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	✔​	✔​	✔​
Freddy Lussick	✔​
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	✔​	✔​
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: 30/30
2026 Supplementary: 1/6

2027 Top 30: 21/30
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

 

[Theking267]

Laumalili has put together a similar season to Crosby did in Jersey Flegg. 3 tries in 13 games. Crosby 5 tries in 21 games. I see them as similar players. Impact players. Laumalili is 3 years younger than Crosby so has more upside.

 

[JaggedJ]

And this is why we won't be able to keep them all, especially when a couple become genuine stars and command top dollar.

Neal I think will end up at prop. Only 17, will fill out further. He's taller than AFB and around 10kgs lighter. Just can't see him being on an edge by the time he hits 19-20 which he has the potential to debut at if his head is on right. Yes he's the same size as Kikau now roughly, but I don't think he's quite as dynamic on the edge, and when you watch his highlights there's lot of him ripping through teams up the middle.

Then there's Sikuvea and Fatialofa who will probably debut before Neal as well.

Injuries, form, departures happen, but if everything went perfectly in 3 seasons from now we won't be able to fit all our prospects in a largely home grown team and some of them are too talented to just sit in reserves for too long before another club comes with a contract and top 30 spot.

Hypothetically our top 30 forwards at the start of 2028 could include

8. JFH
10. Vaimauga/Clark
11. Laban/EIT
12. Leka
13. Sikuvea

14. Fatialofa
15. Neal
16. Clark/Vaimauga
17. Some random utility that takes up a bench space

EIT/Laban, TSS, Salilo, Laumalili, Tuipulotu Vea etc

And I'm sure I'm missing a few more too.

Point is - if you had to pick 4 of those guys to move on you'd be picking 4 pretty good players to move on from.

Good luck to Crosby, but he's just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the names above won't realise their potential or just want to shift out, others will emerge or fade out due to inuries. We don't get to see which is which either, we have to make a choice and then hope hindsight doesn't bite us.

Exciting times, but there's going to be some anxious moments about whether or not we're making the right decisions.

 

[Hitro]

And this is why we won't be able to keep them all, especially when a couple become genuine stars and command top dollar.

Neal I think will end up at prop. Only 17, will fill out further. He's taller than AFB and around 10kgs lighter. Just can't see him being on an edge by the time he hits 19-20 which he has the potential to debut at if his head is on right. Yes he's the same size as Kikau now roughly, but I don't think he's quite as dynamic on the edge, and when you watch his highlights there's lot of him ripping through teams up the middle.

Then there's Sikuvea and Fatialofa who will probably debut before Neal as well.

Injuries, form, departures happen, but if everything went perfectly in 3 seasons from now we won't be able to fit all our prospects in a largely home grown team and some of them are too talented to just sit in reserves for too long before another club comes with a contract and top 30 spot.

Hypothetically our top 30 forwards at the start of 2028 could include

8. JFH
10. Vaimauga/Clark
11. Laban/EIT
12. Leka
13. Sikuvea

14. Fatialofa
15. Neal
16. Clark/Vaimauga
17. Some random utility that takes up a bench space

EIT/Laban, TSS, Salilo, Laumalili, Tuipulotu Vea etc

And I'm sure I'm missing a few more too.

Point is - if you had to pick 4 of those guys to move on you'd be picking 4 pretty good players to move on from.

Good luck to Crosby, but he's just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the names above won't realise their potential or just want to shift out, others will emerge or fade out due to inuries. We don't get to see which is which either, we have to make a choice and then hope hindsight doesn't bite us.

Exciting times, but there's going to be some anxious moments about whether or not we're making the right decisions.

Bang on. The above team for 2028 assumes we don't have any young guns in the next three years coming through. I suppose 2029 could open a few spots with Clark and JFH finishing up, but it's massive logjam alright. The next 15 year old phenom is going to do the maths and not see a path potentially.

Agree - hope Crosby kicks on. It's actually good for us if he does, shows we are a good destination for early development. Hopefully means we can capture the best talent first, work through it and hopefully make the right calls when the crunch comes.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Yeah I think Neal moves to the middle eventually. He is 194cm, 113kg at 17 years old.

