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

 

[Noitall]

On Nanai, I have heard he has some very serious problems with the shoulder. Before he injured it in the PAC Champs there were real concerns about the stability of it and that it doesn’t sit right. Now he has injured it again. It may explain some of the defensive issues he was having, with a lack of trust in it

That’s a shame to hear because I thought he was in for a big season after what he turned out for Samoa. They lost Luki last year to a serious injury ruling him out for last season and Payten needs a decent season to survive

 

[Piltdown Man]

Starting to think Ali is a bit of a show pony. This could be one of the many that never reach thier potential.

Worst case … another one that gets off-loaded and comes back and shits all over us for the next 5 years… (I still think the potential is there but sooner or later you gotta show up)

 

[Canonball]

Cmon bro, that emote was fire haha. We have enough quiet, humble dudes

Yeah, also i think we're forgetting how excited a lot of us were when he first turned up too ... he's got some skills, and the aggression is there - i really wnt to see him succeed

 

[Neo]

That’s a shame to hear because I thought he was in for a big season after what he turned out for Samoa. They lost Luki last year to a serious injury ruling him out for last season and Payten needs a decent season to survive

Yeah it shows how tough cap management is too. He looked like the future for them (may well still be), but injuries can adjust a players value by so much

 

[Naynay]

I don't see what he brings that EIT/Fats/Gannon won't bring to an edge row. Conversely, his size and aggression (based on his games this year before injury) is something that the other young forwards we have can't match. I'd be using him as a bench middle. If Capewah retires, give it to one of the others.

The talk is hes the most athletic. They had bigger wraps on him then anyone else. EIT seems to be the work horse of the group so probably would see him play a middle bench role

Also if any of them was going to be ready to take over the 80 min second rower position tomorrow it would appear to be laban

 

[SJ2k]

We need Ali to come out guns blazing this year and become our standout back or we're cooked. So I refuse to believe he's fizzling out

 

[Brightman]

We need Ali to come out guns blazing this year and become our standout back or we're cooked. So I refuse to believe he's fizzling out

FFS we we're a top 4 team for most of last season and finished top 8 without Ali, but if he makes a centre jersey his own it does sound promising..

 

[WAH MAN]

FFS we we're a top 4 team for most of last season and finished top 8 without Ali, but if he makes a centre jersey his own it does sound promising..

1. Stay injury free
2. Be busy and active during the game

He's alright. Still part of the young crop so time is on his side.

 

[Noitall]

FFS we we're a top 4 team for most of last season and finished top 8 without Ali, but if he makes a centre jersey his own it does sound promising..

I had a look at our line ups from game to game last year and it’s easy to forget the adversity we faced right from the get go around the backline initially, but then overall. Right from the start we had DWZ out replaced by Tuaupiki and by round 3 we’d lost both wingers and going between playing Kosi there and shifting Pompey from centre and playing Berry and Leiataua at centre. Then Berry injured saw MGT given a go and Capewell playing more than you’d like at centre. By the time we played the bulldogs whether it be deemed Capewell more valuable in the forwards or it not working, CNK got time at centre. The fact that everyone expected Capewell to be centre against panthers and opting for Halasima after Capewell not played there again makes me think that role is past him no matter the necessity in the clubs eyes? A couple of things stood out to me that the last game against manly that we lost was probably our strongest lineup of who you’d think would be Webster’s top team without Metcalf and Barnett and it wasn’t enough to beat a team who’s season was over and we going into finals. Las Vegas looked like a shit season was ahead, but I think it’s our continuing inability to turn up in big or hyped games. Round 2 against manly was grounds for optimism because manly had a big round 1 win and roosters following was a good win. We still had Walker at that point and managed to keep winning when he departed so those early wins highlight the value of Metcalf and Barnett to me early on to then be playing what would be considered our strongest lineup apart from those two missing later on. Recruiting some wingers in AKP and Mellars looks the right thing to have done, but centre could be an issue too with that being an area injuries are occurring?

 

[Brightman]

I had a look at our line ups from game to game last year and it’s easy to forget the adversity we faced right from the get go around the backline initially, but then overall. Right from the start we had DWZ out replaced by Tuaupiki and by round 3 we’d lost both wingers and going between playing Kosi there and shifting Pompey from centre and playing Berry and Leiataua at centre. Then Berry injured saw MGT given a go and Capewell playing more than you’d like at centre. By the time we played the bulldogs whether it be deemed Capewell more valuable in the forwards or it not working, CNK got time at centre. The fact that everyone expected Capewell to be centre against panthers and opting for Halasima after Capewell not played there again makes me think that role is past him no matter the necessity in the clubs eyes? A couple of things stood out to me that the last game against manly that we lost was probably our strongest lineup of who you’d think would be Webster’s top team without Metcalf and Barnett and it wasn’t enough to beat a team who’s season was over and we going into finals. Las Vegas looked like a shit season was ahead, but I think it’s our continuing inability to turn up in big or hyped games. Round 2 against manly was grounds for optimism because manly had a big round 1 win and roosters following was a good win. We still had Walker at that point and managed to keep winning when he departed so those early wins highlight the value of Metcalf and Barnett to me early on to then be playing what would be considered our strongest lineup apart from those two missing later on. Recruiting some wingers in AKP and Mellars looks the right thing to have done, but centre could be an issue too with that being an area injuries are occurring?

