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	✔​	✔​
Connor Bowden	U​	U​	✔​
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]

Demitric is one of our very best young talents. He is tough, fit, skilful and can create when needed. He can tackle hard and run hard but mixes up his game with some footwork (which is much smarter than some of us old fullas, when we were young ).

He and Leka had a great year. But 2nd year syndrome will show if they are the real deal yet or need more time to adjust to being balls to the wall flat out every week in FG.

 

[Noitall]

He and Leka had a great year. But 2nd year syndrome will show if they are the real deal yet or need more time to adjust to being balls to the wall flat out every week in FG.

Vaimauga is perhaps the one I’m less worried about with him being relatively inconspicuous compared to the headlines Halasima is getting, though interestingly it was Halasima to 18th man for Tonga while Vaimauga maintained his position. I think with Vaimauga and his partner having a child he realises need to provide and hopefully will be a positive individual who’s close to him. We’ve got an amazing group to set the standard in JFH, Capewell, RTS, CNK, Barnett, DWZ

 

[Noitall]

I see the warriorholic’s podcast yesterday on fullbacks had him mention he thinks Jeremiah Lemana is doing a train and trial preseason? Seems we’ve got a spot left, do people think we’ll promote someone from within the club as some have thought all along, or leave a spot open in case someone becomes available as we often do? Seems like train and trialist’s could be minimal with only one spot up for grabs?

 

[Five&Last]

Vaimauga is perhaps the one I’m less worried about with him being relatively inconspicuous compared to the headlines Halasima is getting, though interestingly it was Halasima to 18th man for Tonga while Vaimauga maintained his position. I think with Vaimauga and his partner having a child he realises need to provide and hopefully will be a positive individual who’s close to him. We’ve got an amazing group to set the standard in JFH, Capewell, RTS, CNK, Barnett, DWZ

Vaimauga has just been around the set up for longer too. He's been earmarked as long term first grader since he was 17 in Redcliffe and has been training full time with the first grade team since then too.

Halasima has had a more hard and fast rise to the top. He wasn't on many people's radar at the start of that SG ball season in 2023. He's gone from SG ball to NSW cup in one season and then playing a full season of first grade within 2 years of that. That's usually a recipe for second season syndrome. Hopefully he continues to lock in and improve. Could be one of the goats if he does.

 

[Noitall]

Vaimauga has just been around the set up for longer too. He's been earmarked as long term first grader since he was 17 in Redcliffe and has been training full time with the first grade team since then too.

Halasima has had a more hard and fast rise to the top. He wasn't on many people's radar (including probably the club) at the start of that SG ball season. He's gone from SG ball to NSW cup in one season and then playing a full season of first grade the next. That's usually a recipe for second season syndrome. Hopefully he continues to lock in and improve. Could be one of the goats if he does.

While many were watching Zyon Maiu’u, Vaimauga-or Sifakula at that point just went about his business. Was playing more second row at that point? Laban was picked for a big one last year and a good performance in the indigenous game looked like it would happen, but injuries aside hopefully this is the year he takes a starting second row spot off Capewell. He’s got plenty of competition in others like EIT and Kayliss Fatialofa that will be hungry

 

[Five&Last]

I see the warriorholic’s podcast yesterday on fullbacks had him mention he thinks Jeremiah Lemana is doing a train and trial preseason? Seems we’ve got a spot left, do people think we’ll promote someone from within the club as some have thought all along, or leave a spot open in case someone becomes available as we often do? Seems like train and trialist’s could be minimal with only one spot up for grabs?

Everyone doing preseason that's not top30/dev is on a train and trial.

Lemana's just there to soak it up. No chance of any full time contract this year. Would be extremely lucky to get a NSW cup debut next season.

 

[Noitall]

Everyone doing preseason that's not top30/dev is on a train and trial.

Lemana's just there to soak it up. No chance of any full time contract this year. Would be extremely lucky to get a NSW cup debut next season.

Much appreciated the explanation. So do you see us bringing anyone else in or keeping the spot available? Decent players like Mason Teague are doing train and trial preseason at broncos so wondering if we could bring anyone over to trial with us?

 

[WAH MAN]

He and Leka had a great year. But 2nd year syndrome will show if they are the real deal yet or need more time to adjust to being balls to the wall flat out every week in FG.

