just a great young kid.

“He’s real aggressive in everything he does. There is similarities in terms of his balance and his strength in his hips that reminds you of a Matt Utai or Brian To’o type of player. He definitely has those similarities in terms of how he kind of carries himself on the field.


View: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/cSx_gve2tmI

Just a young lad. Looks like he was signed back around October

Didn't see anything earth shattering in the clips, then I remembered he is fourteen years old. Changes the whole picture.

He looks like he does serious squats.

Leg development for a fourteen year old is crazy.

Shame it is a long wait to see him in first grade, still watching him in baby league will be interesting....especially his defence.

 

[Canonball]

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.

Lol - yeah they definitely got a number of our ex-gym guys - with Papali'i the power lifter, Crosby the Hyrox / cross-trainer and Lussick the black sand dunes champ - but hey can any of them run a 4.2 40? ... Goes to show that these metrics don't necessarily translate to in game consistency or success.... still of the opinion that league rewards game smarts and tactical know-how at a good proportion to pure athleticism - i also love nfl, but the sort of thinking which that code has, privileging combine stats etc., can't be easily replicated across our fine game

 

[Dannevegas]

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.

If you were to hear that Laban just “stood there and watched” while getting jabbed to the dome, you’d prolly think what a pussy.
But Laban just stood there and laughed, what a psycho haha.

 

[CWC]

Marata's great as a back up prop/second row, like above Tanner and below the likes of Leka/Demi etc, kinda over-qualified, but Webby will probably start him at 2nd row anyway

 

[sballer7]

This dude is cooked man

 

[slime]

Marata's great as a back up prop/second row, like above Tanner and below the likes of Leka/Demi etc, kinda over-qualified, but Webby will probably start him at 2nd row anyway

I don't think he's played to what should be expected of his salary and experience. If he miraculously pulls his socks up this year then it's because his contract is up.

He was playing double the minutes (and games) of the likes of Tanner, Laban, and Afoa. But registered similar metres per game (70ish), only a handful more tackles (with the lowest tackle% of that lot), and was more likely to commit a penalty or error. Has always seemed like he should be doing more or causing more havoc out there.

 

[WAH MAN]

This dude is cooked man
View attachment 15662

That might be him......

Row 4 seat 16

 

[SouthernWorrier]

He runs a pretty ineffective line at 2nd row for mine (altho that may have a bit to do with the halves hes running off), it's pretty straight up n down. Already someone like Leka who has footwork looks way more threatening. Then again just shortening up the defensive line has its benefits.
But for me I think he probably should be transitioning to the middle. He has the physical attributes to initiate fast ptb's which for a team not overly blessed with strike like us is a godsend. Wether he has the motor for this the big question tho, can for sure be developed.

We tried the middle and it seemed a poor fit.

For mine he's a big body, maybe lacking a little extra effort or skill at the line, but he still attracts defenders and therefore creates space for others. That's how I'd be using him - ignite others via an offload or training for a quick play while (ideally) bodies remain disrupted around him.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

We need to be recruiting this guy. With this kind of hyphenation he could be a future Warriors captain.

 

[WAH MAN]

We need to be recruiting this guy. With this kind of hyphenation he could be a future Warriors captain.

View attachment 15668

Naming rights of a child should be submitted to an ethics committee. Imagine being named after a fuel source. Even his initials would be a challenge. CHT RTS AKP DWZ all sound so smooth compared to DGMBH.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

We need to be recruiting this guy. With this kind of hyphenation he could be a future Warriors captain.

View attachment 15668

Future 400 gamer perhaps!

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Future 400 gamer perhaps!

400-game-player possibility?

 

[Noitall]

We need to be recruiting this guy. With this kind of hyphenation he could be a future Warriors captain.

View attachment 15668

Gordon Pailegutu Taanuu Afoa


Gordon Afoa has gone similar route, though not as impressive as DGMBH. He’ll be GPTA

 

[sup42]

If you were to hear that Laban just “stood there and watched” while getting jabbed to the dome, you’d prolly think what a pussy.
But Laban just stood there and laughed, what a psycho haha.

He looked like someone that has been hit before, probably a fair bit, the smile was like a unconscious reaction to trauma rather than smiling out of psycho pleasure.

However, having said that, in my experience, guys who react like that make me very wary - guys like that often are aware that they cannot afford to lose control and respond angrily because it will be berserker rage.

 

[Tony Martin]

We need to be recruiting this guy. With this kind of hyphenation he could be a future Warriors captain.

View attachment 15668

How many dads does he have?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Gordon Pailegutu Taanuu Afoa


Gordon Afoa has gone similar route, though not as impressive as DGMBH. He’ll be GPTA

Not sure im ready for another Afoa, bunty was so unimpressive!

 

[Riz]

Not sure im ready for another Afoa, bunty was so unimpressive!

Wash your mouth out!

 

[Damo]

How many dads does he have?

yes

 

[Falcon]

Joey Manu … mid season signing once French rugby season completed?