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

 

[Dannevegas]

We made the right call on NAS. Storm never lose the players they want to keep. So if they are willing to let someone go, more often than not it's a negative signal on that player. Kalani going (sorry for the pun) is unfortunate but not unexpected. We have enough short stocky forwards with good footwork and an offload. Wish him luck on whatever his future holds. Has been a great servant for the club.

Forwards are not our issue. We are a quality center and winger short of being a contender. AKP could be that winger. Wouldn't mind having a crack at bringing Jesse Arthurs back given that he is behind the pecking order at Brisbane.

Jesse Arthers would be a good get, seems to much of a rockstar to live in Auckland tho lol.
I might be wrong but I heard when he was loaned to us he was keen to stay but Brissy wanted him back.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Jesse as FB? Pretty good under the bombs, tho made some mistakes this year probably why fell behind?

Isn't he a centre/winger? That's where I would put him. He was a scapegoat for the Broncs awful form at the beginning of the year imo. Would be an upgrade on our current centers imo.

 

[JaggedJ]

Meh. A solid 7/10 in a long line of 7/10 players for us.

 

[Five&Last]

I guess with Gannon coming to play NSW cup, this makes sense

And 3.........2.........1.......... here come the seagulls.

My take away from this.

As soon as they signed Gannon I knew it was curtains for him.

Gannon will spend most of the year in KG’s jersey with Sikuvea to start when Gannon gets the occasional call up.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

My take away from this.

As soon as they signed Gannon I knew it was curtains for him.

Gannon will spend most of the year in KG’s jersey with Sikuvea to start when Gannon gets the occasional call up.

If this was to happen, I love the way they now operate. If the club can get players here to work hard and earn it, it will only be good for the club.

He could still easily play first grade round 1 next year if his pre season is a ripper!

 

[PNG Kiwi]

Jesse Arthers would be a good get, seems to much of a rockstar to live in Auckland tho lol.
I might be wrong but I heard when he was loaned to us he was keen to stay but Brissy wanted him back.

I think Jesse Arthur's would be open to coming over here if Brisbane let him leave early especially if he is not in the current 17.
That would create a lot more competition for our back three. Maybe a swop with Marata.

 

[Playdaball]

Jesse Arthers would be a good get, seems to much of a rockstar to live in Auckland tho lol.

Arthur’s is a former East Coast Bays Barracuda lad so could work

 

[Playdaball]

There seems to be a few departures from the Warriors …. Where are the new signings ?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

There seems to be a few departures from the Warriors …. Where are the new signings ?

Promotion. Just as exciting in most cases.

 

[Wrighty]

Promotion. Just as exciting in most cases.

good post And for the Tom Ales of this world it is exciting to be released from the club and get a chance at a different club rather than going around again in the same reserve grade team. It would be a concern for lots of reasons if we had no turnover.

That said I for one am gutted to be losing Tobias Crosby. We had to play him at prop while he learned the ropes. But as soon as someone sets him free in the second row and lets him loose on an edge he is going to spring board in the NRL within a jiffy. I wish we had that plan but i hope for his sake Penrith are more far sighted than we were. I am not that fussed about losing Eli Katoa as he wasn't going to improve here to his potential. While Crosby could have improved here and could be anything. Real bummer.

 

[Cces]

There seems to be a few departures from the Warriors …. Where are the new signings ?

Gannon, Mellars & Linnane incoming. Upgrades to Ieremia-Toeava & Fatialofa

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I think Jesse Arthur's would be open to coming over here if Brisbane let him leave early especially if he is not in the current 17.
That would create a lot more competition for our back three. Maybe a swop with Marata.

I can't imagine many scenarios where we are able to strengthen our biggest area of weakness whilst ALSO getting rid of our biggest over paid player.

I think we have to ride out Niukore's contract unfortunately. The only positive I can see is that it's contract year so Niukore will need to be showing what he's capable of if he wants a decent contract, so we could see some solid performances next year

 

[CWC]

I can't imagine many scenarios where we are able to strengthen our biggest area of weakness whilst ALSO getting rid of our biggest over paid player.

I think we have to ride out Niukore's contract unfortunately. The only positive I can see is that it's contract year so Niukore will need to be showing what he's capable of if he wants a decent contract, so we could see some solid performances next year

Let him have 5 star performances then early release once he signs with someone, before slacking off immediately

 

[Horriors2013]

I think Jesse Arthur's would be open to coming over here if Brisbane let him leave early especially if he is not in the current 17.
That would create a lot more competition for our back three. Maybe a swop with Marata.

He'd certainly plug a hole.

 

[Leon Black]

Arthars would be a great pickup — quick, solid defensively, and more upside than AKP. Not fussed about losing Crosby; his form dipped late. We’re stacked with quality back-rowers and locks anyway.

Saw a few poor missed tackles leading to tries late in the season. Great runner, but lateral defence questionable — same reason I don’t see TSS cracking 100+ NRL games.

 

[Dannevegas]

I can't imagine many scenarios where we are able to strengthen our biggest area of weakness whilst ALSO getting rid of our biggest over paid player.

I think we have to ride out Niukore's contract unfortunately. The only positive I can see is that it's contract year so Niukore will need to be showing what he's capable of if he wants a decent contract, so we could see some solid performances next year

I rewatched the magic round game and Niukore killed it at prop. I think we need to keep him there, so at full strength our prop rotation would probably be Fish, Barnett, Vaimuga, Niukore or Ford.

Arthars would be a great pickup — quick, solid defensively, and more upside than AKP. Not fussed about losing Crosby; his form dipped late. We’re stacked with quality back-rowers and locks anyway.

Saw a few poor missed tackles leading to tries late in the season. Great runner, but lateral defence questionable — same reason I don’t see TSS cracking 100+ NRL games.

I don’t see Crosby bullying the forwards in first grade like he does in Reggie’s. would like to see him go well tho.
Ale and Afoa are losses for depth tho, they were strong on the weekend and Tanner was getting ragdolled.

 

[Makasene]

Rumours that Melbourne offered us NAS and we declined.

That's a big step for an org like us who previously would have bit off their hand for a name like that

 

[Five&Last]

I don’t see Crosby bullying the forwards in first grade like he does in Reggie’s. would like to see him go well tho.

He doesn't even really bully forwards. He's only like what 6ft, maybe 6'1 ?

He's definitely strong but his main asset is his speed for his weight. However i think you need more than just straight-line speed.

I think footwork for a forward is much more important. That's what Halasima, Fatialofa, Sikuvea have that set them apart as prospects.

I think he will kick on and be a productive player. Wouldn't be surprised if there's a couple full length tries in his first grade highlights reel.

But I think the concerns are legitimate. Never played large minutes which is a concern for a prop (looks goosed when playing more than 30 mins) and I can recall a few air grabs on opposition tries (doesn't close the space well at all)

 

[Noitall]

Rumours that Melbourne offered us NAS and we declined.

That's a big step for an org like us who previously would have bit off their hand for a name like that

Scared off by his salary was the initial report. The club’s interest in Davvy Moale seems like we’re interested in adding a middle forward. From what I’ve seen Moale’s management was asking somewhere around $550k per season

 

[Noitall]

Dean Ieremia suffers achilles injury

Scans have confirmed Storm winger Dean Ieremia has suffered an achilles rupture.

www.melbournestorm.com.au

I see Dean Ieremia, EIT half brother is on the lookout for a new club