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

 

[WAH MAN]

..
Could be a good fullback option also. Any thoughts

He'd be dependable. Knows high standards. Has experience. Not too long in the tooth

 

[Warriors55]

Pretty much lost the Storm the grand final with awful defence. No thanks.

He is probably half the price of CNK and at least as effective overall.

 

[roguei]

While it is still related to the metcalf news, i found this post by his wife quite funny after the signing.

 

[Noitall]

While it is still related to the metcalf news, i found this post by his wife quite funny after the signing.
View attachment 14797

Some shocking comments in there. Good on her for the response, could be why he acknowledged her so much when he spoke. Looks like he’s got a top lady

 

[sup42]

Tanwah in 2025 outplayed the following former warriors halves

Kodi in his warriors version
Ata hingano
Mason lino
Seas O’Sullivan warriors version
Ash Taylor
Ronald volkman

I think the criticism of Boyd overlooks the fact that if his issue is confidence (don't disagree) that time playing the game will resolve this, especially under the type of coach we have.

I think he gets written off wayyy too prematurely, confidence or the lack thereof is not a permanent irreversible deficit - the world is full of great achievers who suffered confidence issues coming up through their rise.

The problem really is the Warriors expectations based off past experience, this is a club that has failed to turn around confidence issues in players and almost without exception sent them to the scrap heap where they have never recovered. Ergo the fans see someone choke in a game and they're written off forever.

This year Ben fecking Hunt won a title.

The thing about Boyd is that he has superior core skills of a seven, his tool kit of variation with his field kicking is decent, his passing game is solid, his playing at the line is good.

He has to fix his freeze under pressure. It may well be in his best interest to find a club where he is behind a dominant forward pack (like he enjoys in the NSW cup) which will lessen the pressure on his overall game and he will become a very fine NRL half. But then....aren't we the turning into the type of club that will have a dominant forward pack?

I think Boyd will be a very good half back one day. I also think it is fair to ask the questions around whether we need to be the club that takes the long term risk with a gamble on Boyd. And I might be wrong, he might never get there, but then can level that censure (never getting there) at any player we have coming up.

Lets not forget CHT has had a rocky career in FG, he is solid now, but he has had bags of shit too coming up - the solid player that is our six did not magically turn into one, he was given time and investment, he was allowed to play shit games and still get picked till he found his role/ and most importantly found the right partner.

 

[Noitall]

I think the criticism of Boyd overlooks the fact that if his issue is confidence (don't disagree) that time playing the game will resolve this, especially under the type of coach we have.

I think he gets written off wayyy too prematurely, confidence or the lack thereof is not a permanent irreversible deficit - the world is full of great achievers who suffered confidence issues coming up through their rise.

The problem really is the Warriors expectations based off past experience, this is a club that has failed to turn around confidence issues in players and almost without exception sent them to the scrap heap where they have never recovered. Ergo the fans see someone choke in a game and they're written off forever.

This year Ben fecking Hunt won a title.

The thing about Boyd is that he has superior core skills of a seven, his tool kit of variation with his field kicking is decent, his passing game is solid, his playing at the line is good.

He has to fix his freeze under pressure. It may well be in his best interest to find a club where he is behind a dominant forward pack (like he enjoys in the NSW cup) which will lessen the pressure on his overall game and he will become a very fine NRL half. But then....aren't we the turning into the type of club that will have a dominant forward pack?

I think Boyd will be a very good half back one day. I also think it is fair to ask the questions around whether we need to be the club that takes the long term risk with a gamble on Boyd. And I might be wrong, he might never get there, but then can level that censure (never getting there) at any player we have coming up.

Lets not forget CHT has had a rocky career in FG, he is solid now, but he has had bags of shit too coming up - the solid player that is our six did not magically turn into one, he was given time and investment, he was allowed to play shit games and still get picked till he found his role/ and most importantly found the right partner.

