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

 

[Horriors2013]

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.

I don't think he's going to lose much speed in 12 months. It's not like he's a geriatric. I' d take him for a couple of years until Jeremiah Le Mana comes through. I'd release Taine to go get a FG position in Superleague.

 

[shuffle]

I still find that hilarious even though it kind of worked in cup this year.

Didn’t he score a hat trick playing prop too?? lol

 

[Noitall]

I thought the condition was Eels get the final say in who he signs with, not that he can't sign with another NRL club?
I could be mistaken.

One condition I saw was that he couldn’t play against eels until his contract with them would have been through, you could be right though, there were definitely conditions

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Didn’t he score a hat trick playing prop too?? lol

I think it was up against Canberra too. Even in cup the green machine are monsters.

 

[Noitall]

Didn’t he score a hat trick playing prop too?? lol

I really think he could do well there. Astute pickups from the panthers all of them they’ve recruited from us, they all have some growth in them in terms of kicking on and prospering in that system. Nothing guaranteed but Lussick is a hard worker, tough and fit so really offers a lot

 

[Inruin]

I really think he could do well there. Astute pickups from the panthers all of them they’ve recruited from us, they all have some growth in them in terms of kicking on and prospering in that system. Nothing guaranteed but Lussick is a hard worker, tough and fit so really offers a lot

I think he is underrated by many here. Not a superstar but better than given credit for. He will be a good backup or even a bench spot maybe

 

[Noitall]

I think he is underrated by many here. Not a superstar but better than given credit for. He will be a good backup or even a bench spot maybe

As a dummy half it’s mainly been his pass he’s been criticised for and Mitch Kenny doesn’t have the greatest at times either. They remind me of each other a bit in terms of toughness but if he can work on a few areas he could surprise?

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

if we were in the shoes of the panthers, stacking the back end of our top 30 with reserve graders all from the same club, we'd be asking what is going on, where is the giant junior base?

 

[Theking267]

if we were in the shoes of the panthers, stacking the back end of our top 30 with reserve graders all from the same club, we'd be asking what is going on, where is there giant junior base?

It’s been poached. Katoa at the Dolphins. Even at the junior levels with Halagahu, Ah Kee, Attard, Lemoto ,Decourcy all gone from the Panthers junior system

 

[Blain]

if we were in the shoes of the panthers, stacking the back end of our top 30 with reserve graders all from the same club, we'd be asking what is going on, where is there giant junior base?

They are a victim of their own success. They have plenty of juniors being poached by clubs, and guys who have out performed expectation and demand more money/higher spots in their rosters.

That leads the top 30 at the Panthers to need an over supply of guys who are minimum wage, like Lussick, Going and Ale to balance out a McLean who is needing to double his contract value, somewhat unexpectedly. Guys who will play 3-4 games over origin period, and can plug 20 minutes off the bench when they get a couple of injuries. They also offer experience for good value, you can't have a bunch of back ups who are young, you need balance.

 

[Fizurg]

One condition I saw was that he couldn’t play against eels until his contract with them would have been through, you could be right though, there were definitely conditions

Eels having a say over any future contract would be an interesting one. Id love to know what teams they would and wouldn't let him play for. Would it be bottom dweller teams or out of state teams? I see a world where having to relocate to NZ could be seen as enough of a punishment to be OK with the Eels.
Hes a great player but the way its ended with his last two teams i get the feeling he's not someone you would really want in your squad?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

They are a victim of their own success. They have plenty of juniors being poached by clubs, and guys who have out performed expectation and demand more money/higher spots in their rosters.

That leads the top 30 at the Panthers to need an over supply of guys who are minimum wage, like Lussick, Going and Ale to balance out a McLean who is needing to double his contract value, somewhat unexpectedly. Guys who will play 3-4 games over origin period, and can plug 20 minutes off the bench when they get a couple of injuries. They also offer experience for good value, you can't have a bunch of back ups who are young, you need balance.

That poor club!

Maybe we should do them another solid and offer to take him off their hands so they don't have to deal with that expense?

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

They are a victim of their own success. They have plenty of juniors being poached by clubs, and guys who have out performed expectation and demand more money/higher spots in their rosters.

That leads the top 30 at the Panthers to need an over supply of guys who are minimum wage, like Lussick, Going and Ale to balance out a McLean who is needing to double his contract value, somewhat unexpectedly. Guys who will play 3-4 games over origin period, and can plug 20 minutes off the bench when they get a couple of injuries. They also offer experience for good value, you can't have a bunch of back ups who are young, you need balance.

Devils advocate:

We had a typical amount of injuries last year and MGT, Lussick, Ale, Going, and Harper featured in 3 games between them.