Hes the same size as katoa is atm, but he’s taller & heavier than keaon, stefano & tapine..

If he can keep his head down he’ll be an absolute weapon through the middle.

 

[Noitall]

Yeah I think Neal moves to the middle eventually. He is 194cm, 113kg at 17 years old.

Hes the same size as katoa is atm, but he’s taller & heavier than keaon, stefano & tapine..

If he can keep his head down he’ll be an absolute weapon through the middle.

Size wise he’s going to be close to Kikau’s dimensions you’d imagine once he’s done his growing? Seems to be a player that backs himself rather than setting others up but definitely got some skills and can beat a man as his chip and chase highlight highlighted

 

[SJ2k]

When you look at the GF, effectively you have the most stacked roster (broncos) vs the most stacked spine (storm). The broncos spine is very stacked too with Walsh coming into his own. You can go on about coaching etc, but realistically anything short of the GF is an under performance for either of these teams, especially the broncos.

It's actually remarkable what Penrith achieved and they should most certainly go down as the GOAT team of the modern era, and Cleary in the same immortal tier as Bellyache and Wayne. If I was a penrith fan I might even feel aggrieved that the storm haven't had to lose a spine player and the broncos team can look so absurdly over the cap bringing in Hunt.

Anyways, my point is it's going to take filling out most of the roster with gun young talent cheap and then by some miracle being able to actually buy some elite spine players. I can see why they're buying up all the young aussie halves as maybe one kicks on and we can get them to stay.

How do we possibly build a spine like Munster/Huges/Grant/Paps or Walsh/Hunt/Reynolds? The storms spine is absolutely gross in how stacked it is. Roos 6, roos 9, kiwi first choice half and Paps when healthy is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Noitall]

When you look at the GF, effectively you have the most stacked roster (broncos) vs the most stacked spine (storm). The broncos spine is very stacked too with Walsh coming into his own. You can go on about coaching etc, but realistically anything short of the GF is an under performance for either of these teams, especially the broncos.

It's actually remarkable what Penrith achieved and they should most certainly go down as the GOAT team of the modern era, and Cleary in the same immortal tier as Bellyache and Wayne. If I was a penrith fan I might even feel aggrieved that the storm haven't had to lose a spine player and the broncos team can look so absurdly over the cap bringing in Hunt.

Anyways, my point is it's going to take filling out most of the roster with gun young talent cheap and then by some miracle being able to actually buy some elite spine players. I can see why they're buying up all the young aussie halves as maybe one kicks on and we can get them to stay.

How do we possibly build a spine like Munster/Huges/Grant/Paps or Walsh/Hunt/Reynolds? The storms spine is absolutely gross in how stacked it is. Roos 6, roos 9, kiwi first choice half and Paps when healthy is nothing to sneeze at.

Halves and hooker seem reasonably good now and coming through depending on who they see as halfback and five eighths? Metcalf seems like we’re wanting to him as our halfback for the next phase going forward? Seems fullback is where we’re thin currently, or somebody is right under our nose and hasn’t played there yet?

 

[Hitro]

Halves and hooker seem reasonably good now and coming through depending on who they see as halfback and five eighths? Metcalf seems like we’re wanting to him as our halfback for the next phase going forward? Seems fullback is where we’re thin currently, or somebody is right under our nose and hasn’t played there yet?

Nothing would make me happier than an 18 year old Jeremiah Lemana carving up and debuting for the club, however appreciate this is highly unlikely. Sounds like Pasikala has regressed since that out-the-gate NSW cup season last year at Fullback. Not sure how Ratcliffe went in JF this year either.

Would love to get Mason Barber off the Cowboys, dude is going to be absolutely elite. Sounds like the Cows have got him locked up though.

