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: 20/30
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
 
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NZWarriors.com

I know we’ve tried CHT at 7 in the past but it hasn’t worked, but do you think he’s at a stage of his career he could handle it better with the right five eighth with him? He was young before and largely thrown in because of SJ’s departure and his boot has actually come along well, plenty of try assists too

I personally don't think he's the guy to lead a team around. I think he's got some really good qualities - great defence and a lot of heart, and he has the ability to make some really nice attacking plays, but for me, if the games on the line he's not the guy you want with the ball in his hands.

Playing devil's advocate tho, he's only 26 and we've seen a lot of the top tier halves in the last 5 or so years play until they're 35 so he could still turn it around and become elite? Who knows
 
I personally don't think he's the guy to lead a team around. I think he's got some really good qualities - great defence and a lot of heart, and he has the ability to make some really nice attacking plays, but for me, if the games on the line he's not the guy you want with the ball in his hands.

Playing devil's advocate tho, he's only 26 and we've seen a lot of the top tier halves in the last 5 or so years play until they're 35 so he could still turn it around and become elite? Who knows
I’m probably more talking about him bringing the gap if we lose Metcalf end of 2027 if who we’re considering to take isn’t quite there? Cleary joining the top 30 in 2027 does give the impression that he’s viewed as the successor though?
 

Pretty speculative but does give the impression of Cleary at least becoming a depth halve from 2027 with him joining the top 30. Perhaps that’s a holdup with Metcalf that it was mentioned that he wants 3 years but we think that might be too long and others ready that may be blocked?
 

Pretty speculative but does give the impression of Cleary at least becoming a depth halve from 2027 with him joining the top 30. Perhaps that’s a holdup with Metcalf that it was mentioned that he wants 3 years but we think that might be too long and others ready that may be blocked?

I would love to see Jett and Luke both in the halves in 2027 but it does give us some peace of mind that if Luke does leave we have Jett waiting in the wings and the sky is the limit for him.

Metcalf will definitely want 3 years but fingers crossed he does sign the 2 year extension and we can see how things progress.

A 3 year extension for Metcalf (taking him through to end of 2029) could block some young halves coming through especially if Metcalf doesn't come back well from injury or suffers more injuries.

I am pro Metcalf 100% but if Jett, Inch and Linnane for example smash it next year in the lower grades, come 2027 & 2028 they will be pushing for starting positions.

I even think it is possible that if Metcalf doesn't return until mid season next year and Boyd doesn't cut it again, Jett may get a chance in first grade much sooner than people think and that will be for the better of the club I believe.
 
I would love to see Jett and Luke both in the halves in 2027 but it does give us some peace of mind that if Luke does leave we have Jett waiting in the wings and the sky is the limit for him.

Metcalf will definitely want 3 years but fingers crossed he does sign the 2 year extension and we can see how things progress.

A 3 year extension for Metcalf (taking him through to end of 2029) could block some young halves coming through especially if Metcalf doesn't come back well from injury or suffers more injuries.

I am pro Metcalf 100% but if Jett, Inch and Linnane for example smash it next year in the lower grades, come 2027 & 2028 they will be pushing for starting positions.

I even think it is possible that if Metcalf doesn't return until mid season next year and Boyd doesn't cut it again, Jett may get a chance in first grade much sooner than people think and that will be for the better of the club I believe.

I'm wondering what the go is with Chanel too... contracted until the end of 2026, if he were to sign somewhere else for 2027, do we still stick with him as 6 in 2026, or do we start to rotate some of that lot (Cleary, Linnane and Inch) and give them opportunities in first grade in 2026.

Same question regarding Metcalf, if he leaves so we try to blood some of the newer boys?

What ever happens I hope we don't lose both CHT and Metcalf at the same time. I imagine starting from scratch in 2027 would put our premiership window back a year or two
 
Hopefully Toby Crosby is their consolation prize. You haven’t heard anything have you that they might be?
no, just putting 1 + 1 together and getting 6.

He might be under contract still as they changed the rules for developed players a couple of years back whereby if they have played less than 6 state cup or NRL games they can't be approached until after round 6 of their final year of their contract. Not sure how it works, but sounds plausible that he might still be under contract till then.
 
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