Durability lessons from Adam Pompey will help

 

[Noitall]

Lemana's just there to soak it up. No chance of any full time contract this year. Would be extremely lucky to get a NSW cup debut next season

Still looks like a lot of conditioning and muscle to go on some of these young guys yet but someone looking conditioned enough to get amongst it is Caelys Putoko. Had a massive debut in nsw cup and that looked like it was all the club needed to see

 

[Boston Boy]

Vaimauga is perhaps the one I’m less worried about with him being relatively inconspicuous compared to the headlines Halasima is getting, though interestingly it was Halasima to 18th man for Tonga while Vaimauga maintained his position. I think with Vaimauga and his partner having a child he realises need to provide and hopefully will be a positive individual who’s close to him. We’ve got an amazing group to set the standard in JFH, Capewell, RTS, CNK, Barnett, DWZ

Agree, Demitric is a hard worker with a bit of X factor, while Leka is X factor and learning to be a hard worker. Both are improving greatly and will succeed. Leka just needs to continue to work hard and the opportunities for his skills to show will happen. Demitric just needs to continue to work hard and he will grow in experience and be successful. I believe both will succeed in 2026 (of course you might have the odd poor game - even the superstars do), Webby has them focused on the right things for them to excel.

 

[Teets]

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxFLebrLolc/
Also interesting that we let him go a year early too, so clearly not in the club's plans.

That Hooper kid from down South is a tall unit for his age and pozzie.

 

[Hitro]

Much appreciated the explanation. So do you see us bringing anyone else in or keeping the spot available? Decent players like Mason Teague are doing train and trial preseason at broncos so wondering if we could bring anyone over to trial with us?

All the internal promotions to the top 30 have been from development contracts in the last couple of years (EIT, TSS, Kayliss etc). So logically the next cab off the rank for an upgrade would be lasts years dev list.

From the below, only Cleary, Hansen and Kali are still at the club and haven't been upgraded. Cleary looks like he's locked in for NRL in '27, so doubt he'd get an upgrade. Luke Hansen and Sio Kali have both been signed over (Jye Linnane, AKP, Haizyn) so question marks on whether they will or not. My money would be on Kali getting upgraded, but definitely not a sure thing.



This in turn opens a space for another youngster to get on that dev list. My pick for players who are competing to get on the list this coming season are ( in no particular order)

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Dezman Laban
Makaia Tafua
Caeyls Putoko
Motu Pasikala
Junior Sikuvea
Jack Thompson
Harry Inch
Kahu Capper
Connor Bowden
Bishop Neal

But could be someone else who dominates preseason and ticks all the boxes, who knows

 

[Noitall]

Agree, Demitric is a hard worker with a bit of X factor, while Leka is X factor and learning to be a hard worker. Both are improving greatly and will succeed. Leka just needs to continue to work hard and the opportunities for his skills to show will happen. Demitric just needs to continue to work hard and he will grow in experience and be successful. I believe nothing will succeed in 2026 (of course you might have the odd poor game - even the superstars do), Webby has them focused on the right things for them to excel.

What I did have concerns with was late in the season, there looked to me to be a bit of a shovel the ball to Halasima in hopes he can create something from the team. We need more in attack while maintaining our high defensive structure

 

[Hitro]

That Hooper kid from down South is a tall unit for his age and pozzie.

Yeah tall dude alright

 

[Noitall]

All the internal promotions to the top 30 have been from development contracts in the last couple of years (EIT, TSS, Kayliss etc). So logically the next cab off the rank for an upgrade would be lasts years dev list.

From the below, only Cleary, Hansen and Kali are still at the club and haven't been upgraded. Cleary looks like he's locked in for NRL in '27, so doubt he'd get an upgrade. Luke Hansen and Sio Kali have both been signed over (Jye Linnane, AKP, Haizyn) so question marks on whether they will or not. My money would be on Kali getting upgraded, but definitely not a sure thing.

View attachment 15075

This in turn opens a space for another youngster to get on that dev list. My pick for players who are competing to get on the list this coming season are ( in no particular order)

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Dezman Laban
Makaia Tafua
Caeyls Putoko
Motu Pasikala
Junior Sikuvea
Jack Thompson
Harry Inch
Kahu Capper
Connor Bowden
Bishop Neal

But could be someone else who dominates preseason and ticks all the boxes, who knows

Would be interesting to know if Hanson is in fact still here and whether there’s been any sightings? Would he be back to training by now?

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 15077
Yeah tall dude alright

Have you seen him play?

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.facebook.com/locomotivation/posts/it-was-an-absolute-pleasure-to-meet-and-work-with-this-young-man-jacoby-hooper-t/1437046745098136/

Thought this was a big endorsement for that young man

 

[Hitro]

Have you seen him play?

no

 

[Boston Boy]

To be fair I don't like all these rugby signings. A few is ok, but I don't want a stack. We can damage our pathways and I also think it's healthy if both union and league pathways are unhealthy. I realise the NRL's many teams are going to be taking players regardless, I just think it's a healthier environment if both NZ Union and League pathways are strong and successful producing players for the big professional teams.

 

[Hitro]

Would be interesting to know if Hanson is in fact still here and whether there’s been any sightings? Would he be back to training by now?

Cup boys look to be back from the gatorade vid earlier in the week (Ali, Doyle, TT, Salalilo etc) . would've thought there would be more content up, but yeah good chance to check up. I'd say we would've heard if he wasn't because another team would have him in their preseason content?