Out of interest, the below is the debut age of the last 10 years of GF winning spine players

Player	Position	Debut Age	Debut Year	Club at Debut
Nathan Cleary	Halfback	18	2016	Penrith Panthers
Luke Keary	Five-eighth	21	2013	South Sydney Rabbitohs
James Tedesco	Fullback	19	2012	Wests Tigers
Jahrome Hughes	Halfback	18	2013	Gold Coast Titans
Dylan Edwards	Fullback	20	2016	Penrith Panthers
Jarome Luai	Five-eighth	21	2018	Penrith Panthers
Ryan Papenhuyzen	Fullback	20	2019	Melbourne Storm
Michael Morgan	Five-eighth	18	2010	North QLD Cowboys
Lachlan Coote	Fullback	18	2008	Penrith Panthers
Billy Slater	Fullback	20	2003	Melbourne Storm
Cameron Munster	Five-eighth	20	2014	Melbourne Storm
Cooper Cronk	Halfback	20	2004	Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith	Hooker	20	2002	Melbourne Storm
Jake Granville	Hooker	22	2013	Brisbane Broncos
Apisai Koroisau	Hooker	21	2014	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mitch Kenny	Hooker	21	2019	Penrith Panthers
Jake Friend	Hooker	18	2008	Sydney Roosters
Sam Verrills	Hooker	20	2019	Sydney Roosters
Michael Ennis	Hooker	19	2003	Newcastle Knights
Johnathan Thurston	Halfback	18	2002	Canterbury Bulldogs

 

[Teets]

How do we possibly build a spine like Munster/Huges/Grant/Paps or Walsh/Hunt/Reynolds? The storms spine is absolutely gross in how stacked it is. Roos 6, roos 9, kiwi first choice half and Paps when healthy is nothing to sneeze at.

Would need to find that Storm/Bellamy ability to ID hidden gems in free agency and also their ability to develop players

No one had Hughes & Papz as big deals when they picked them up.

 

[CWC]

When you look at the GF, effectively you have the most stacked roster (broncos) vs the most stacked spine (storm). The broncos spine is very stacked too with Walsh coming into his own. You can go on about coaching etc, but realistically anything short of the GF is an under performance for either of these teams, especially the broncos.

It's actually remarkable what Penrith achieved and they should most certainly go down as the GOAT team of the modern era, and Cleary in the same immortal tier as Bellyache and Wayne. If I was a penrith fan I might even feel aggrieved that the storm haven't had to lose a spine player and the broncos team can look so absurdly over the cap bringing in Hunt.

Anyways, my point is it's going to take filling out most of the roster with gun young talent cheap and then by some miracle being able to actually buy some elite spine players. I can see why they're buying up all the young aussie halves as maybe one kicks on and we can get them to stay.

How do we possibly build a spine like Munster/Huges/Grant/Paps or Walsh/Hunt/Reynolds? The storms spine is absolutely gross in how stacked it is. Roos 6, roos 9, kiwi first choice half and Paps when healthy is nothing to sneeze at.

Halves and hooker seem reasonably good now and coming through depending on who they see as halfback and five eighths? Metcalf seems like we’re wanting to him as our halfback for the next phase going forward? Seems fullback is where we’re thin currently, or somebody is right under our nose and hasn’t played there yet?

Billy Walters is very good also and I assume a home grown? Walsh was from their system too, wonder how many of those spines were imported marquees or developed themselves

Someone said Norris has the potential to be a FB. Luke is our 7 so we have a logjam of halves with Linnane, Jett, Thompson coming through and CHT cheap enough to keep as a veteran utility. If a couple of the halves kick on we could play 1 of them at FB? Say a spine of Metcalf/Jett/Linnane

I think stacking them up is also good to see which ones prove to be survival of fittest, since talent wise probably will be similar

 

[CWC]

Nothing would make me happier than an 18 year old Jeremiah Lemana carving up and debuting for the club, however appreciate this is highly unlikely. Sounds like Pasikala has regressed since that out-the-gate NSW cup season last year at Fullback. Not sure how Ratcliffe went in JF this year either.

Would love to get Mason Barber off the Cowboys, dude is going to be absolutely elite. Sounds like the Cows have got him locked up though.

