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

 

[CWC]

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 and pillaged. 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.

I wonder if it's the 2023 success and their parents are life long warriors fans, coinciding with how weak the ABs are these days and Super Rugby/NPC are a shadow of itself pre-covid

Btw still intrigued where they'll play Inch

 

[Falcon]

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

If he can have a really good season in NSW Cup he will be a serious contender to start in 27’. Berry and Lauiatua have alot to prove this season they have a long term future at the club.

 

[Noitall]

If he can have a really good season in NSW Cup he will be a serious contender to start in 27’. Berry and Lauiatua have alot to prove this season they have a long term future at the club.

Think he would have gained a bit of confidence too playing representative league. Presumably centre is where he’s seen? Must admit I didn’t see much of the Cook Islands games but read comments about him being a bit dodgy under kicks in a game or perhaps defensive? I remember seeing criticism anyway. I agree with you, I could see him leapfrog a few

 

[WAH MAN]

If he can have a really good season in NSW Cup he will be a serious contender to start in 27’. Berry and Lauiatua have alot to prove this season they have a long term future at the club.

All Berry and Leiataua are missing is the ability to get consistent game time. So stink how much time is spent in rehab.

 

[Muddogz]

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.

I think it’s going to be part of our pathways recruiting union players. It increases the pool of players we can choose from and gives us an opportunity to recruit players with different skill sets.

Our pathways have been very poor since Cleary left and we haven’t produced a great junior since SJ in 2011 (although Halasima is heading in that trajectory). There’s some green shoots there under Cappy and picking up Aussie juniors and young rugby players will fill those holes that we have in our own systems.