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: 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

 

[Inruin]

It is an interesting thought, could Halasima be a strike centre? When you look at that bulldogs game on his debut, it was there that he almost won the game and that knights game was a barnstorming run wide? Could his being shifted there against panthers a sign of things to come? We seem to have an abundance of second rowers and it would be a huge move to shift our most promising. Some see Fatialofa as the one that could shift, really need Leiataua to recognise his potential

Not out of the question, particularly with the injury prone centers we have currently - Pompey excluded.

 

[sup42]

It is an interesting thought, could Halasima be a strike centre? When you look at that bulldogs game on his debut, it was there that he almost won the game and that knights game was a barnstorming run wide? Could his being shifted there against panthers a sign of things to come? We seem to have an abundance of second rowers and it would be a huge move to shift our most promising. Some see Fatialofa as the one that could shift, really need Leiataua to recognise his potential

Another way to look at this is who would you back to be more impactful given time to learn the position? Ali? Berry? or Leka.

I would say Leka would leave those two in the dust if the club went that way.

Having said that, something fans don't seem to factor in, is that Webster and Jones and Agar et al will have had this very discussion about every single player at the club.

They would have done an evening or three looking at the strengths vs weakness's of every single quick forward that is a serious option for centers in their hypothetical planning A plan B plan C etc.

And I dare say their first priority will be to try to give development players like Leka as much stability and learning in one position during their growth years. So saying, while Leka may remain in the back row for a bunch of years, they will be thinking what if we make him like Capewell, a genuine regular injury cover at center.

And they would have gone further than any of us, they would have had the same discussions about Dimitric at Center, EIT, Fats yadda yadda yadda,

Where they are somewhat hamstrung is that the specialist young centers at the club have been on the cusp of perhaps making a go of it, then they keep breaking down....which makes it really hard to know if they are ever gonna get there.

 

[Noitall]

Another way to look at this is who would you back to be more impactful given time to learn the position? Ali? Berry? or Leka.

I would say Leka would leave those two in the dust if the club went that way.

Having said that, something fans don't seem to factor in, is that Webster and Jones and Agar et al will have had this very discussion about every single player at the club.

They would have done an evening or three looking at the strengths vs weakness's of every single quick forward that is a serious option for centers in their hypothetical planning A plan B plan C etc.

And I dare say their first priority will be to try to give development players like Leka as much stability and learning in one position during their growth years. So saying, while Leka may remain in the back row for a bunch of years, they will be thinking what if we make him like Capewell, a genuine regular injury cover at center.

And they would have gone further than any of us, they would have had the same discussions about Dimitric at Center, EIT, Fats yadda yadda yadda,

Where they are somewhat hamstrung is that the specialist young centers at the club have been on the cusp of perhaps making a go of it, then they keep breaking down....which makes it really hard to know if they are ever gonna get there.

I’ve been like a stuck record but there’s something about Caelys Putoko I reckon. Highly rated in the union world before choosing league and physically strong looking

 

[Noitall]

One person who doesnt figure in FB talk is TMM, and he is proven from his Broncos days. Fast, good defender, ball playing skills. To me he has the most versatlity since Lance Hohaia.

I see you over on the knights forum today. Is that just speculation around you’ve seen?

 

[Five&Last]

could Halasima be a strike centre?

He's played more Lock in his junior days than Center so I doubt it.

Played Lock through SG ball.

He's this size at 19 and only going to add more size as he gets older.

 

[Noitall]

He's played more Lock in his junior days than Center so I doubt it.

He's this size at 19 and only going add more size as he gets older.

Yeah I must admit he looks bigger around the chest and neck in the recent pictures. Just really a conversation because of the panthers game where he was played there

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Yeah I must admit he looks bigger around the chest and neck in the recent pictures. Just really a conversation because of the panthers game where he was played there

Some will tell you it's not a conversation worth having and take the piss out of your sir. Well, that's what I got any ways for suggesting it....strange that some of these people seem to change their tune when talking to you about the same thing....

 

[Dannevegas]

He's played more Lock in his junior days than Center so I doubt it.

Played Lock through SG ball.

He's this size at 19 and only going to add more size as he gets older.

He’s quite small tho, Wide in the shoulders but pretty slim and only looks about 6ft flat.
Crazy how strong he is.

I’d be going with these boys to fight it out for a centre spot, may be young but stuff it.

Leiataua, Fatialofa, Putoko, Norris.

Of course you have Pompey, Berry and Charnze there as well. But we’ve seen Pompey’s ceiling and I think he’s good depth, Same with Charnze they aren’t breaking the line or really threatening there opposite centre.
And Berry’s just too injury prone.

I do think we have options now tho, where we can afford to have Pompey there, just a solid reliable player as long as we have enough game breakers in the other positions

 

[watcher]

I see you over on the knights forum today. Is that just speculation around you’ve seen?

Speculation, heard comments about it so thought I would ask.

 

[Five&Last]

He’s quite small tho, Wide in the shoulders but pretty slim and only looks about 6ft flat.
Crazy how strong he is.

I’d be going with these boys to fight it out for a centre spot, may be young but stuff it.

Leiataua, Fatialofa, Putoko, Norris.

Of course you have Pompey, Berry and Charnze there as well. But we’ve seen Pompey’s ceiling and I think he’s good depth, Same with Charnze they aren’t breaking the line or really threatening there opposite centre.
And Berry’s just too injury prone.

I do think we have options now tho, where we can afford to have Pompey there, just a solid reliable player as long as we have enough game breakers in the other positions

I wouldn't say he's slim at all, and he looks to have put on even more muscle over the offseason. Looks wider than Barney and JFH in the wrestling training photos. Chest and shoulders are enormous.

His speed will keep him in the second row, but the rate he's putting size on he's more likely to move inwards not outwards. I liked him at lock in SG ball, gets him more touches of the ball.

Leiataua needs a big season. He still needs to do more in first grade to prove he's not just a size bully that's come through the ranks outplaying other outside backs because he's bigger than them, then struggles against first graders where he doesn't have that advantage. Showed a little bit of skill in NSW cup towards the back end of the season. Needs to build on that. But these young guys coming through in Putoko, Norris, Kali and Pasikala have speed and electric running games.

Leiataua, Berry, Charnze and Pompey doesn't scream a lot of try scoring ability.