Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention

[WahsaurusRex]

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	✔​	✔​
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​
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: 1/6

2027 Top 30: 19/30
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

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Give Rocco one more chance to string games. 20+, re-signed on cheap deal that reflects our commitment to him.

Release Boyd with an abundance of halves coming through

Release Capewell, too many edges coming through, he’s done his job.

Re-sign CHT on 1 year extension pending performance, again see above post about talented halves coming through but he’s still our best 6.

Release lussick, good hookers progressing well and ready

Release TMM unless he’s accepted he’s a 14, most good teams carry a utility half/hooker at 14. Could be worthy of another 1 year extension, cheap deal.

Re-sign Metcalf on 2 year extension, this is a necessity

Release Niukore. Too many edges & not worth his pay packet. I would re sign on 1 year deal for cheap if it didn’t block others playing, here for experience.

Re-sign taine, not sold on cnk & no other fullback prospects in the pipeline. Wouldn’t command huge salary and only two designated fullbacks at the club worthy of first grade.

Re-sign Roger in 1 year deal (if keen), still our best winger, and (apparently) our best player. If he wants big money, allow him to leave.

DWZ is on mutual option for 27. Release if possible, and we sign someone. At this stage he’s out 2nd best winger, I doubt that’s the case by 27.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Davy Moale signed with Manly. Cross him off the list.

Dont think he was the right option for us

 

[Playdaball]

Davy Moale signed with Manly. Cross him off the list.

Dont think he was the right option for us

Who is the right option?

 

[Naynay]

Who is the right option?

Tbh i dont know if we are looking for a middle, we are pretty stocked and I dont think there is a middle on the clubs radar.

Altho you could always argue that we have so many second rowers maybe an out and out prop would be the way to go

 

[sup42]

Who is the right option?

Realistic targets that will say yes to an offer from the least desired NRL posting in the comp.

 

[Playdaball]

Tbh i dont know if we are looking for a middle, we are pretty stocked and I dont think there is a middle on the clubs radar.

Altho you could always argue that we have so many second rowers maybe an out and out prop would be the way to go

I dont think we're that well stacked for quality front rowers:
Barnett - yes
Fish - Yes

TTS - No, give him a year or so in NSW Cup to develop and put on some 'beef'
Demetric - Not really an out and out front rower and is a quality bench player and a second rower
Ford - Is a work horse second rower and really only playing front row as we're short
Marata - Is he a 2nd rower or a prop?
Clark - why move the best 13 to 10 or 8?

 

[Cces]

Give Rocco one more chance to string games. 20+, re-signed on cheap deal that reflects our commitment to him.

He's already got that chance without committing to him for 2027 any time soon

 

[Brightman]

TTS - No, give him a year or so in NSW Cup to develop and put on some 'beef'

He can beef up over the off-season and is developing fine in the NRL side, but if you really want Bunty back..

Demetric - Not really an out and out front rower and is a quality bench player and a second rower

I can't say I've noticed Demetric play anywhere but the middle, he ain't a second rower, maybe a lock, but definitely a prop in Webster's team.

There are a lot of young players establishing their place in the NRL side and more to come, the old heads are nearly out the door and getting closer to the reserves bench..

 

[Inruin]

Clark - why move the best 13 to 10 or 8?

Ok, this might be an unpopular opinion and may even be way off the mark.

I think Clark has had a great year. I have him down as our best player of the season, so please don't take this as a slight on him or his season.

However, I do think he has played as more like a traditional prop in the 13 jersey - and delivered great numbers doing so. I think a number of times though, he has stifled our attack taking the hit up instead of using the ball or letting the backline have the play (some of that may be down to having our halves not set up for it too)

At the Titans he was largely utilised off the bench. I would like to see him potentially used in that role here as well. He could play the same amount of minutes as he has been and we would get the same level of output that he has done this season, while also freeing up the 13 position for a more balanced player - a player that has ball playing and the ability to get us to certain points on the field. Walker was great at doing this.

I guess my main point is that moving him to 8 or 10 or a bench prop isnt going to significantly change how he plays or his output.

It's worth considering.