Out of interest, the below is the debut age of the last 10 years of GF winning spine players

Player	Position	Debut Age	Debut Year	Club at Debut
Nathan Cleary	Halfback	18	2016	Penrith Panthers
Luke Keary	Five-eighth	21	2013	South Sydney Rabbitohs
James Tedesco	Fullback	19	2012	Wests Tigers
Jahrome Hughes	Halfback	18	2013	Gold Coast Titans
Dylan Edwards	Fullback	20	2016	Penrith Panthers
Jarome Luai	Five-eighth	21	2018	Penrith Panthers
Ryan Papenhuyzen	Fullback	20	2019	Melbourne Storm
Michael Morgan	Five-eighth	18	2010	North QLD Cowboys
Lachlan Coote	Fullback	18	2008	Penrith Panthers
Billy Slater	Fullback	20	2003	Melbourne Storm
Cameron Munster	Five-eighth	20	2014	Melbourne Storm
Cooper Cronk	Halfback	20	2004	Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith	Hooker	20	2002	Melbourne Storm
Jake Granville	Hooker	22	2013	Brisbane Broncos
Apisai Koroisau	Hooker	21	2014	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mitch Kenny	Hooker	21	2019	Penrith Panthers
Jake Friend	Hooker	18	2008	Sydney Roosters
Sam Verrills	Hooker	20	2019	Sydney Roosters
Michael Ennis	Hooker	19	2003	Newcastle Knights
Johnathan Thurston	Halfback	18	2002	Canterbury Bulldogs

Ya we've definitely gone for the 2nd hand injured kids and if our physios are good and under Webby's coaching we'll still have some gems for the next decade, I think the aussie kids we signed are just the victims of their competitive environments that leave you behind if you're out for a couple of years

 

[Teets]

Nothing would make me happier than an 18 year old Jeremiah Lemana carving up and debuting for the club, however appreciate this is highly unlikely.

I've heard big wraps on him on here so I was pretty suprised how easily the Canterbury 18s contained him in the NZRL final for the most part.

Given he was starting a lot of sets 25-30 metres off his line with plenty of clear air in front of him and playing behind a big Auckland pack, thought he would have stood out a lot more with that kind of platform.

Looks a good athlete though.

 

[Hitro]

I've heard big wraps on him on here so I was pretty suprised how easily the Canterbury 18s contained him in the NZRL final for the most part.

Given he was starting a lot of sets 25-30 metres off his line with plenty of clear air in front of him and playing behind a big Auckland pack, thought he would have stood out a lot more with that kind of platform.

Looks a good athlete though.

He carved up HM, first as a centre last year, then as fullback this year. I would say he's our best hope of a homegrown fullback atm.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

He carved up HM, first as a centre last year, then as fullback this year. I would say he's our best hope of a homegrown fullback atm.

One of , If not my favourite out of the kids(Backs). Confidence galore, Ton of skill, Good speed & a poweful runner. I hope he continues to shine and not falter and fade away into the abyss could of beens.

 

[SJ2k]

Billy Walters is very good also and I assume a home grown? Walsh was from their system too, wonder how many of those spines were imported marquees or developed themselves

Someone said Norris has the potential to be a FB. Luke is our 7 so we have a logjam of halves with Linnane, Jett, Thompson coming through and CHT cheap enough to keep as a veteran utility. If a couple of the halves kick on we could play 1 of them at FB? Say a spine of Metcalf/Jett/Linnane

I think stacking them up is also good to see which ones prove to be survival of fittest, since talent wise probably will be similar

They brought in reynolds and hunt. Give us reynolds and hunt this year and we make the prelim at least. It's something we'll never be able to do. Best case scenario is we get one high end vet like that to top off a very competitive roster, but probably not.

 

[sup42]

When you look at the GF, effectively you have the most stacked roster (broncos) vs the most stacked spine (storm). The broncos spine is very stacked too with Walsh coming into his own. You can go on about coaching etc, but realistically anything short of the GF is an under performance for either of these teams, especially the broncos.

It's actually remarkable what Penrith achieved and they should most certainly go down as the GOAT team of the modern era, and Cleary in the same immortal tier as Bellyache and Wayne. If I was a penrith fan I might even feel aggrieved that the storm haven't had to lose a spine player and the broncos team can look so absurdly over the cap bringing in Hunt.

Anyways, my point is it's going to take filling out most of the roster with gun young talent cheap and then by some miracle being able to actually buy some elite spine players. I can see why they're buying up all the young aussie halves as maybe one kicks on and we can get them to stay.

