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

 

[Sammyw]

6. LM
7. boyd

14. CHT

Feels obvious, people definitely put too much stock in numbers on backs. Some of Tannahs best attacks came left side last night, most of Metcalfs best attacks came right side last season. That’s how it fits. Plus stylistically, Metcalf plays like a 6 not a 7. But let’s see tannah put it together for 10+ games first

 

[CWC]

I mean, our pack was dominating last year, and Boyd was average and the team wasn’t allowed to offload

Now the pack is the same but can offload, and Boyd’s not choking and we’re clutch to burying teams by extending our lead didn’t we? Clutch =/= only last minute goal kicks

I’d try to re-sign Boyd because how many games has he missed due to injury? Luke could be dally m but do we have any evidence to show he’s gonna stay on the field for over half a season?

Boyd’s arguably in the exact same boat as Luke 3 years ago, unwanted and invested and now could be a top halfback, are we in the business of grooming stars and give them up for free?

Knowing if Luke pulls his hammy again we have Boyd, if he maintains his form, will make us a genuine premiership contender, we are not doing jack if we forfeit keeping our upgraded playmakers so when he goes down we have CHT or Linnane playing 7

Boyd 7 to run the side and Luke at 6 to focus on running and confidence and try off the cuff stuff when we’re in trouble or be “clutch” is the perfect scenario nobody dreamed of, and we will never be without a 7 all game or if 1 goes down mid week we know the other will do the job. Also Luke can play both but Boyd clearly is an organizer/kicker, his max value is 7.

CHT can play 14 or TT’s role and TMM is there if he doesn’t want it (I think CHT will resign and TMM out or be a full time cup senior). Linnane and Tia can try FB and if 1 comes off it will be a huge win

If Luke is pissed earning near a million playing 6 after 3 consecutive seasons with long term injuries, then he can compassionate release himself and we have about 5 other young halves we can develop into a star. But honestly, he was very humble and grateful of what we have done for him, we’ve gone through this a few months ago, this gives me confidence he will be happy to play 6 until Boyd is injured, leaves or we get worked out, really he’s one of ours now, and I’d give him my trust until evidence shows otherwise

PS they tried to stack halves and hope 1-2 works out, now we are like 3/3 with Luke, CHT and now Boyd Priority should be keeping the proven players with confidence to develop others instead of dumping the ones you’ve invested and start all over

 

[1995warriorsfan]

According to Barry Toohey from The Newcastle Herald, the Newcastle Knights “are very keen” to land Marata Niukore and are closing in on a deal with him for the 2027 season.
Code Sports understands that the Warriors are resigned to losing the versatile forward who they handed a $2.5 million contract in 2023.
Off-contract at the end of 2026 along with seven other teammates, Niukore has featured in 157 matches in the NRL, with 61 of those coming with his current club.
The other 96 games come during his time with the Parramatta Eels between 2018 to 2022, which included playing in a grand final against the Penrith Panthers.
He has also played multiple internationals for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand Kiwis over the years.

 

[CWC]

According to Barry Toohey from The Newcastle Herald, the Newcastle Knights “are very keen” to land Marata Niukore and are closing in on a deal with him for the 2027 season.
Code Sports understands that the Warriors are resigned to losing the versatile forward who they handed a $2.5 million contract in 2023.
Off-contract at the end of 2026 along with seven other teammates, Niukore has featured in 157 matches in the NRL, with 61 of those coming with his current club.
The other 96 games come during his time with the Parramatta Eels between 2018 to 2022, which included playing in a grand final against the Penrith Panthers.
He has also played multiple internationals for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand Kiwis over the years.

If any knights fans are browsing here, I just wanna say we are extremely devastated of losing Marata and his $625K/yr service

 

[Makasene]

I dont think we are desperate to keep any player coming off contract this year

Which is a nice spot to be in.

Knights are in for Niukore, Perth presumably too.

 

[Five&Last]

Everyone just instantly memory holed Boyds season last year

I agree, I need to see at least another 5 games like his first 2 before I think about re-signing him. Everyone is playing well, not just Boyd.

You run the risk of Metcalf pulling the compassionate release card by removing him out the number 7 role pulling the strings.

I still think CHT is a higher priority re-signing because of his versatility. Say one of the pups burst onto the scene. CHT still has insane value with a 6 man bench.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I agree, I need to see at least another 5 games like his first 2 before I think about re-signing him. Everyone is playing well, not just Boyd.

You run the risk of Metcalf pulling the compassionate release card by removing him out the number 7 role pulling the strings.

I still think CHT is a higher priority re-signing because of his versatility. Say one of the pups burst onto the scene. CHT still has insane value with a 6 man bench.

There is recency bias at play as well.

We all wanted TMM when he was fired in SJ’s absence, then Metcalf was the king after half a dozen good games, now Body’s the chosen one after 2 games.

Happy to leave it to Webster to sort out what’s best for our long term.

I think if the packs dominating, any one of our top halves will look good.

 

[Tragic]

We are now like melbourne amd penrith. Everybody looks good playing in our system.

 

[Ref]

A hit with the ladies, I bet.

To be fair, Arthars would probably bring the Wahines in better anyway.