 

[Brightman]

However, I do think he has played as more like a traditional prop in the 13 jersey - and delivered great numbers doing so. I think a number of times though, he has stifled our attack taking the hit up instead of using the ball or letting the backline have the play (some of that may be down to having our halves not set up for it too)

I like Clark attacking the line, his carries are very strong and PTM are similar to what AFB provided previously. To me it feels like his ball playing is truly sub par to his hit ups and on many occasions when he gets the ball I can see momentum building if he tucks the ball and goes but instead he shovels it on like he's trying to be Tohu or Yeo. Basically his decision making and flair isn't suited to that role but he sure is hearty and golden addition to our team.
Hopefully Gannon will fulfil that Tohu/Yeo role, Demetric has shown those abilities and EIT could play there too..

 

[Wrighty]

I would like this prop if we could get him released

Official NRL profile of Fonua Pole for Wests Tigers | NRL.com

The NRL profile of Fonua Pole including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.nrl.com

23 years old, this year averaged 122 running metres and born in Wellington NZ so he would probably agree to move to Auckland
Only 182cms but a decent 108Kgs
Signed through the end of 2027 with wests so we may need to offer a prospect for him.

 

[Inruin]

I would like this prop if we could get him released

Official NRL profile of Fonua Pole for Wests Tigers | NRL.com

The NRL profile of Fonua Pole including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.nrl.com

23 years old, this year averaged 122 running metres and born in Wellington NZ so he would probably agree to move to Auckland
Only 182cms but a decent 108Kgs
Signed through the end of 2027 with wests so we may need to offer a prospect for him.

He is already a beast and is only going to get better. I'd take him in a heart beat but I think Benji is building something at the Tigers and I don't know if he would be keen to move. Money and a chance to play in a better performing team could be the answer to that though

 

[Makasene]

Warriorholic posted that a Canberra podcast has mentioned we have made enquiries about Chevy Stewart as a potential fullback.

Doesn't surprise me at all. If Taine was the man he would have held the 1 jersey.

And Cappy and co surely must have similar feelings about CNK limitations

 

[Makasene]

Ok, this might be an unpopular opinion and may even be way off the mark.

I think Clark has had a great year. I have him down as our best player of the season, so please don't take this as a slight on him or his season.

However, I do think he has played as more like a traditional prop in the 13 jersey - and delivered great numbers doing so. I think a number of times though, he has stifled our attack taking the hit up instead of using the ball or letting the backline have the play (some of that may be down to having our halves not set up for it too)

At the Titans he was largely utilised off the bench. I would like to see him potentially used in that role here as well. He could play the same amount of minutes as he has been and we would get the same level of output that he has done this season, while also freeing up the 13 position for a more balanced player - a player that has ball playing and the ability to get us to certain points on the field. Walker was great at doing this.

I guess my main point is that moving him to 8 or 10 or a bench prop isnt going to significantly change how he plays or his output.

It's worth considering.

As good as he was, I also felt Clark's performance dipped in the back 3rd of the season.

For the most part he played a lot like Jazz but just better - if that makes sense.

 

[CWC]

Warriorholic posted that a Canberra podcast has mentioned we have made enquiries about Chevy Stewart as a potential fullback.

Doesn't surprise me at all. If Taine was the man he would have held the 1 jersey.

And Cappy and co surely must have similar feelings about CNK limitations

Was that a while back? If so seems to have fallen through unless there is another new post?

Tony Kempt flat out said we need a new FB lol

 

[Noitall]

Warriorholic posted that a Canberra podcast has mentioned we have made enquiries about Chevy Stewart as a potential fullback.

Doesn't surprise me at all. If Taine was the man he would have held the 1 jersey.

And Cappy and co surely must have similar feelings about CNK limitations

Bit of a rumour dragons might have him

 

[Wrighty]

Bit of a rumour dragons might have him

Stink it would be a coupe de tat if we got him.

97 tackle breaks in 24 NSW cup match in 2025 had him ranked second in that stat. While he was only ranked 13th for tries with 14 from 24 games this was the best by any fullback in NSW cup beating Daine Lauries 11 from 11 games.

Let's use our resources Warriors forum whanau to comb the web in the next few weeks and see if we can get a sniff on this. This is big news.

 

[Wrighty]

What does his instagram say for those with instragram is he following us or Dragons?

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

What does his instagram say for those with instragram is he following us or Dragons?

neither just the raiders and the Salford red devils for some reason.