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: 23/30
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, 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

 

[Beastmode]

My understanding is Australia and PNG have a tax free arrangement for the PNG Chiefs. I don’t believe Citizenship is a factor in taxation, but rather what countries you have ties to in terms of residency.

As an example, assume Spencer Leniu is a New Zealand Citizen (born in Auckland). If he goes to play for PNG Chiefs, who would tax him if Australia and PNG have a tax free arrangement? He has no ties to New Zealand for tax purposes. The IRD are not tracking all NZ citizens globally and taxing their income.

You register yourself as a resident in Australia, before heading to PnG.
Problem solved no??

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Bulldogs one of the clubs circling…

Cash only.

I don't want Montoya back.

 

[CWC]

I mean, we know very little, right? For all anyone knows he may end up wanting to play 6.

It'll be what it'll be.

The most surprising thing for me is how fans of other clubs are invested in this.

Cuz they are desperate for a star half

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Makes sense. He was the best teenage talent Gus has ever seen and they desperately need another 6 who wants to be a 7.

But has Gus ever met him?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Cuz they are desperate for a star half

Some yes, but alot from clubs that don't.

 

[Falcon]

Brian Fletcher on his radio show intimated Nicho Hynes could be on his way to Perth, clearing a path for Metcalf to return to the Sharkies.

 

[CWC]

I’m hearing metcalf won’t be named today and is likely on his way out…
Bulldogs one of the clubs circling…

Sorry mate I haven’t caught up with your background what level of info do you have access to eg from friends of club/media, within club, newsletters etc etc? Vague please. Thanks

 

[The Undertaker]

All this proves that no one really knows…

Gus was apparently in NZ last week… but let’s say Dogs came in for Met, who do they send our way? critta is a fair swap.

What about Sharks? If Hynes goes to Perth, Lukey Met for who? Toby Rudolf? KL Iro?

Cause it’s going to need a player swap - no chance we let him go without something in return that makes us stronger.

And what about Chitty? News on him would be nice too…

 

[CWC]

Brian Fletcher on his radio show intimated Nicho Hynes could be on his way to Perth, clearing a path for Metcalf to return to the Sharkies.

Dude went from Mets will be wahs 7 by playoffs to he’s off to the sharks

 

[MrFrankWhite]

You register yourself as a resident in Australia,

no problem

before heading to PnG.

big problem

 

[CWC]

All this proves that no one really knows…

Gus was apparently in NZ last week… but let’s say Dogs came in for Met, who do they send our way? critta is a fair swap.

What about Sharks? If Hynes goes to Perth, Lukey Met for who? Toby Rudolf? KL Iro?

Cause it’s going to need a player swap - no chance we let him go without something in return that makes us stronger.

And what about Chitty? News on him would be nice too…

Player swap would be nice but Timoko and Leniu etc are probably still on the market and we can clear up $900K, moght be a case of them taking the full contract and we’ll be happy, if this is true of course

And yes the timing of Gus in akl while team Mets allegedly been talking to others…

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Brian Fletcher on his radio show intimated Nicho Hynes could be on his way to Perth, clearing a path for Metcalf to return to the Sharkies.

The club which wouldn't release him to us in the first place and then took AFB ahead of time? I have a rusty metal garden tool they can fuck themselves with.

 

[Sammyw]

I’d almost rather free up the cap space rather than force a trade out of principle if Mets does go. Better to have a loaded gun rather than shooting for the sake of it sometimes. Who knows who becomes available between now and next year

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Let them buy out a year of his contract and use the money to fly our lower grade teams to Australia and whatever else. And prioritize the Bears in negotiations.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I mean, we know very little, right? For all anyone knows he may end up wanting to play 6.

It'll be what it'll be.

The most surprising thing for me is how fans of other clubs are invested in this.

Yeah deffo funny situation and we dont really know whats going aside from the things that have played out in the media.

A few have commented that Metcalf hasnt done anything wrong, and while thats true, its also true that the Wahs havent done anything wrong either...

Threw the kitchen sink at LM, and unfortunately that seemed to result in an ACL for him, what should we do? Immediately drop Boyd for him? I just dont think successful teams do that kinda shiet aye.

Either way, im sitting here with a big bag of popcorn and a greasy half live chicken leg watching it all play out

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

A few have commented that Metcalf hasnt done anything wrong, and while thats true, its also true that the Wahs havent done anything wrong either...

Yeah that's where I was driving at.

Either way, im sitting here with a big bag of popcorn and a greasy half live chicken leg watching it all play out

It's all entertainment, at the end of the day. There's very little us peasants can do, other than sit back and slurp on our sodas.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

There in no path back to first grade for Luke. Which is exactly why he's unhappy. And no, your 7 isn't like any other player in the line up. Which is why there is so much song and dance surrounding this

Ok if you say so.

I do find it hilarious that the guy who's been available for at best 5 weeks out of the last 11 months is unhappy about not being put straight back into a team who are second with a half back who's played very well.

 

[Jaffa J]

I’m hearing metcalf won’t be named today and is likely on his way out…
Bulldogs one of the clubs circling…

Some people on socials said they saw him on a flight to Sydney wonder what’s going on

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Some people on socials said they saw him on a flight to Sydney wonder what’s going on

 

[Dead Man Switch]

As fans we get too emotionally connected to the players - which is cool as its part of the story and the brand.

BUT...

This is 100% a business. The players are assets/commodities.

Warriors will give nothing away for free unless it 100% benefits the side.

This is bonus of being a genuine development side (There is not actually many in the NRL). You create your own superstars. You improve players stock worth. You always trade up or equal too.