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]

Regarding 360. Is the NRL becoming aware that it's not a world dominant sport? Even pathways players may get better careers in other sports/business than in the NRL which while having profitability is not on par with monster sized sports/businesses.

 

[Kav1]

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?

We don’t need Cleary to explain why our attack & right edge defence is shit. That aside, why all this Cleary chat, is the off season really that bad that it needs to be filled with all this hypothetical what if?

Ivan mentioned in his book that he did not want to give up coaching the Warriors but the bosses wanted a kiwi coach, Bluey McLennan. He has also said in one or two press conferences that he considers Auckland a second home. The probability of Nathan heading off to England to be with girlfriend, Mary Fowler, while his other son Jett has extended his contract with the Warriors by 2 years raises the possibility of Ivan and wife heading across the Tasman. This is not hypothetical but is based on facts. It is nice to contemplate in the off season.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Ivan mentioned in his book that he did not want to give up coaching the Warriors but the bosses wanted a kiwi coach, Bluey McLennan. He has also said in one or two press conferences that he considers Auckland a second home. The probability of Nathan heading off to England to be with girlfriend, Mary Fowler, while his other son Jett has extended his contract with the Warriors by 2 years raises the possibility of Ivan and wife heading across the Tasman. This is not hypothetical but is based on facts. It is nice to contemplate in the off season.

If this happens then that might happen & then that might happen. What’s the probability of all that? Very very low.

 

[Hitro]

I wouldn't be surprised if we have seen the last of RTS in Warriors colours and we see an announcement in a few weeks.

This looks pretty strategic. Instead of a large amount of players asking for a release it is slowly happening over a few weeks.

First one is taking a break. Second one is taking time off to mentally recharge and sort out what he will do, maybe boxing.

We had injuries to our wings this year and didn't have ideal coverage for when they were out. Both are getting older so recruiting wingers makes sense. I thought signing two was a bit much especially when we want to develop some as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see an announcement on a release soon.

Wouldn't it be strange given how much RTS has been involved in the preseason marketing? If they knew he was going, surely they would take the opportunity to promote other players?

 

[Wrighty]

It's November 17th - 17 days since the free agency negotiation period has started and no teams have announced anything yet for 2027 - should start hearing some news at least from one or two teams in the league soon?

 

[Wrighty]

My next post is relevant as it is whether CHT should be retained.

Zero tackle posted this article

The top ten five-eighths of 2025

The number one selection did not play State of Origin.

www.zerotackle.com

Top ten stand offs of 2025
Matt Burton 10th
Luai 6th
CHT 5th
Ethan Strange 1st

CHT was rated 5th - I realise Zero Tackle is not prestigious but still that is a good sign he had a good season.

 

[CWC]

I was thinking by 2027 our backline+hooker might be primed for

9. Egan/Healey
7. Metcalf
6. Linnane
5. AKP
4. Ali
3. Berry
2. Kali/Mellars
1. Ponga

Like an all-australian spine
That's a fast backline I'd say
Pompey could still in beast mode taking a centre spot and Berry could still be berried so that's a variable with CNK covering for him
And if we can't get Ponga then Inch will probably be groomed for that spot I just don't see him as speedy like other halves recruits but looks more like probably the Mark Robinsons (all blacks) when he was playing he was incredible at breaking lines from his own half then offloading to a speedstar to score and has the height/body shape to to effort stuff