Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment and Retention Discussion​

Player	2026​	2027​	2028​	2029​	2030​
Grant Anderson	-​	✔​	✔​	✔​
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	✔​	✔​	✔​
William Warbrick	-​	✔​	✔​	✔​
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔​	M​
Connor Bowden	U​	U​	✔​
Jett Cleary	S​	U​
Luke Hanson	S​
Motu Pasikala	S​	U​
Caelys-Paul Putoko	S​
Jason Salalilo	S​	U​	U​
Makaia Taufa	S​	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: 6/6

2027 Top 30: 22/30
2027 Supplementary: 0/6

2027 Gains: Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), William Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)
2027 Losses: Mitchell Barnett (Brisbane Broncos), Marata Niukore (Newcastle Knights), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Wakefield Trinity)

Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin
Will be off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2028 from November 1st, 2026: 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

 

[Dippa]

What a significant loss for the Warriors. That said, there’s really nothing more to add other than respect for a decision centred on family. Mitch and his family now have the opportunity to return home, provide for their son, and build the support network they need. Credit to the Warriors as a club for their understanding and for always placing family first. Only those closest to the situation would truly know what Mitch has been navigating.


I genuinely hope this becomes a fairytale story for Mitch and the Newcastle Knights. The player and leader Mitch became at the Warriors should naturally carry over to the Knights. Wishing them every success in landing Mitch and bringing them success — just as he helped drive success at the Warriors.


For the Warriors, the key takeaway is the leadership void this creates — not just leadership, but State of Origin and Kangaroos-level leadership. Historically, the Warriors’ most successful periods have often aligned with the presence of Australian representative-calibre players. I recently heard a discussion suggesting that the most consistent and high-performing NRL clubs tend to have around five Origin or Australian representative players within their squad.


As it currently stands, by 2027 the Warriors may have none.

 

[JustVisiting82]

Anyway, the club knows what they are doing, it will be interesting to watch this unfold. He might leave before the end of the year me thinks.

I reckon we would let him go early if the situation with his kid becomes more urgent, or he's clearly not in a good spot mentally, or our season turns to custard and we want to start clearing the decks early for next year. Otherwise I reckon he will play it out.

 

[JustVisiting82]

which is why I'd rather spend the extra cap space on a gun outside back. That's our relative weakness atm that is the barrier to us being a genuine contender. Replace CNK with KP for example and we are in a premiership window next year.

Yeah, I agree.

 

[Naumaifooty]

With Mitch Barnett leaving at the end of the year the club should fast track Bishop Neal into NSW cup to develop as a full time middle and keep him there until he’s ready for first grade.

 

[WAH MAN]

Very disappointed in the caring and balanced comments here. Wahs supporters just a bunch of teddy bears.

There were no brownies involved so no dramas

 

[JustVisiting82]

For the Warriors, the key takeaway is the leadership void this creates — not just leadership, but State of Origin and Kangaroos-level leadership. Historically, the Warriors’ most successful periods have often aligned with the presence of Australian representative-calibre players. I recently heard a discussion suggesting that the most consistent and high-performing NRL clubs tend to have around five Origin or Australian representative players within their squad.


As it currently stands, by 2027 the Warriors may have none.

We will have JFH who would be selected for origin and Kangaroos if he was Australian. And perhaps some of our young guys will have reached a level where if they were Aussies they would be playing Origin. It seems more important to me to have that calibre of players rather than having caps for Origin and Kangaroos teams, although I am sure actually playing in that arena could be good for their development too.

Also though, I feel like playing at a good club with good systems helps certain players get picked for higher honours when there is a chance they might not have made it as far if they were at a lesser club. I feel like being in the Penrith system might have helped guys like Edwards and Martin for example - I am not saying they aren't really good players but I think being there has helped them make the most of their potential. I am taking the long way of saying it but what I am saying is if we have good development and playing systems at our club and we have the talent coming through then our Kiwi boys could reach that level without being Origins/Kangaroos reps.

 

[Muddogz]

Great player but it will be his leadership we will miss the most. Exceptionally good at dealing with the refs as well. Sure we will get a great season out of him if the body holds up.

A bit worried about the experience in the team if we lose Capewell, Niukore and RTS as well. We’ve got a very talented bunch of young forwards coming through but they are all still developing, hopefully one or two of them really come through this year.

 

[JaggedJ]

Usually when we release a top player on compassionate grounds we have an idea on a replacement first.

Curious to see if anything pops up over the next month.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Oh well Barney, Hope you get the proper care your tamariki needs brother. We'll enjoy you while we have you.

Naufahu, Play the home sick card and come home next year brother!

 

[Canonball]

Have to say that the club really does good by its players - warrior for life - this means treating everyone with the respect and mana they deserve - and Mitch undoubtedly has loads of it, which he in turn built up by becoming a Warrior. It's amazing that in a corporate and team environment this sort of case by case stuff gets handled and handled well - gonna miss him of course, but we will see him putting in big time this year, its undeniable motivation, we can be certain he will embody it

 

[sballer7]

Do we think, that given Barnett has been negotiating this release since late last year, there is a high probability that we have already signed his replacement. Potentially they were waiting to have it locked up prior to releasing this news. I just thi k this would have come out earlier if it was a straight release.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Do we think, that given Barnett has been negotiating this release since late last year, there is a high probability that we have already signed his replacement. Potentially they were waiting to have it locked up prior to releasing this news. I just thi k this would have come out earlier if it was a straight release

Hope so!

 

[Naynay]

Do we think, that given Barnett has been negotiating this release since late last year, there is a high probability that we have already signed his replacement. Potentially they were waiting to have it locked up prior to releasing this news. I just thi k this would have come out earlier if it was a straight release.

I would say we might see an extension we didnt expect, maybe ford to stay on seeing as he’s pretty much been 3rd choice when Barney is gone.

wouldnt be mad about him staying

 

[sballer7]

If so, then that's a piss take.

 

[KO WAI RA]

Whanau comes 1st…!!!

Mitch has most definitely maximised his potential under Webby…
He has elevated the standard so leaves behind that steel edged hardness that our youth will aspire too & push beyond with Te Ika holding the rakau….!!!
Haere mai Kini….
Premiership is a calling sooner rather than later

 

[WAH MAN]

Taree and family support is closer to Newy than Brizzy.

Money and glory are closer to Brizzy than Newy.

 

[sballer7]

Taree and family support is closer to Newy than Brizzy.

Money and glory are closer to Brizzy than Newy.

Dead right. If its truely for family then Newy or Sydney. Broncos just makes it look opportunistic taken with Haas leaving.

 

[tajhay]

Some reports said that his child needs hospital support that does not exist in Auckland. Wonder what that is. If it doesnt exist in Auckland, good chance it wont exist in Newcastle either, so Brisbane would seem a likely option as they have very good children's hospital (outside of Sydney Metro areas).

Genuinely best wishes for him and his whanau. He came here as an OK signing and leaves here as one of our best. Will be sorely missed.

 

[Damo]

If so, then that's a piss take.

View attachment 15910

Not a pisstake at all, Brisbane isn't far from NSW North Coast where Mitches family is.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Some reports said that his child needs hospital support that does not exist in Auckland. Wonder what that is. If it doesnt exist in Auckland, good chance it wont exist in Newcastle either, so Brisbane would seem a likely option as they have very good children's hospital (outside of Sydney Metro areas).

Newey to say Hornsby is less than 2hrs by car.

Brisbane to Newey by air is 90mins.