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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Sounding a bit like Burton could be on the outer over there. He’s been linked to cowboys

I would have hime over CHT, just saying.

 

[CWC]

Sounding a bit like Burton could be on the outer over there. He’s been linked to cowboys

He'd be an awesome FB for us, strong, can pass, huge boots and kicks goals and field goals. Why the heck is gus moving him on??

 

[CWC]

Can we get Reece Walsh back on compassionate grounds?

We have more fluoride in our toilet water, Reece would love it

 

[Noitall]

He'd be an awesome FB for us, strong, can pass, huge boots and kicks goals and field goals. Why the heck is gus moving him on??

Just a matter of time before Mitch Woods is their halfback and Galvin five eighth. Apparently there is a possibility they shift Crichton to fullback, but potentially Crichton and Xerri stay centres and Burton out

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Just a matter of time before Mitch Woods is their halfback and Galvin five eighth. Apparently there is a possibility they shift Crichton to fullback, but potentially Crichton and Xerri stay centres and Burton out

That's a big out. Any rumours on a destination if it's true?

 

[Noitall]

That's a big out. Any rumours on a destination if it's true?

Cowboys has been mentioned, but Perth apparently an option. Could happen quick and he goes to cowboys for a year until Perth joins the competition?

 

[Inruin]

That's a big out. Any rumours on a destination if it's true?

It's a huge out considering that a lot of the time against the better teams they struggled for yardage and were saved by Burtons boot. Take him out and they start to look quite limited in regards to field position

 

[Fizurg]

I don’t think it would ever happen but I think Burton would add a lot to the Warriors squad.
I wouldnt mind a one year deal on overs if we had the cap.

 

[juju]

Gus seems to set up the systems that make teams quite formidable - but then tinkers and tinkers with squads & the results don't happen and he gets the sack eventually.

 

[Wrighty]

I don’t think it would ever happen but I think Burton would add a lot to the Warriors squad.
I wouldnt mind a one year deal on overs if we had the cap.

This is just left field like Wizards earlier idea. what about Burton to replace CNK at fullback? Could Burton be a good fullback? He;s 190cms 96 kgs so could probably make some good kick return PCMs. Would really neutralise his last tackle kicking though.

 

[Noitall]

Gus seems to set up the systems that make teams quite formidable - but then tinkers and tinkers with squads & the results don't happen and he gets the sack eventually.

He seemed to have a lot to do with Griffin getting sacked at panthers and Cleary appointed coach but then seemed to poke his nose in and put Cleary offside with him. Seems like he can’t help himself, Ciraldo might end up feeling the same as Cleary though I think they’ve both extended until 2031?

 

[juju]

He seemed to have a lot to do with Griffin getting sacked at panthers and Cleary appointed coach but then seemed to poke his nose in and put Cleary offside with him. Seems like he can’t help himself, Ciraldo might end up feeling the same as Cleary though I think they’ve both extended until 2031?

He signed quite a few Panthers players to long contracts then moved them on way before their contracts were up.
Hired Ivan, Fired Ivan and publicly said he was tired. Hired Griffin and meddled with that team.

The 5 year plan didn't work but the system definitely did.

 

[Ref]

I’d say Burton would be picked ahead of Xerri who IMHO is about the same level and effectiveness as Pompey. Slightly quicker.
Unless they need to shift a player or two for cap purposes because of Goulds “My Ever Changing Moods”.
Who can name the band who released that great 80s vinyl album without cheating.
Correct answer gets a cheap penalty early in the game if I am refereeing your local team.

 

[Wrighty]

I’d say Burton would be picked ahead of Xerri who IMHO is about the same level and effectiveness as Pompey. Slightly quicker.
Unless they need to shift a player or two for cap purposes because of Goulds “My Ever Changing Moods”.
Who can name the band who released that great 80s vinyl album without cheating.
Correct answer gets a cheap penalty early in the game if I am refereeing your local team.

Kate Bush? Serious guess,

 

[Ref]

Kate Bush? Serious guess,

Wrongy Wrighty.
It’s a band.

 

[Wrighty]

Wrongy Wrighty.
It’s a band.

Fleetwood Mac after a night on too much Gunga

 

[Worried2Death]

I’d say Burton would be picked ahead of Xerri who IMHO is about the same level and effectiveness as Pompey. Slightly quicker.
Unless they need to shift a player or two for cap purposes because of Goulds “My Ever Changing Moods”.
Who can name the band who released that great 80s vinyl album without cheating.
Correct answer gets a cheap penalty early in the game if I am refereeing your local team.

Style Council mate, I had a huge thing for Dee C Lee.

I'm assuming if we somehow got Burton we'd play him at 6 with Luke? Should be an upgrade, but not sure it's worth his price, Chanel's been quite good since his sabbatical.

 

[Ref]

Fleetwood Mac after a night on too much Gunga

Two wrongs don’t make it Wright.

 

[Wrighty]

Style Council mate, I had a huge thing for Dee C Lee.

I'm assuming if we somehow got Burton we'd play him at 6 with Luke? Should be anupgrade, but not sure it's worth his price, Chanel's been quite good since his sabbatical.

Fullback is where we need to upgrade. Burton is not demonstrably better than our now 5 halves. But could be a useful Fullback. Or maybe I am the person who came up with that album my ever changing moods.
I think Burton could be a Dylan Edwards clone at fullback
1) Big enough to make some PCMs on carries
2) Quite tall so good under the high ball
3) Can distribute very well
4) No worse a hole runner than CNK and probably an upgrade. CNK 22 games 2 tries and 4 try assists. You would have to think Burton could do seriously better than that.

Just spit balling.

 

[Defence]

Always been a huge Burton fan- would fizz if we signed him.
On a more realistic level Will Kennedy could be a good fit.