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

 

[Boston Boy]

Think I saw Kaawyn Patterson, young dummy half from here on a development deal at bulldogs next year too. No one on there seems to know what’s happening with Zyon Maiu’u? Most think he’s gone

Poor Zion, he was nice and aggressive. Beasted the younger grades, does it with pure aggression because he is a bit small as a prop. Sad to see his decline.

 

[Noitall]

Poor Zion, he was nice and aggressive. Beasted the younger grades, does it with pure aggression because he is a bit small as a prop. Sad to see his decline.

Has he skated through on his reputation coming through? You’d have to assume there’s an attitude or training issue? He was so highly regarded in grades

 

[Noitall]

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

www.foxsports.com.au

3 Warriors halves available in the coming days. Thought the wording in CHT’s write up was interesting talking about if the Warriors were interested in another five eighth and also Trent Toelau’s write up where it speculates Warriors or eels potential places he could go. CHT has had a great season and could be on a few teams radar? Would have thought we would have extended him by now?

 

[roguei]

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

www.foxsports.com.au

3 Warriors halves available in the coming days. Thought the wording in CHT’s write up was interesting talking about if the Warriors were interested in another five eighth and also Trent Toelau’s write up where it speculates Warriors or eels potential places he could go. CHT has had a great season and could be on a few teams radar? Would have thought we would have extended him by now?

Cowboys coach payten has said a few times that he really likes CHT. Even after his stint here. So could see them bringing him over to pair with dearden. As both dearden and Metcalf have similar styles and Clifford IMO does not compliment dearden well.

But I'd personally not wanna see him go. But it's getting hard with us having so many halves. Hopefully inch is turned into a fallback, allowing for just two to be competing for that 5/8.

 

[Five&Last]

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

Broncos’ shock call sparks domino effect; why $4.5m bid could be trumped: Halves State of Play

www.foxsports.com.au

3 Warriors halves available in the coming days. Thought the wording in CHT’s write up was interesting talking about if the Warriors were interested in another five eighth and also Trent Toelau’s write up where it speculates Warriors or eels potential places he could go. CHT has had a great season and could be on a few teams radar? Would have thought we would have extended him by now?

I agree but then it’s smart to let him play out 2026 to earn a new contract with us or somewhere else.

We’ve extended these guys too early in the past and then watched their form drop off a cliff.

Would not be shocked if they’re paving the way for Linnane to replace CHT in 2027

Cleary, Inch and Thompson coming through does make it hard to keep CHT as a genuine half

 

[Noitall]

I agree but then it’s smart to let him play out 2026 to earn a new contract with us or somewhere else.

We’ve extended these guys too early in the past and then watched their form drop off a cliff.

Would not be shocked if they’re paving the way for Linnane to replace CHT in 2027

Cleary, Inch and Thompson coming through does make it hard to keep CHT as a genuine half

I can recall Webster in the past saying he wanted to speed everything up and adding people like AKP gives that impression. I wonder if CHT is seen as too slow with him not really having the off the mark pace to take a gap? He’s done everything asked of him but I could see a place where he wanted to play in the halves and the club saw him as a utility past 2026? TMM gives me the impression he’s happy to be in NZ and play reserves if needed, so he could give them a bit of flexibility in who’s retained? I thought Toelau is an interesting proposition being he was in the Kiwis squad last year? Can play halves and hooker like CHT

 

[skinnydippng]

i’d be so gutted if he left

i think he has a good relationship with a few of the boys, particularly metcalf and egan, and hopefully can see what the club is building and will stay… but that is if the club is even in talks with him about an extension?

maybe it’ll be sorted post pac-champs?

i don’t know how it works but would be confused if the club actually said in contract negotiations ‘yeah so we see you transitioning to bench utility in 2027’, what if the young kids get released or don’t kick on, that doesn’t make sense to me (unless they were trying to lowball him)

i do recall some interview or podcast back in the covid era where he said he didn’t like living in aus, but granted that was years ago and also under covid conditions- i think it was when they were at redcliffe

 

[JaggedJ]

Our top 30 halves under contract for 2027...

Metcalf
Linnane
Jett

Teams generally carry 4, sometimes 5 if they are more a utility such as TMM.

CHT, Boyd, TMM, Mmmbop, all off contract. 2 will leave - possibly 3 depending on the development of younger halves.

I don't see us bringing in anyone new into the top 30. More likely to sign lower grade Aussie halves to continue developing.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I would be happy to see Harris Tavita leave. I think this last season was his best by far, but I cant see him getting better than this.

Unless he is willing to transition to 14 but I really dont want to lose Healey. I would be happy to see Hanson given a crack at first grade next year.

 

[Noitall]

Our top 30 halves under contract for 2027...

Metcalf
Linnane
Jett

Teams generally carry 4, sometimes 5 if they are more a utility such as TMM.

CHT, Boyd, TMM, Mmmbop, all off contract. 2 will leave - possibly 3 depending on the development of younger halves.

I don't see us bringing in anyone new into the top 30. More likely to sign lower grade Aussie halves to continue developing.

