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

 

[Noitall]

Didn't read that way to me. Back Webby period. I firmly believe he will be the coach when the trophy finally heads over here.

Do you reckon a role at the club for Ivan would be of benefit though? He does seem to indicate that he doesn’t want to coach against Jett? No guarantees Jett makes it of course, but only way that doesn’t happen if Jett kicks on is either Jett goes back to panthers to play under Ivan, or Ivan steps away from coaching?

 

[The Undertaker]

Good to see Ponga with his arm around Barnett at Lachlan Fitzgibbon’s wedding a few days ago in those slides

Nau mai haere mai Kalyn. He’s coming home - you just know it’s inevitable.

 

[Defence]

Here's another one, Stacey Jones Einstein the world cup and he then becomes head coach of the warriors.

Remember when Kearney coached us to the World Cup? Warriors should’ve got him.
Oh wait…..

 

[Kav1]

Exactly!

Well when you talk about the premier coaches of the NRL, Bennett, Bellamy, Robinson and Cleary.

None of them have the ties to the warriors like Ivan Cleary does. You have to have the conversation, because premier coaches are not readily available, and if the scenario was, I want to coach Jett then does Mohawk and co turn down one of the best coaches in the NRL with a potential star halfback?

They have done this once, will they do it again?

This is as intriguing as anything ive seen at this club.

Ps: Ivan would be the only one I would make way for, but I fucken love Webby. Its not an easy one for me because I love both.

Maybe there is another role at the Warriors including AW eg as a mentor. His experience would be invaluable and he has family connections here.

 

[~Navigator~]

Remember when Kearney coached us to the World Cup? Warriors should’ve got him.
Oh wait…..

Funny I remember watching a clip where Bennett was laying down the law to the players as Kearney was in the back ground....

 

[SJ2k]

Comparing Madge to Webby is crazy. If Madge had gotten that tigers team to a top 4 finish and 2 out of 3 years in the finals, we could talk. Managing the best team in the comp to a prem is not even in the same league as what Webby (and Sticky this year) have done. Cleary is on another level of course.

Give Webby that Broncos team and their soft AF draw and ref priviledge and you could well be looking at the next four peat.

 

[Cces]

I don't get the arguement that Maguire can't develop players. He debuted 7 of his 2014 GF winning team. The roster he took over in 2012 was no better than Webby in '23, got to playoffs in first 2 seasons before he got a title in year 3.
Yes, the Broncos had a very good squad this year but none of Shibasaki, Mariner, Smoothy, Karapani, Talty, Jaiyden Hunt, Piakura, Willison or Paix had 50 NRL games prior to this season and some of those guys still won't in 12 months time.

Anyways, which club is a suitor for a Lussick early release? Unless he prefers playing as a middle forward these days, his chances of a NRL contract in '27 & beyond are very slim unless he can get consistent minutes as a #9 in reserve grade, at the very least.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Cowboys playing off the bench? They love a Warriors discard.

 

[Noitall]

Cowboys playing off the bench? They love a Warriors discard.

It’s a running joke over there that whoever they’re looking at has to have played for the Warriors

 

[WHB]

Here's another one, Stacey Jones wins the world cup and he then becomes head coach of the warriors.

Tony Kemp will push for that

 

[Noitall]

Tony Kemp will push for that

Probably claims he taught Cleary everything he knows when he was his assistant

 

[Playdaball]

Remember when Kearney coached us to the World Cup? Warriors should’ve got him.
Oh wait…..

Sounds like Bluey McLennan all over again

 

[Ferdie]

There was a question to Cleary about coaching representative football the other day. What about him coaching the Kiwi's, with some form of background role at the Warriors to beef out his role.

 

[Noitall]

There was a question to Cleary about coaching representative football the other day. What about him coaching the Kiwi's, with some form of background role at the Warriors to beef out his role.

When Maguire was coaching the Kiwis there was mention of them heading towards a Kiwi coach which they’ve done with Stacey Jones. Hearing JFH talk about them playing for Stacey, I think they really back him. Ivan could probably get any role he wanted? I can’t see Laurie Daley keeping the nsw job long? Perhaps he’d be keen on that?

 

[Buzz Killington]

There was a question to Cleary about coaching representative football the other day. What about him coaching the Kiwi's, with some form of background role at the Warriors to beef out his role.

wasn't he involved at one time, but something happened and he couldn't do it? He was an assistant or something?

edit: i found this. But i can remember what happened.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Horriors2013]

There was a question to Cleary about coaching representative football the other day. What about him coaching the Kiwi's, with some form of background role at the Warriors to beef out his role.

You know that's a valid option. After the World Cup, Stacey might quit, Ivan take over and Ivan could be also be our GM or something. Or Stacey could get an NRL gig.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Do you reckon a role at the club for Ivan would be of benefit though? He does seem to indicate that he doesn’t want to coach against Jett? No guarantees Jett makes it of course, but only way that doesn’t happen if Jett kicks on is either Jett goes back to panthers to play under Ivan, or Ivan steps away from coaching?

Nope. If Ivan came in a support role, Webby would be under pressure the moment he starts losing games. Having a world class coach coming in as anything other than head coach only serves to undermine the incumbent, whether that was the intention or not.

 

[Horriors2013]

Nope. If Ivan came in a support role, Webby would be under pressure the moment he starts losing games. Having a world class coach coming in as anything other than head coach only serves to undermine the incumbent, whether that was the intention or not.

Sounds like you have experience in middle management. Makes sense what you're saying. It's true.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Sounds like you have experience in middle management. Makes sense what you're saying. It's true.

It's why tits were dumb to chase Bellamy to come in as support for Hannay. Hell of a way to undermine a rookie coach who has yet to coach a game. Would be barely a year imo before Bellamy took over as coach. If you bring in a support, you should ensure he's not superior to the incumbent.

 

[Noitall]

Nope. If Ivan came in a support role, Webby would be under pressure the moment he starts losing games. Having a world class coach coming in as anything other than head coach only serves to undermine the incumbent, whether that was the intention or not.

The way I see it, Webster is under pressure and always will be. We haven’t won a premiership and Robinson has mentioned 2027 at one stage that they see that as a big year, not sure if that’s still the case? This is a big season in my view, season 1 was a huge success and season 2 we couldn’t reach those heights, and season 3 was a return to finals. 2020 was a big season for Cleary, panthers finished 10th in 2019 and they brought in Trent Barrett as an assistant, though he hasn’t excelled as a head coach, he’s a good assistant with experience. Not saying he was the catalyst but 2020 panthers are minor premiers before Webster joins and they win it in 2021. Webster may not need anything like that but 2026 needs to see progression. It seems Ivan had input in Jett heading this way so there’s obviously something about Webster that Ivan rates? If we’re not moving in the right direction, I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t a willingness to add someone who’s won 4 back to back titles if they were interested in being apart of what’s building. I definitely back Webster but it’s not a blind faith