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

 

[Boston Boy]

If we did have Ponga and NAS we are the best shot at the title since 2002. But we all know the talk and supposed signings we have had over the years....

 

[sup42]

Surely if it was nas there would be an announcement soon because u would want to get him into preseason.
When are the other internationals due back?

I could see the Warriors playing somewhat hard ball with NAS.
And I could see NAS and his people expecting the RTS marquee signing treatment.

Lots of ruffled feathers to smooth over maybe? I mean after all we did turn him down when he was being hawked by the Storm as a gimme easy agreement for ANYONE prepared to come up with 800k.

I think NAS accepting Staceys olive branch/life line to the Kiwis is a positive sign for the Warriors (certainly their relationship anyway, NAS could have easily taken a rest for the PAC Champs).

I can see how this will take some time to iron out, because NAS will want dollar respect and the Warriors rightly will want a bit of a deal since they are in a reasonable position to bargain having called the Storms bluff already - our club has made it clear they will walk away from any negotiation if it is not advantageous to us.

I am hoping for news soon but won't be surprised to hear for example next year that NAS took Xmas off to think about it before an announcement next year (and I could imagine the club supporting/even encouraging that in view of his admission he needs time away from League).

That calm laid back aura that Penrose have these days where they will tell players go with our blessing readily translates into how to have a conversation with NAS along the lines of 'all's good have a holiday no pressure' (it is VERY Warriors culture) and it might prove the magic thing NAS is looking for after the intensity of the Storm system.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Where did this drinkwater talk come from?

There’s speculation he won’t re-sign with the Cowboys - that would give us at least a 1 in 20 chance I reckon. Geez would be an epic signing however, think we’ve shown interest before?

 

[Cces]

A new signing would keep us entertained but maybe Freddy just wanted a better opportunity & the club wanted some flexibility with their squad. As @Five&Last has said there's more incentive for the Train & Trial guys this offseason it they believe a contract is up for grabs.
Can't remember how we rolled in 2023 but in 24 & 25 we carried extra spots until late in the season before quietly upgrading Setu Tu ('24) & MGT ('25)

 

[Hitro]

A new signing would keep us entertained but maybe Freddy just wanted a better opportunity & the club wanted some flexibility with their squad. As @Five&Last has said there's more incentive for the Train & Trial guys this offseason it they believe a contract is up for grabs.
Can't remember how we rolled in 2023 but in 24 & 25 we carried extra spots until late in the season before quietly upgrading Setu Tu ('24) & MGT ('25)

Agreed - id say they have probably been looking to move Freddy on anyway so timing may not be related to another signing.

 

[sup42]

A new signing would keep us entertained but maybe Freddy just wanted a better opportunity & the club wanted some flexibility with their squad. As @Five&Last has said there's more incentive for the Train & Trial guys this offseason it they believe a contract is up for grabs.
Can't remember how we rolled in 2023 but in 24 & 25 we carried extra spots until late in the season before quietly upgrading Setu Tu ('24) & MGT ('25)

Probably.

As far as extra spots go it's a misnomer at the Warriors where our class of import is almost never marquee, and never marquee in bunches, or in chains of succession, our retention of hopeful Juniors is high due to nobody else syndrome.

I think extra spots is very relevant an argument in the current climate of super star Juniors up the Razoo though.

But historic trends regarding keeping spots, is really not a thing at a club that has only had a genuine stacked top four roster with spine, forwards and backs (the Anderson years) every other iteration the Warriors are perpetual the 'almost as good as the REAL top four salary caps (on a good day) we operate chronically short of best picks....ergo roster spots may often be a case of can't fill rather than strategy.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Far too much logic in the last 30 minutes for my liking fellas.

Please refer back to mystery meetings between Wahs staff and NRL superstars, contracted players and heir say rumours!

 

[roguei]

Far too much logic in the last 30 minutes for my liking fellas.

Please refer back to mystery meetings between Wahs staff and NRL superstars, contracted players and heir say rumours!

Aye papenhuyzen is also looking for a new club.... Probably going ot end up being in rugby or somthing. But boy do we love our injury prone super stars.

 

[WAH MAN]

Aye papenhuyzen is also looking for a new club.... Probably going ot end up being in rugby or somthing. But boy do we love our injury prone super stars.

Buying an injured player can pay handsome dividends. Albeit with risks involved.

 

[juju]

A new signing would keep us entertained but maybe Freddy just wanted a better opportunity & the club wanted some flexibility with their squad. As @Five&Last has said there's more incentive for the Train & Trial guys this offseason it they believe a contract is up for grabs.
Can't remember how we rolled in 2023 but in 24 & 25 we carried extra spots until late in the season before quietly upgrading Setu Tu ('24) & MGT ('25)

Playing him at prop for a season was a not so subtle way of saying we want you to leave so we can have your top 30 spot to play with.
Probably both parties were waiting for a club to put their hand up for sometime.

Credit to Freddy he went hard all year.

 

[Noitall]

Playing him at prop for a season was a not so subtle way of saying we want you to leave so we can have your top 30 spot to play with.
Probably both parties were waiting for a club to put their hand up for sometime.

Credit to Freddy he went hard all year.

I copped a bit of grief for thinking he would make a decent lock. Always thought he needed to add another string to his bow to offer more off the bench in the games a couple of seasons back where he didn’t get on the field because Egan got through the game. Think this move either indicates we’re keeping a spot open, or it’s a prop we’re lining up with the amount of hookers and those that can play dummy half?

 

[SJ2k]

Feel like we end up with zero of those options and just promote someone from within or leave a spot empty. Would be the most underwhelming recruitment year for us in some time, potentially zero starters. Who would even be the best of the signings? AKP who couldn't make it at the Titans?

I'd take NAS, at least that would be something whether he works out or not. Real upside there. I'd take Ponga or Drinky a million times over before him though but I doubt they're realistic options. We need a flaw like his to be in with a shot.

 

[Wrighty]

Cowboys have said they are keeping Drinkwater for 2026.
They are prepared to let him go when his contract expires for the 2027 season. He will turn 30 in May of 2027 and will be too old to use his speed to burn people like he does now. Drinkwater is a hard pass for me. Let him go to Perth.