Teams do carry 4-5 halves, but the injury history of those first two under contract for 2027 should mean the more the merrier, or players that at least are adept enough to fill a role if called upon

 

[Noitall]

I would be happy to see Harris Tavita leave. I think this last season was his best by far, but I cant see him getting better than this.

Unless he is willing to transition to 14 but I really dont want to lose Healey. I would be happy to see Hanson given a crack at first grade next year.

CHT coming up 27 not long after next season kicks off so a good season like he’s had might not see him get another payday like he potentially could?

 

[Blain]

He has a pretty low ceiling, was a good year for him 2025, but does he offer enough to be a certain 6 for us moving forward? He wasn't particularly clutch, can't control a game, kicking game is weak for a half while not offering a particularly dangerous running or passing game. He has a good defensive game, and is reliable.

I hope we have greater ambitions for our 6 in the long term and I think we do, Linnane, Cleary, Thompson and maybe even Inch should all be putting pressure on him 2027 or even next year. Boyd and TMM are here next season.

I honestly think CHT makes more sense on the bench than TMM, and think TMM is a more clutch "can make things happen" than CHT.

What's he worth I wonder? $400k? I can't see other clubs throwing good money at him.

 

[Noitall]

He has a pretty low ceiling, was a good year for him 2025, but does he offer enough to be a certain 6 for us moving forward? He wasn't particularly clutch, can't control a game, kicking game is weak for a half while not offering a particularly dangerous running or passing game. He has a good defensive game, and is reliable.

I hope we have greater ambitions for our 6 in the long term and I think we do, Linnane, Cleary, Thompson and maybe even Inch should all be putting pressure on him 2027 or even next year. Boyd and TMM are here next season.

I honestly think CHT makes more sense on the bench than TMM, and think TMM is a more clutch "can make things happen" than CHT.

What's he worth I wonder? $400k? I can't see other clubs throwing good money at him.

It sounded like he was a bit disappointed in himself that he wasn’t able to step in after Metcalf got injured and play more of a dominant role. He’s an international player that’s being selected for a stacked Samoan team and proving his worth, 5 tries in 9 games is a good strike rate and may indicate he has impact off the bench, though I think some of those 9 games were at five eighth?

 

[Blain]

It sounded like he was a bit disappointed in himself that he wasn’t able to step in after Metcalf got injured and play more of a dominant role. He’s an international player that’s being selected for a stacked Samoan team and proving his worth, 5 tries in 9 games is a good strike rate and may indicate he has impact off the bench, though I think some of those 9 games were at five eighth?

You're not wrong, but to give your statement some more context - He is playing as a bench utility, mostly used at hooker. Starting ahead of him are Blaize Talagi and Benaiah Loelu, Samoa are hardly stacked in halves and hookers. He's a dependable player no doubt, but he's not a guy to assess on try scoring.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.tiktok.com/@blokeinabar/video/7475602805001096456

This was coming into this season and only references a preseason match but I’ve been a fan of this guy for a while. Would be interesting to know if there’s anything to that line about Warriors and eels? Eels potentially looking for a five eighth past 2026 and we could be of the mindset that there’s a utility spot no matter what if CHT was to leave and at best there’s a five eighth role you could get if hungry enough?

 

[Neo]

I would be happy to see Harris Tavita leave. I think this last season was his best by far, but I cant see him getting better than this.

Unless he is willing to transition to 14 but I really dont want to lose Healey. I would be happy to see Hanson given a crack at first grade next year.

I may be alone but I don’t think Hanson is anywhere near a first grade player. To lose CHT for him would be a massive net loss in my opinion.

 

[Woofa]

Our top 30 halves under contract for 2027...

Metcalf
Linnane
Jett

Teams generally carry 4, sometimes 5 if they are more a utility such as TMM.

CHT, Boyd, TMM, Mmmbop, all off contract. 2 will leave - possibly 3 depending on the development of younger halves.

I don't see us bringing in anyone new into the top 30. More likely to sign lower grade Aussie halves to continue developing.

Mmmmmbop cracked me up

 

[Five&Last]

It sounded like he was a bit disappointed in himself that he wasn’t able to step in after Metcalf got injured and play more of a dominant role. He’s an international player that’s being selected for a stacked Samoan team and proving his worth, 5 tries in 9 games is a good strike rate and may indicate he has impact off the bench, though I think some of those 9 games were at five eighth?

The fact that Blaize Talagi is being selected over him give you idea how he's viewed in the game imo.

Any decent starting half with CHT experience would back themselves to get picked over Talagi who, while clearly talented, hasn't done jack shit in the league.

 

[maddog]

If we want to win a premiership we need to look past CHT.

I have high hopes for Linnane, he has come through the aussie system and his running game looks insane, he looks quite small but also strong and he will fill out.

 

[Noitall]

If we want to win a premiership we need to look past CHT.

I have high hopes for Linnane, he has come through the aussie system and his running game looks insane, he looks quite small but also strong and he will fill out.

Not a reason not to pick it but that’s a seriously injury ridden halves pairing. If speed is what we’re after, that’s a crazy speedy pairing too