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

 

[MrFrankWhite]

LM has painted himself into a corner with his singular desire to play 7, just like Webby did with his RTS call in '24. He cant possibly agree to playing 6 next to Tanah without publicly admitting he was wrong and he isn't the man, Tanah is.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Articles mentioning that he will stick around for atleast the end of this season. Unless there’s injuries, I don’t have him in the 19. Release him within the next couple of months and bring Joey Manu in for the rest of the season.

Does Joey Manu get a say in this? Of course not!

 

[Kav1]

Giving Metcalf the big contract 3 months after the ACL, if your him:

Said he wanted to be the 7, performed well, got injured, club STILL gave him the contract to do that job long term, and now having done nothing wrong, club is going all in on this other guy who is playing behind a stacked forward pack, quality dummy half service, finally some speed and line breaking on the outside and the games been sped up to favour running halves – and you’re going to resign him for 3 more years? Obviously, you don’t want me I’ll play for the bulldogs then*

Clubs aren’t rep teams, you can play “the sacrifice for the team” card in the short term, but not for 3 years, its a career, none of these guys are at the age where they will accept being the utility and fill-in, like Ben Hunt does at the broncos, Charnze probably won’t stick around if he’s not the fullback, Roger seemed visibly annoyed the club passed on him for Warbrick going forward, has since cheered up as he’s a pro and his future is now sorted. The club choses who they want and they appear to have chosen Boyd, I think they should be honest about that when/if its announced, this bloke plays the way we want to play, we’ll work with Luke to find a new situation for him.

*he should not play for the bulldogs, he’ll end up in the same tug of war with Galvin, needs to go somewhere where he can be the big dog if that’s how he sees himself.

The Perth Bears are desperate for a "marque player"

 

[CWC]

Pretty obvious the smoke is turning into fire this afternoon with him going to airports and more people talking. @Defence bro is legit This before team naming, and Webby facing the media tomorrow
The club's being pretty clinical aka ruthless this year, good for the fans and its quest for a premiership

I'd let him go before June deadline, looks like he's more busy negotiating than getting reps into his legs, the way it's unfolding it's better he and the club/team mates move on asap, without all the awkwardness and brewing issues in team culture/chemistry. Everyone can remember giving 1-3 months notice to companies you have your issues with and still have to go to work for a while longer, some just use annual leaves or boss gives garden leave lol.

If we cop the salary cap for this year that's fine for me, team culture first, did the Tigers have no cap freed up for rest of the year when dogs took Galvin? Surely we don't pay the next 3 months. We have TMM and Hansen to back up CHT this year, we'll be fine.

Does Burton want to play FB? Is KL a better fit or Timoko who was offered to us? Leniu?

 

[jumpman5xl]

If the Dragons / Bulldogs are the 2 teams would make a play at him.
Who would everyone want in return?
Or do we say Perth only?? Hahaha

 

[Kav1]

If we are all in on Boyd then so be it. Wonder how much he will be on?

I would rather let Metcalf go if he is a million dollar 6, but keep him if he's a million dollar 7. I hope all stays happy in camp and he sees the year out at a minimum

I think he has burnt his bridges

 

[MaybeTop8]

I think he has burnt his bridges

I think everyone on here has burnt his bridges for him

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Imagine going back to the club who didn’t want you in the first place. It’s like going to back to your toxic ex and being sloppy seconds.

Erin Clark just mana waved at you.

Roger, Charnz, and CHT all say hello too.
Same as Le Chad.
Haha no, I know not all of those are the same situation as KL.

Maybe it's like you were young and immature so you break up with the one, and you go and slay a few dragons before returning to recapture that love?
Im a hopeless romantic, you see

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Erin Clark just mana waved at you.

Roger, Charnz, and CHT all say hello too.
Same as Le Chad.
Haha no, I know not all of those are the same situation as KL.

I think he is talking about Metcalf himself?

 

[CWC]

I think everyone on here has burnt his bridges for him

Not everyone, there are 5 posters who voted for him in the Boyd vs Metcalf Debate thread

 

[tajhay]

Hi guys, can we please move all metcalf v boyd discussion to its own thread -> https://nzwarriors.com/threads/the-boyd-vs-metcalf-debate.1847/

Its getting a little sloppy around here posting the same stuff in both these threads. Lets leave this to recruitment discussion etc.

 

[Lance155]

I have no issue with Metcalf or the clubs actions on this.
It was fair enough for Luke to want to ask the question for his own career clarity. And the club felt the need (rightly so) to make a commitment either way as a foot in each camp could burn both options.

I hope we let Luke make his next move with respect but I know it won't happen. Everyone always shits on anyone leaving.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I think he is talking about Metcalf himself?

Surely that was about KL potentially returning?

No way you could say LM playing fg again would be like sloppy 2nds. Bro has missed one game that he was available for in the last 12 months

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Surely that was about KL potentially returning?

No way you could say LM playing fg again would be like sloppy 2nds. Bro has missed one game that he was available for in the last 12 months

I think in terms of him potentially returning to the Sharks. Could be wrong, tho!

 

[juju]

Correct on all points from the Warriors POV. But you simply aren't willing to see it from Metcalf's POV.

I can guarantee he feels hard done by and sees us as the bad guy.

I could maybe see his point, maybe... - but feeling hard done by when a club stuck by you with hamstring issues, a broken leg and acl and upgraded you to marquee money. Pretty petulant really in a team trying to get a team first mentality happening.

 

[Matiunz]

I've called this for some time.

Instant walk up starter to any Super Rugby team.

He’s really not, which position/team would he even get a look in?

 

[1995warriorsfan]

All further post re discussion on Metcalf and Boyd need to done in the Boyd vs Metcalf thread.
Relevant posts on this topic will be moved to that thread shortly.

​

 

[Theking267]

He’s really not, which position/team would he even get a look in?

Probably the Rabbits

 

[Matiunz]

If Metcalf walks, are we likely to still be paying some of his baggage off over the next couple of seasons? Surely the club that he goes to will have to payout the remainder of his contract in full, without us having to chip in.

You’d like to think if it’s the player that wants out then they are the ones footing the bill

 

[JaggedJ]

If Metcalf is on the way out then no way you play him until he's signed elsewhere.

Bro so brittle he could break his jaw chewing gum. Would rather not risk it.