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	✔​	✔​
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​
Kayliss Fatialofa	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: 28/30
2026 Supplementary: 2/6

2027 Top 30: 20/30
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

 

[WAH MAN]

I think it's the medical team that haven't figured Ali out yet.

I reckon he's top-heavy and would benefit from building his quads, hammies, glutes and intrinsic foot muscles. Imagine RTS leg build on Leiataua. That's my non qualified opinion.

 

[Five&Last]

just fyi the details of the extension Jason Salalilo signed earlier this year, confirmed supplementary list in 2026 and top 30 in 2027 & 2028

 

[Makasene]

I don’t know too much about it but from what I understand the right edge is predominantly the kick chaser? Is that a rule?

It's not necessarily a rule that the right side is the kick chaser. It is more to do with what boot the primary kickers uses. (majority of kicker would be right-footed)

A right-footed player kicking to the right side has more time to make their kick with the defensive line coming up. The player can move across field if needed to make their kick. Similarly the opposite is true for a left footed kicker. You can't really do that to the other side unless you possess some amazing banana kick bomb.

This is also the case for the kicking motion, a right-footed player kicking to the right, does so in an open stance which gives more control (Dropping in down on the 5m line for example). When kicking to the left the stance is more closed, and sometimes you see more of a stabbing-motion when kicking to the opposite side.

 

[Tragic]

I reckon Ali is at a crossroads, he needs better defense and more effort, he doesn't seem switched on unless he has the ball. Reminds me of Kevin Iro.
If he works hard this year he could be anything, if not then hello super league.

 

[Noitall]

I reckon Ali is at a crossroads, he needs better defense and more effort, he doesn't seem switched on unless he has the ball. Reminds me of Kevin Iro.
If he works hard this year he could be anything, if not then hello super league.

I agree unfortunately, though he is signed until the end of 2027 and Berry is the one needing an extension to be here beyond 2026. Was interesting how they all of a sudden shifted Leiataua over to the left and then he was dropped back to nsw cup? That’s my memory, was it injury enforced? Although not having the greatest speed in his arsenal, I think Pompey is our most well rounded centre at present. He can defend and scored his highest tally of tries last season, I think he’s beginning to scratch the surface

 

[Noitall]

It's not necessarily a rule that the right side is the kick chaser. It is more to do with what boot the primary kickers uses. (majority of kicker would be right-footed)

A right-footed player kicking to the right side has more time to make their kick with the defensive line coming up. The player can move across field if needed to make their kick. Similarly the opposite is true for a left footed kicker. You can't really do that to the other side unless you possess some amazing banana kick bomb.

This is also the case for the kicking motion, a right-footed player kicking to the right, does so in an open stance which gives more control (Dropping in down on the 5m line for example). When kicking to the left the stance is more closed, and sometimes you see more of a stabbing-motion when kicking to the opposite side.

Thanks for the explanation. So with Metcalf the primary kicker, you’d assume AKP to the right as someone with the speed to put pressure on the player that takes the ball from the last tackle kick? Looking at Mellars too, really impressive start to nsw cup with 8 tries from 10 games, 43 tackle breaks and a tackle efficiency of 85%. Think our wingers though experienced have a lot of pressure with good players trying to take their spots

 

[Noitall]

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

Looking at the squad at the top of the page and when players are signed until and the type of contract they’re on, it says Fatialofa is on a development contract for 2026 yet he’s on the Warriors site as one of the players listed? Does that indicate he’s top 30? Page obviously not updated with Lussick still there and no Vaimauga, EIT or Gannon

 

[Five&Last]

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

Looking at the squad at the top of the page and when players are signed until and the type of contract they’re on, it says Fatialofa is on a development contract for 2026 yet he’s on the Warriors site as one of the players listed? Does that indicate he’s top 30? Page obviously not updated with Lussick still there and no Vaimauga, EIT or Gannon

I think we can safely assume after the season he had this year and Penrith's poaching attempt, that he's been promoted to top 30.

He was arguably MVP of the NSW cup competition this year (or top 5) at 20 years old

 

[Noitall]

I think we can safely assume after the season he had this year and Penrith's poaching attempt, that he's been promoted to top 30.

He was arguably MVP of the NSW cup competition this year (or top 5) at 20 years old

As Cces mentioned that CG has made it unclear on the status of Fatialofa and EIT, you’d think both would be top 30? Interesting looking at the status of Kali at the top of the page and unclear of his type of contract for 2026? Nothing beyond, could he be another like Moimoi that they let go?