How do we possibly build a spine like Munster/Huges/Grant/Paps or Walsh/Hunt/Reynolds? The storms spine is absolutely gross in how stacked it is. Roos 6, roos 9, kiwi first choice half and Paps when healthy is nothing to sneeze at.

In short, this Grand final is between two Salary cap cheats.

Or another way to say it, the NRL way, is that they are within their very fluid and bendy interpretation of the rules.

After David Gallop busted the Storm, the real powers behind the NRL had him ousted and iirc News Limited owned the Storm.

After that we saw the Roosters openly flouting the cap, and the invention of the term Sombrero.

Today, the Warriors play in a capped reality which is why they are not there on GF day.

Long live the Australian way.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Great take.

Have to take Crosby's age into account and the fact that development isn't a straight linear line.

Taking Paea Sikuvea for example, hasn't played NSW cup yet but I think will make his first grade debut in the final rounds of next year. He's 3 years younger than Crosby.

Bishop's probably so young that he isn't directly competing with Crosby just yet.

As long as we're keeping the right ones.

I think Kaawyn Patterson will end up being the right call (too small for first grade?) but then there will likely be some shockers (Eli Katoa, Lucian Mikaele? Karapani?)

Huge call on Sikuvea! Cant wait to see him play more next season.

 

[Wrighty]

In short, this Grand final is between two Salary cap cheats.

Or another way to say it, the NRL way, is that they are within their very fluid and bendy interpretation of the rules.

After David Gallop busted the Storm, the real powers behind the NRL had him ousted and iirc News Limited owned the Storm.

After that we saw the Roosters openly flouting the cap, and the invention of the term Sombrero.

Today, the Warriors play in a capped reality which is why they are not there on GF day.

Long live the Australian way.

Hard out. How do either of these sides afford their rosters.

 

[Five&Last]

8. JFH
10. Vaimauga/Clark
11. Laban/EIT
12. Leka
13. Sikuvea

14. Fatialofa
15. Neal
16. Clark/Vaimauga
17. Some random utility that takes up a bench space

EIT/Laban, TSS, Salilo, Laumalili, Tuipulotu Vea etc

Looking even further out
8. Demetric Vaimauga
9. Sam Healey
10. Jacob Laban
11. Leka Halasima
12. Bishop Neal
13. Paea Sikuvea

14. Braelan Marsh
15. Emosi Ravosai
16. Jason Salalilo
17. Kayliss Fatialofa

19. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
20. Tepatasi Laumalili
21. Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea

(forwards coming up and on the fringes; Lennox Tuiloma, Dezman Laban, Gordon Afoa, Elijah Solomona, Satali Fretton, Krushil Koteka)

Definitely a bit of a squeeze coming through and I doubt we will be able to keep all of them (or does someone like Erin Clark get forced out?)
Vaimauga replaces JFH as our forwards leader (and maybe eventual captain?)
I think Bishop might struggle with work rate at prop. Easily big enough but still a highlights player at this point. A more skilled Kikau is great comparison for play style.

 

[Horriors2013]

Looking even further out
8. Demetric Vaimauga
9. Sam Healey
10. Jacob Laban
11. Leka Halasima
12. Bishop Neal
13. Paea Sikuvea

14. Braelan Marsh
15. Emosi Ravosai
16. Jason Salalilo
17. Kayliss Fatialofa

19. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
20. Tepatasi Laumalili
21. Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea

(forwards coming up and on the fringes; Lennox Tuiloma, Dezman Laban, Gordon Afoa, Elijah Solomona, Satali Fretton, Krushil Koteka)

Definitely a bit of a squeeze coming through and I doubt we will be able to keep all of them (or does someone like Erin Clark get forced out?)
Vaimauga replaces JFH as our forwards leader (and maybe eventual captain?)
I think Bishop might struggle with work rate at prop. Easily big enough but still a highlights player at this point. A more skilled Kikau is great comparison for play style.

Can't wait! Totally agree with that lineup. Except I like Tafua. Marsh will need to surpass Mikaya.