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​
Luke Hanson	S​
Motu Pasikala	S​	U​
Caelys-Paul Putoko	S​
Jason Salalilo	S​	U​	U​
Makaia Taufa	S​	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: 6/6

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

 

[3rdstriker]

View attachment 15929

Taines a Great player, I think alot of us would be upset if he moved on.
Im Keen to see him shine this season, when he filled in on the wing last season he was no where near as Leaky as Dallin.

 

[CWC]

Webby mentioned yesterday that the club isn’t necessarily looking for another forward in response to Barnett leaving and that they are quite happy with the stock of young forwards coming through.

Yup I think everyone knows we are looking for a back. Gagai?

It has to be a kiwi otherwise they’re gonna compassionate release you 6 months in

 

[CWC]

Got me excited for a sec, imagine they do this for player announcement


View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVK6ELMEfcz/?igsh=d2x1bnN4eWFuZmUx

 

[Noitall]

Taines a Great player, I think alot of us would be upset if he moved on.
Im Keen to see him shine this season, when he filled in on the wing last season he was no where near as Leaky as Dallin.

Could be handy with these 6 man benches. Certainly has more attacking threat than CNK, not the strength in the carry or defensive strength as CNK though

 

[BabylonPink]

Could be handy with these 6 man benches. Certainly has more attacking threat than CNK, not the strength in the carry or defensive strength as CNK though

100%
Taine could spend the whole year at 19. Never play a game of cup or nrl and do opposed all year for 200k.

 

[mrblonde]

Wouldn't it be ironic if the Eels offered us Dylan Walker as a player swap for Barny? Lol

That would explain the black fly that just kamikazed into my chardonnay.
Must be signing the deal as we speak.
As I understand it, the Warriors and Barnett are both happy enough to go through 2026 together, just a case of a request for him now significantly changes things from a Top 30 POV, so what's Mitch worth in terms of the player (I'm guessing we wouldn't be hung up on like-for-like ie middle/edge, that would be stupid IMO) we'd accept as his immediate replacement.
And if he does leave now, who's Co-Captain?
Do the Warriors give some other player the CC anyway? Is that the professional move, or the unprofessional move? I'm honestly not sure, here.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Got me excited for a sec, imagine they do this for player announcement


View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVK6ELMEfcz/?igsh=d2x1bnN4eWFuZmUx

idk, signing a ref is a pretty good investment imo.

 

[Noitall]

100%
Taine could spend the whole year at 19. Never play a game of cup or nrl and do opposed all year for 200k.

Think we might need him for some attacking prowess. Probably give Leiataua first shot at right centre and see if he’s handling both facets, attack and defence, and if that’s a no go, see what Tuaupiki fullback and CNK right centre produces?

 

[JaggedJ]

Yup I think everyone knows we are looking for a back. Gagai?

It has to be a kiwi otherwise they’re gonna compassionate release you 6 months in

So basically - Will Warbrick.

 

[Noitall]

8.1K views · 375 reactions | 🗣️ “Our best years are ahead of us. 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒊𝒏.” @tainetuaupiki has officially signed on, through to 2028 💙💚❤️ | One NZ Warriors

🗣️ “Our best years are ahead of us. 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒊𝒏.” @tainetuaupiki has officially signed on, through to 2028 💙💚❤️

www.facebook.com

Go get that 1 jersey Taine. Love hearing this from him

 

[WAH MAN]

So basically - Will Warbrick.

Or any other decent rugby 7s wingers? Don't even have to be NZer.

 

[WAH MAN]

100%
Taine could spend the whole year at 19. Never play a game of cup or nrl and do opposed all year for 200k.

I'd take that job in a heartbeat.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

CNK plays direct with few ball playing skills, he is a great defender and is safe under the high ball.

TT predominantly runs sideways, has fleet of foot (nippy, but not electric) and can be a decent link player. He can be targeted aerially, though is safe unopposed.

I think we need a player with faster acceleration, who plays more direct than Taine and can play ball. Both our current options are lacking that in my opinion, which makes us a side without a potent threat from the back.

Because CNK gives the team such a solid foundation, he is the easy pick for me even with our lack of offense. But we definitely need to sign a very good fullback to be a contender.

I can see why people would want TT on the bench, but I think Healy is the better guy to snipe away at tired opposition, and can do so with less disruption to the game plan.

I'd love to have youth at fullback personally. Ponga is not the answer for me.

 

[Playdaball]

CNK plays direct with few ball playing skills, he is a great defender and is safe under the high ball.

CNK is not really a great defender, agree on being safe under the high ball plus a great team man.

 

[Ref]

[/QUOTE]

CNK plays direct with few ball playing skills, he is a great defender and is safe under the high ball.