100% that's why I say the young guys really stepped up and kept us in the hunt, they really excelled and developed faster than projected. Like @WAH MAN said about Ali, they're young and still have plenty of time to round off as players while pushing the club forward.

The next couple of seasons will be so interesting as the development and transition of young reserves to established 1st graders takes place and the seniors who have helped set the standards are usurped by the future talent..

 

[Noitall]

100% that's why I say the young guys really stepped up and kept us in the hunt, they really excelled and developed faster than projected. Like @WAH MAN said about Ali, they're young and still have plenty of time to round off as players while pushing the club forward.

The next couple of seasons will be so interesting as the development and transition of young reserves to established 1st graders takes place and the seniors who have helped set the standards are usurped by the future talent..

It’s interesting looking at when players are signed until currently. Those here until 2028 or further gives the impression their thoughts are currently the team by then could look something like

Fullback?
Wing- Mellars or AKP?
Centre?
Centre?
Wing- Mellars or AKP?
Five eighth- Linnane
Halfback-Metcalf
Prop-JFH
Hooker?
Prop- Vaimauga or TSS
Second row- Halasima, Laban or EIT
Second row- Halasima, Laban or EIT
Lock- Gannon

And at this point Connor Bowden comes into the top 30, unsure of Braelan Marsh’s contract status at that point? I think Jason Salalilo is top 30 by them and potentially Tafua?

 

[Makasene]

We need Ali to come out guns blazing this year and become our standout back or we're cooked. So I refuse to believe he's fizzling out

I don't think we need him.

But we definitely want him if he reaches that potential.

So far, he has shown he can only play right centre. A complete non-event when moved to the left.

Above all, his knee is still strapped. Maybe it's precaution? But if he comes into the season with an underlying injury there is no possible way he can carve out consistency in the NRL, no one can, not least a rookie.

 

[Noitall]

I don't think we need him.

But we definitely want him if he reaches that potential.

So far, he has shown he can only play right centre. A complete non-event when moved to the left.

Above all, his knee is still strapped. Maybe it's precaution? But if he comes into the season with an underlying injury there is no possible way he can carve out consistency in the NRL, no one can, not least a rookie.

Early last season was where he had his form, I think a fit Berry gets the spot ahead of him though. I think he could be who they have in mind to take over from Pompey but agree on the right is where he has looked best so far? He struck up a great combination with TMM from their time in nsw cup together I reckon. I think the question will be if he’s patient enough and hard working enough to take the spot off Pompey? That reel I posted had some great moments, when he hits the ball at pace you could see Tupou at the roosters with the arm grab wanted no part of him

 

[Noitall]

What’s the consensus of the position people think the club will develop Harry Inch, halves, centre or fullback? Apparently the second time they had a go at getting him to come over so reports state so you’d assume the club likes the look of him for a particular role?

 

[JustVisiting82]

What’s the consensus of the position people think the club will develop Harry Inch, halves, centre or fullback? Apparently the second time they had a go at getting him to come over so reports state so you’d assume the club likes the look of him for a particular role?

This was discussed a fair bit after we signed him and I am pretty sure there is no consensus, just a million different opinions. I'm not aware of any info that's come out since then which would indicate anything about the club's plans but it sure will be interesting to see where they play him.

 

[Noitall]

This was discussed a fair bit after we signed him and I am pretty sure there is no consensus, just a million different opinions. I'm not aware of any info that's come out since then which would indicate anything about the club's plans but it sure will be interesting to see where they play him.

You would assume starts in jersey flegg ay? Should get a clearer picture of who’s training where when they return

 

[Ferdie]

A complete non-event when moved to the left.

I'm not sure Nicho Hynes agrees with that.


View: https://www.tiktok.com/@nrldopey/video/7409520909775637767

 

[Bevosa]

Nice little Pre-season write up by Zero tackle

MSN

 

[Falcon]

I think EIT will transfer to middle, he’ll be the better more athletic version of Jackson ford imo. And I reckon Fatialofa will end up in the centres due to his size and speed. But who knows that’s one of the good things about the whole squads pack, they’re all versatile. Only fish who I can think off the top of my head is an out and out prop

I’m slightly bewildered about all the talk of EIT transitioning to the middle. It’s been noted he’s got a big engine, and can play centre, but also fairly light at 96kg so why can’t he be a very mobile back rower?