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	✔​	✔​	✔​
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: 29/30
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

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Flows keep going from us to Penrith. Is this a sign that we are getting someone from them?

Ivan & Nathan according to some posts a few pages back

 

[CWC]

Pretty cool young players now know if you come to our development system you have a second chance at Penrith, instead of Tigers or Dragons

 

[Boston Boy]

Flows keep going from us to Penrith. Is this a sign that we are getting someone from them?

Did Jesse McClean go somewhere? Not that we need another winger.

 

[Boston Boy]

Very interesting with AKP signing and NAS rumours.
Have we moved from being a no dickhead, grinding defensive club to a club that is still focussed on the defensive grind but believes they can change and transform rough diamonds like the Storm or other big teams? AKP is not a hard working winger, neither is NAS a defensively hardworking forward, he would have to buy in. But I know from Webby's constant comments that they will be expected to buy in and work their butts off to play for the Warriors. If Webby can get these two and transform their game and if we do well this year we will be on the verge of becoming a genuine top power club.

 

[Hitro]

Pretty cool young players now know if you come to our development system you have a second chance at Penrith, instead of Tigers or

What the hell is going on? Since when did a powerhouse NRL club see value in FIVE of our players that we have passed on signing?! Feels like I’m taking crazy pills

View: https://youtu.be/ilcRS5eUpwk?si=QeFz8IMTp77I0VpW

 

[El Chuckie]

'The Panthers raid on the Warriors continues.
This time, they've recruited a hooker who has been granted an immediate release.'

Don't be giving me Sam Healey-sized heart attacks, Fox.

 

[Wrighty]

Who is our third in line hooker option if lightning strikes twice?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Very interesting with AKP signing and NAS rumours.
Have we moved from being a no dickhead, grinding defensive club to a club that is still focussed on the defensive grind but believes they can change and transform rough diamonds like the Storm or other big teams? AKP is not a hard working winger, neither is NAS a defensively hardworking forward, he would have to buy in. But I know from Webby's constant comments that they will be expected to buy in and work their butts off to play for the Warriors. If Webby can get these two and transform their game and if we do well this year we will be on the verge of becoming a genuine top power club.

Thats why it's so intriguing to see what webby can do with him.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Who is our third in line hooker option if lightning strikes twice?

Martin, Tavita harris, Tafua.

 

[Billyspleen75]

https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/11/25/lussick-granted-request-for-early-release-from-contract/

 

[Naynay]

Good for all parties, free up a spot assume if he's getting an early release that we have a signing incoming for next year.

 

[CWC]

Any genius working out how much Freddy would free up therefore who and how much we’re spending on the imminent signing? Any hawks that’s following all the IG likes?

 

[CWC]

What the hell is going on? Since when did a powerhouse NRL club see value in FIVE of our players that we have passed on signing?! Feels like I’m taking crazy pills

View: https://youtu.be/ilcRS5eUpwk?si=QeFz8IMTp77I0VpW

Pretty wild I wonder how the Pahs fans are reacting?

It’s literally Kiwi captain+son of a Cleary to trade for 5 out of favor Cup players/prospects McFadden is laughing to the bank

 

[Ref]

So what do we need more.
NAS
Ponga/Drinkwater.

I am super confident that Webby can breathe new life into NAS and get 2 big seasons out of him.
Maybe more especially so if R360 is starting get the wobbles.
He fills the void left by AFB.
Does his impact up front improve us enough and the follow effect through each set.
Or are the incumbents doing well enough and we are just lacking some speed and threats out wide.

After careful consideration… NAS as effective as he would be does not improve us that much.
Buy a quality outside back or two.
Someone like Jake Averillo would be a sensation here.

 

[WHB]

Hell no. He's average af.

That one game sent his career spiraling backwards.
He was a pretty reliable defensive center who could sniff out a try or two before then.

 

[WHB]

View attachment 15006

Later homies!

Fits that Penrith hooker mould actually.
Tough Hearty defensive player.
Kenny is a brick who passes.
So guess he wont have to worry too much about carrying if he gets called up.

 

[Defence]

So what do we need more.
NAS
Ponga/Drinkwater.

The latter but it’s hard to imagine either being released for 2026.
The odds on nas are shortening by the day.

 

[snake77]

The writing was on the wall for Lussick once we signed Healey. A credit to him for not dropping his lip and sticking it out in the NSW Cup side. Even playing in a different positon.

It sounds like he was a good guy to have around the club.

I have huge respect for the guys that stuck it out with the club while they were stuck in Australia during covid and came back with the club. We are getting to the point where there isn't many around. Shows the change NRL clubs go through in the space of 3-5 years.

Like I said in my first sentence. The writing was on the wall. His was a contract / roster spot we needed to free up if we wanted to sign someone else or promote someone.

Good luck Freddy. I would say break a leg like they say in acting. But he's already done that and I want our field kickers to see out the season.

 

[Makasene]

This aged well

I think I nailed every point didn't I?

- Taking our reserve graders
- Freddy will have something lined up


It's easy to suggest there is some sort of back handed trading going on.

But it's much more logical that Penrith are again under salary cap pressure with rumours that Lindsay Smith, Scott Sorenson and Luke Garner could be leaving (It is likely one of them, probably Smith could stay). They are replacing these guys with reserve grade stock at much lower prices who they hope can step up to first grade (Ale, Going, now Lussick). I confess to know little about Moi Moi.

 

[Horriors2013]

So what do we need more.
NAS
Ponga/Drinkwater.

I am super confident that Webby can breathe new life into NAS and get 2 big seasons out of him.
Maybe more especially so if R360 is starting get the wobbles.
He fills the void left by AFB.
Does his impact up front improve us enough and the follow effect through each set.
Or are the incumbents doing well enough and we are just lacking some speed and threats out wide.

After careful consideration… NAS as effective as he would be does not improve us that much.
Buy a quality outside back or two.
Someone like Jake Averillo would be a sensation here.

Yeah I saw he was looking to leave Phins. I'd take him. He'll make a difference.