Chuck in Bunty and Big Ed and its 14 games or 3.4% of the available appearances for 7 players.

The main benefit of being in top 30 + developmental is being able to train like a full time professional, unless you have a souths style injury apocalypse, guys don’t really play.

The triple byes take the sting out of the origin period and NRL teams just don’t believe in rotation or load management, these signings are Ivan conservatism - they deserve to have their playing stocks raided if they aren’t willing to create space for their young players – I for one am pleased to see it's not us signing up marginal players because the coaches mate offered them to us

 

[Wrighty]

I don't think he's going to lose much speed in 12 months. It's not like he's a geriatric. I' d take him for a couple of years until Jeremiah Le Mana comes through. I'd release Taine to go get a FG position in Superleague.

Gutho is still good - he will be around that level when he is 30 instead of his current level. Even if he only loses 0.5 seconds over 40 metres that will be significant in terms of reigning him in from his current epic performances. It's also not 12 months. It is 16 months untl the 2027 season.

 

[Five&Last]

They are a victim of their own success. They have plenty of juniors being poached by clubs, and guys who have out performed expectation and demand more money/higher spots in their rosters.

That leads the top 30 at the Panthers to need an over supply of guys who are minimum wage, like Lussick, Going and Ale to balance out a McLean who is needing to double his contract value, somewhat unexpectedly. Guys who will play 3-4 games over origin period, and can plug 20 minutes off the bench when they get a couple of injuries. They also offer experience for good value, you can't have a bunch of back ups who are young, you need balance.

Their succession planning hasn’t been that great. They’ve tried to keep every single member of their championship team instead sustainably managing the cap for the long term

Choosing to keep Luai over blooding Isaiya Katoa never made sense. They had a low cost replacement who had all time potential just sitting there.

I even think they will regret letting go of Stephen Crichton. In my opinion, you let go of Dylan Edwards and move Crichton to fullback to justify matching the Dog salary on offer.

 

[Makasene]

Their succession planning hasn’t been that great. They’ve tried to keep every single member of their championship team instead sustainably managing the cap for the long term

Choosing to keep Luai over blooding Isaiya Katoa never made sense. They had a low cost replacement who had all time potential just sitting there.

I even think they will regret letting go of Stephen Crichton. In my opinion, you let go of Dylan Edwards and move Crichton to fullback to justify matching the Dog salary on offer.

I think it is hard to judge.

You don't know the money that's been offered. They have won Premierships with the guys they kept.

Katoa is an especially tricky one, he left before playing first grade. He's also a halfback, Penrith have one of them. If anything, Tigers going big on Luai to be a 7 looks shaky.

 

[watcher]

I am a proponent of work ethic over talent. The example is CNK, he is not rapid, he has an adequat game as a playmaker FB, but certainly not elite BUT, he runs himself into the ground, fearlesz and is a reliable defender. I think you need players who have that work ethic who are always working to get into the gsme. They are also great trainers which is a great example to young players.

 

[juju]

Their succession planning hasn’t been that great. They’ve tried to keep every single member of their championship team instead sustainably managing the cap for the long term

Choosing to keep Luai over blooding Isaiya Katoa never made sense. They had a low cost replacement who had all time potential just sitting there.

I even think they will regret letting go of Stephen Crichton. In my opinion, you let go of Dylan Edwards and move Crichton to fullback to justify matching the Dog salary on offer.

Winning 4 titles in a row - i think they get a pass. A huge pass even.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I am a proponent of work ethic over talent. The example is CNK, he is not rapid, he has an adequat game as a playmaker FB, but certainly not elite BUT, he runs himself into the ground, fearlesz and is a reliable defender. I think you need players who have that work ethic who are always working to get into the gsme. They are also great trainers which is a great example to young players.

I think it's a false choice because ultimately you need both. ATM us and the dogs are in the same position I feel: we both have a team of tireless workers that play well to established structures. That can get you to the finals, but as was shown this year that isn't enough to get to the big dance. As much as I hate the Broncs and the Storm, they do have that X factor in the backline that we are missing. Unless we rectify that, I really do think finals week 2 is our upper limit.

 

[Cces]

I am a proponent of work ethic over talent. The example is CNK, he is not rapid, he has an adequat game as a playmaker FB, but certainly not elite BUT, he runs himself into the ground, fearlesz and is a reliable defender. I think you need players who have that work ethic who are always working to get into the gsme. They are also great trainers which is a great example to young players.

Can't fault his work ethic but how did you come to the conclusion he's an adequate ball player? He's hardly seen on the left edge & didn't have any try or linebreak assists between Rounds 3 & 27 this year