He’s backup to Metcalf and I think the results when Metcalf plays and Metcalf’s ability to grab big moments that’s fair. We can hope all we want but history shows that Metcalf will potentially miss time during a season as much as I hope luck is on his side and Boyd will potentially start the season with Metcalf possibly still rehabilitating and a running five eighth could serve him well? Linnane could be this being highly regarded and the beauty is that Boyd absolutely kills it and finds his groove, Metcalf could come back and slot into five eighth? As much as looks like he’s our halfback moving forward

 

[MrFrankWhite]

So everyone was melting down over Mets for nothing?

Most were just projecting their own emotional values. After the 10th "he's moving back to be closer to family" post you realize it wasn't analysis.

 

[Bevosa]

I think people are being far too harsh on Tanah and his performance. His kicking game was spot on for the most part, and his running game was excellent, he consistently straightened the attack and made several line breaks, often without any support.

Yes, he failed to close out a few games, and those moments stood out, which is probably why he’s copping so much criticism. But the real problem for this team at the back end of the season was our paper-thin right edge defense, which was conceding most of our points each game. Tanah was part of that edge, sure, but unless we fix that, there’s no chance we’ll push for a top four finish no matter who's our 7.

 

[Theking267]

There was no real reason for Metcalf to move. Websters locked in. He’s family is settled in New Zealand & the other teams wanting to sign weren’t as good as the Warriors

 

[Fizurg]

There was no real reason for Metcalf to move. Websters locked in. He’s family is settled in New Zealand & the other teams wanting to sign weren’t as good as the Warriors

Do you have kids? Having grandparents around is massive when you have young kids. If his Mrs decided they needed to be in Sydney thats where he would have gone.

 

[maddog]

The reason everyone thought he was leaving was it was being reported he was testing the market.

In the end he didn't so was either a media beat up (most likely) or the Warriors stumped up more cash to get it done before November 1.

Either way an outstanding result and shows the confidence he has in the club.

 

[WAH MAN]

Pretty much lost the Storm the grand final with awful defence. No thanks.

Everybody has bad moments. Some in big moments. I don't think he's important for us to get but would be an improvement on CNK I reckon. Where they both are in their careers

 

[John Nick]

Most were just projecting their own emotional values. After the 10th "he's moving back to be closer to family" post you realize it wasn't analysis.

Up until yesterday I was confident that he would stay however doubts crept in with the resigning of Hansen and Drags getting rid of Illias. Should have learnt not to listen to some on the forum. And yes Frank you were correct.

 

[WAH MAN]

While it is still related to the metcalf news, i found this post by his wife quite funny after the signing.
View attachment 14797

Bang on response Mrs. Million dollars Metcalf.

 

[WAH MAN]

Most were just projecting their own emotional values. After the 10th "he's moving back to be closer to family" post you realize it wasn't analysis.

And I'm glad it was announced before Nov 1.

 

[Noitall]

What if we genuinely developed Leka as a centre? For five more years.

He turns 25/26. Is the absolute epitome of beast centres. Then transitions to the middle.

Think Reuben Wiki type career

Plenty saying Fatialofa could be an option for centre? We seem to have an over abundance of second rowers

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Everybody has bad moments. Some in big moments. I don't think he's important for us to get but would be an improvement on CNK I reckon. Where they both are in their careers

8 missed tackles in each of the last two grand finals. That’s a lot of bad moments. Wouldn’t add anything to our current squad.

 

[WAH MAN]

8 missed tackles in each of the last two grand finals. That’s a lot of bad moments. Wouldn’t add anything to our current squad.

I hear you. I don't know how his stats compare to CNK. So am basing it off chat opinions. Ta

 

[sup42]

While it is still related to the metcalf news, i found this post by his wife quite funny after the signing.
View attachment 14797

Mysogeny and stupidity go hand in hand.

Whenever someone brings up AFBs wife, I remind myself that she wasn't there when he decided to be a tit and walkout on the dressing room....

She's a keeper Luke.

 

[Completion Rate]

He gets cut before 30 June next year. Lock it in.

That seems plausible enough. I'd put a buck or 2 on it. If he starts the season well clubs will come calling...