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

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I don’t get why it’s an issue when the winger doesn’t pass What?
I’d totally play him at FB given we are about to sign AKP
The reason I prefer not rn is purely due to his age risking multiple hammy injuries when we know he can produce another dally m-ish caliber wing season
But honestly we have a Jonah Lomu syndrome here, ask any Aussie pundit and fan who you’d prefer NOT to have running at you from FB - CNK, TT or Roger

We all know which one makes them shit their pants

Why pass when you can do this?


View: https://www.tiktok.com/@nrl/video/7352400096811666694

So what do we in '27 when he leaves? Back to square one, looking for a long term FB

 

[Fizurg]

People seem to talk about being a development club as if that means you don't recruit from outside. When in reality it should free up funds to pay overs for proven players in positions the team lacks quality in.

 

[tyrael]

People seem to talk about being a development club as if that means you don't recruit from outside. When in reality it should free up funds to pay overs for proven players in positions the team lacks quality in.

I didn't know the answer but do Panthers pay overs for players? Yeo, Cleary, Martin and Edwards would be on decent coin, everyone else they have developed or bought cheaply (papalii). Anyone wants over, they show them the door (I'm over exaggerating a bit, Luai, Crichton).

I do understand they can pay unders or normal price for players because players want to play for a championship contending side, do it's a bit of a catch 22.

 

[Inruin]

So what do we in '27 when he leaves? Back to square one, looking for a long term FB

It does give us another year to recruit though for a long term fullback.

For me the question would be are we better in 2026 with RTS at fullback or CNK or TT with a mix of options for each on the wing ie if TT is fullback where does CNK play and who are your wings out of RTS, DWZ, AKP, CNK.

 

[Playdaball]

People seem to talk about being a development club as if that means you don't recruit from outside. When in reality it should free up funds to pay overs for proven players in positions the team lacks quality in.

I dont know of any club that is purely a deveopment club, this applies to Brisbane and Penrith too. Clubs need to have a mix of development and imported players to fill gaps where development can't do this. Our teams of 2002 and 2011 had this mix.

 

[Fizurg]

I didn't know the answer but do Panthers pay overs for players? Yeo, Cleary, Martin and Edwards would be on decent coin, everyone else they have developed or bought cheaply (papalii). Anyone wants over, they show them the door (I'm over exaggerating a bit, Luai, Crichton).

I do understand they can pay unders or normal price for players because players want to play for a championship contending side, do it's a bit of a catch 22.

The Panthers have won the last four comps. They don't pay overs but then that isn't exactly a normal scenario.

 

[Dannevegas]

So what do we in '27 when he leaves? Back to square one, looking for a long term FB

Jeremiah Lemana?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Jeremiah Lemana?

at 19? Not a chance

 

[Warriorsfan92]

People seem to talk about being a development club as if that means you don't recruit from outside. When in reality it should free up funds to pay overs for proven players in positions the team lacks quality in.

Or alternatively, bring back ‘home sick’ kiwis who can finally see the warriors are worthwhile. Or, seeing the plethora of young forwards coming through & wanting to play off the back of that, eg Hughes, kini, isaako

 

[CWC]

So what do we in '27 when he leaves? Back to square one, looking for a long term FB

Still square one by playing CNK at FB in '26

You do buy time to sign someone suitable for '27 like Inrun said, Herbie? Or develop Linnane (who runs like Papenhuyzen), or Norris...

 

[Warriors55]

If it is a choice between RTS at full back or CNK it will be RTS all day. Who cares if he is gone in 2027, we are in with an outside shot at the premiership next year if our players stay fit and we sign someone like AKP on the wing and we can use next year to look for a long term option while RTS plays full back for 1 year. Unless TT does some amazing stuff during pre season.

And please I hope we do not see TMM as a long term half option. I am much more in favour of one of our young guns from NSW Cup.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPFho6KkpFc/

Bit cautious about this guys rumours after there was some noise a while back about a big signing. Will be interesting to see if he’s on the money here

 

[Wrighty]

TT must start round one at fullback and he must run like the wind!!

 

[Noitall]

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors hooker responds to bizarre links to Bulldogs

He is contracted at the Warriors until the end of the 2027 season.

www.zerotackle.com

Interesting

 

[3rdstriker]

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors hooker responds to bizarre links to Bulldogs

He is contracted at the Warriors until the end of the 2027 season.

www.zerotackle.com

Interesting

If Gould would like him he will have him.

 

[Warriors55]

If Gould would like him he will have him.

I don't like the sound of those rumours. I am already concerned Healey will start questioning his future with us if he is a bench player at most next year and he gets offers from other clubs. Healey has more upside than Egan and is much younger.

I hope when the time comes that Webby doesn't show too much loyalty to aging players and we lose younger players in key positions who go on to be superstars elsewhere. Don't be afraid to give younger players game time if they are better (as long as the team still has experience elsewhere).

Healey will get plenty of offers too. Plenty.

 

[Naynay]

I don't like the sound of those rumours. I am already concerned Healey will start questioning his future with us if he is a bench player at most next year and he gets offers from other clubs. Healey has more upside than Egan and is much younger.

I hope when the time comes that Webby doesn't show too much loyalty to aging players and we lose younger players in key positions who go on to be superstars elsewhere. Don't be afraid to give younger players game time if they are better (as long as the team still has experience elsewhere).

Healey will get plenty of offers too. Plenty.

Get the fear, Healy at this moment hasn’t really showed the decision making he needs to be a top hooker (ofc this will probably come with time) Egan is still a top 5 hooker, healy need more game time at 14.

Hopefully webby gives up the TMM at 14 so healy can get some time in

 

[Playdaball]

Do the Bulldogs want Freddy Lussick?

 

[Wrighty]

This is going to be a long off season on the forum. Our team did very well and has a Kangaroo prop coming back into the side once he recovers from injury and a high growth high potential Halfback coming back from injury who may or may not bounce back to what he was. We don't need much of an overhaul to make the top 8 next year from a recruitment perspective.
The penny will drop for people at different stages that Gannon offers some good back row depth and opens up a lot of options. So expect to see about two or three posts a month with people being struck with bolt of lightning and feeling compelled to share what he is capable of doing for the team after they have a Gannon epiphany and everyone only skim reading the epiphany as we have all heard it already.
We have had our debate already for three days on whether TT is too small for fullback or whether CNK is so dire we should play TT anyway. There is now nothing left to say on that debate. Lines have drawn. Swords were crossed. Both armies have withdrawn from the battlefield to different sides of the english channel while keeping a steely eye out for any brush fires that need to be dowsed.
Khan Pereira may get signed allowing for a flurry of proposed team lists leaving Dallin in NSW cup for the year. And a few Dallin tragics such as myself sticking up for him based on his kick return hit ups and personal mana.
For those wanting spots opened in the top 30, occasional fingers being pointed at Freddy Lussick which will be met with nodding heads and thumbs up emoticons.
She will be a long off season. Thanks for posting with me in the 2025 season. To keep this recruitment related I hope we get Chevy Stewart.

 

[Worried2Death]

Do the Bulldogs want Freddy Lussick?

Sounds like Gus prefers Sam, for some reason he can get anyone he wants and it's his choice.