My wife luffs him. Dirty old cougar.

 

[John Nick]

There is recency bias at play as well.

We all wanted TMM when he was fired in SJ’s absence, then Metcalf was the king after half a dozen good games, now Body’s the chosen one after 2 games.

Happy to leave it to Webster to sort out what’s best for our long term.

I think if the packs dominating, any one of our top halves will look good.

Yeah and despite all the rhetoric on here history will tell us that injuries/ suspensions etc will sort out the selection problems

 

[Brightman]

Everyone just instantly memory holed Boyds season last year

Everyone just instantly memory holed Boyds season last year

oh, you mean the season when we SWEPT the NSW cup..

 

[MrFrankWhite]

oh, you mean the season when we SWEPT the NSW cup..

no

 

[Cces]

oh, you mean the season when we SWEPT the NSW cup..

He started 9 NRL games in 2025, 8 were against bottom 8 teams and he had a 44% win record. His performances in the final 3 NSW Cup games of 2025 have helped springboard him into sublime form to begin this season, but let's not forget he lost 3 on the trot in the NRL to finish 2025.
If he hadn't transfered his reserve grade form to the NRL, no one cares about his form last season. Case in point is Dean Hawkins, led his team to 2023 title & was the competition's MVP, but couldn't translate it to the NRL & now plays Super League

 

[Brightman]

Boyd is unsigned next year. Instead of re-signing him, we have gone out and signed other halves. This is on top of committing to Metcalf as our long term 7, less than six months ago.

At some point you have to allow a little reality into the conversation.

Reality right now is like a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and just a reminder it was quite a way through last season before we resigned the Dally M leader Metcalf..

 

[Brightman]

He started 9 NRL games in 2025, 8 were against bottom 8 teams and he had a 44% win record. His performances in the final 3 NSW Cup games of 2025 have helped springboard him into sublime form to begin this season, but let's not forget he lost 3 on the trot in the NRL to finish 2025.
If he hadn't transfered his reserve grade form to the NRL, no one cares about his form last season. Case in point is Dean Hawkins, lead his team to 2023 title & was the competition's MVP, but couldn't translate it to the NRL & now plays Super League

Since joining the Warriors Boyd is making every milestone a marker and the trajectory with us is upwards.

A great deal of that will be the Club (opportunity, environment, coaching) but he still has to put the jersey on and play and if your only as good as your last game then he's adding to the team without a doubt..

 

[Horriors2013]

We are now like melbourne amd penrith. Everybody looks good playing in our system.

Yes, I think that needs to be said. We are top 3. We're consistent. We did it without Barney or Luke. We earned the position.

 

[Horriors2013]

I now have a dilemma. Tanah has shown that all he needed was to start the season with the team to make his mark. He is fulfilling his potential.

But Cleary is looking even better, albeit in NSW Cup. What do we do if both are playing really well by end of season?

Tanah's field kicking game is superb. He has been on point. 40/20, distance, height when required, cross-field kicking has been perfect.

Cleary on the other hand, his field kicking is OK, but not as good. However, his running game is X-factor and his goal-kicking has improved in offseason - kicked 7 on Friday.

My gut is telling me Mets at 6, Tanah at 7 and CHT 14. I see Tanah as our Adam Reynolds.

But next year, I don't know. Cleary or Boyd? Would Cleary commit to us long-term? His dad keeps putting it out there that he wants to be with Jett. I think if given the chance, Tanah would commit, unless PNG/Perth swoop in with a big offer.

I'm thinking Tanah would want commitment from us too, 3 years +. But we've invested in Jett. Who even later on could go back to Penrith.

One thing I'm sure of is that we have sufficient HB power now to send him back to 6. We have Boyd, Cleary, Thompson.

Stand-off we have an injury-ridden TMM, CHT who is solid but not spectacular, and Luke Hansen. IMO Hansen is the best of them, but will never have Met's speed.

In a perfect world, Tannah extends another year, then Jett comes in. But, as some point out, Tanah's contract has not been extended yet and next year we are due to re-negotiate Jett's contract. By then I reckon Jett will be offered around $500,000 by one of the cellar-dwellers.

So I think Tanah's next contract looms as extremely influential in the future of our halves. If he goes, that means we're committed to Jett IMO.

Another scenario, they could flip this on its head and choose Mets and Boyd together.

I want all 4, including Hansen. Not likely though.

 

[WAH MAN]

So what! We are not letting established nrl players go so we can make way for Tia and co.

I really dont care about thier ceiling, they need to prove it at NRL level.

Righto. Thanks

 

[Cces]

I now have a dilemma. Tanah has shown that all he needed was to start the season with the team to make his mark. He is fulfilling his potential.

But Cleary is looking even better

Cool your Jett's. One week ago his team got beat by 34 & he's actually only kicked 7/12 goals this year.
Our Cup team has won 20 out of their last 25. In the 5 games we didn't win, he was our Halfback 4 times

 

[Damo]

Jett is still at least a year or two of consistent Cup games away from even be considered for first grade unless he improves his game significantly.
Hanson at least has had two seasons worth of Cup games, so is likelier to be a consideration at 6 at least.
Cleary has got eff all on the board comparatively, albeit much more a 7 than a 6.