TT predominantly runs sideways, has fleet of foot (nippy, but not electric) and can be a decent link player. He can be targeted aerially, though is safe unopposed.

I think we need a player with faster acceleration, who plays more direct than Taine and can play ball. Both our current options are lacking that in my opinion, which makes us a side without a potent threat from the back.

Because CNK gives the team such a solid foundation, he is the easy pick for me even with our lack of offense. But we definitely need to sign a very good fullback to be a contender.

I can see why people would want TT on the bench, but I think Healy is the better guy to snipe away at tired opposition, and can do so with less disruption to the game plan.

I'd love to have youth at fullback personally. Ponga is not the answer for me.

TT is a difference maker.
He is a very smart defender.
Things happen when he has ball in hand with players around him.
We need his lively play and decent speed.
He has played feature roles in some of our unlikely underdog victories.
He’s not quite Kini or Walsh but I’d rate him at least as good as Bula, Faalogo, Iongi.
Am I delusional.

 

[WAH MAN]

TT is a difference maker.
He is a very smart defender.
Things happen when he has ball in hand with players around him.
We need his lively play and decent speed.
He has played feature roles in some of our unlikely underdog victories.
He’s not quite Kini or Walsh but I’d rate him at least as good as Bula, Faalogo, Iongi.
Am I delusional.
[/QUOTE]
Taine is a ball player and has good hands and feet. Nimble enough to smoke tired forwards. Able to goal kick.

Multi purpose

 

[Boats n Hoes]

CNK is not really a great defender,

In what way does he fall short of the mark defensively for u?

While im in the camp of we need a more attacking threat from fullback, for mine defence has always been CNKs strong point. I mean all fullbacks get beaten at some point but i thought even in the last trial game his ability to make a last line defence tackle was displayed.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

TT is a difference maker.
He is a very smart defender.
Things happen when he has ball in hand with players around him.
We need his lively play and decent speed.
He has played feature roles in some of our unlikely underdog victories.
He’s not quite Kini or Walsh but I’d rate him at least as good as Bula, Faalogo, Iongi.
Am I delusional.
[/QUOTE]

I'm not trying to be disparaging to TT in any way. He is a good player, and it is nice to have him.

His defence is decent, and is hearty given his size.
I've watched him a lot in both grades - in reserve grade he breaks the line often with his lively play and links well. My personal opinion is that so far in first grade he has gone sideways a lot, and hasn't often had the turn of pace to exploit the half gap.

Yes, he was a big presence in our underdog victories. His performance may have been heightened by our lack of expectation. I was surprised at what a good fist he made of FG in those games, he seems to have a good head, and seems undaunted by the step up.

He has played 25 games in first grade for 3 tries, 9 try assists and 6 line breaks. I don't have stats for which of those were at wing, and which were at fullback.

Better than Bula, Fa'alogo and Iongi, sure - Tigers, Storm depth and Eels. Kind of my point, he is a good player, but not the x-factor we need to be up with the big boys.

 

[Tragic]

I am not sure Ponga at the price he is would be a good buy. Hasn't been that resilient last couple of years, and just not sure how he would fit in the clubs culture, seems to be rumors around him all the time passing to go to rugby or talking to other clubs etc. Was good 2024 but didn't exactly set the world on fire last year. Seems risky and would skew our cap.

 

[Ref]

TT is a difference maker.
He is a very smart defender.
Things happen when he has ball in hand with players around him.
We need his lively play and decent speed.
He has played feature roles in some of our unlikely underdog victories.
He’s not quite Kini or Walsh but I’d rate him at least as good as Bula, Faalogo, Iongi.
Am I delusional.

I'm not trying to be disparaging to TT in any way. He is a good player, and it is nice to have him.

His defence is decent, and is hearty given his size.
I've watched him a lot in both grades - in reserve grade he breaks the line often with his lively play and links well. My personal opinion is that so far in first grade he has gone sideways a lot, and hasn't often had the turn of pace to exploit the half gap.

Yes, he was a big presence in our underdog victories. His performance may have been heightened by our lack of expectation. I was surprised at what a good fist he made of FG in those games, he seems to have a good head, and seems undaunted by the step up.

He has played 25 games in first grade for 3 tries, 9 try assists and 6 line breaks. I don't have stats for which of those were at wing, and which were at fullback.

Better than Bula, Fa'alogo and Iongi, sure - Tigers, Storm depth and Eels. Kind of my point, he is a good player, but not the x-factor we need to be up with the big boys.
[/QUOTE]
With no Metcalf, I feel we someone who can light things up.
CNK, DWZ, RTS, Pompey, Ali, CHT and Boyd might get the job done on the back of our rampaging pack and upbeat game plan that we saw in the last trial.
TT would really liven things up some more.
You'd still want CNK in there too, he had a bit of sharpness about him along with his usual kamikaze runs.