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

 

[Makasene]

Cam George has said Barny is all in for 2026. That's enough for me until proven otherwise.

 

[Makasene]

NAS won't be at our club. The guy is opposite to Barney, he's a 2015 NZ Warriors type signing. Over the hill, injury prone, massive ego. He wouldn't fit in Webster style - Let's be honest, it is lazy journalism to link him here.

There isn't a like for like guy on the market, unless a kiwi does a JFH. Perth are throwing cash around at anyone half decent not signed, tough market to recruit in. But I honestly think we have the cattle to fill the void, if guys like TSS and Marata show us they can be 30 minute+ NRL props. JFH, Demi, Ford and TSS/Marata is a decent rotation.

Moving Clark to prop another option, to fit Demi or Gannon into 13 would be fine also. Clark was basically playing prop most last season anyway.

To have $800k to spend let's us strengthen our weakness, which is our backline.

Ponga 27. If that's the plan I'm all in.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Eels must be pretty well placed to make a push for Barnett having a look over their contract list.. Walker, Matterson and Paulo in the last year of their deals, and an option in their favour for next year on de Belin.

Then you have money which would have been intended for Lomax (and maybe Brown to some extent) which can't have really gone anywhere yet.

They'd for sure be in a better spot that anyone else for a mid-season switch.

"Player swap" wise, with Iongi their FB long term, and Pezet supposedly just giving Lorenzeo Talataina a bit more time to develop at 6, Joash Papali'i could be (long)shot?

 

[WAH MAN]

Can we stop giving oxygen to rumors coming from unidentified sources? If they were right, Mets would have signed to leave and NAS would be lining up for us next week. The fact that recent recruitment news (Haas and Barney) happened so quickly without anyone predicting them should give one an indication of how reliable rumor mills are in the modern game.

But this thread has an actual "rumours" section. I'm afraid it's an acceptable method of chat in here.

 

[defensivebomb]

If we were to get elite & committed NAS, then great.

However I get the feeling he's always viewed the warriors as unworthy. Plus he's a boofhead that gets in fights in Bali and considers himself a boxer.

I reckon Demitric will come into his own this season

NAS can join if he offers value for money. Otherwise, keen to back some young guys that can have the keys to prop if they continue their trajectories

 

[Fizurg]

The best thing Barnett has done for the Warriors is shown that an Aussie player can come here and boost his career, rather than taking overs and tanking his career. Barnett, Clark and Metcalf were all mid ranger guys who are now considered elite.
That's got to be huge when the Warriors go to market looking for new players.

 

[Five&Last]

The best thing Barnett has done for the Warriors is shown that an Aussie player can come here and boost his career, rather than taking overs and tanking his career. Barnett, Clark and Metcalf were all mid ranger guys who are now considered elite.
That's got to be huge when the Warriors go to market looking for new players.

He’ll go down as one of our goat recruits

How many Aussies have gone from mediocre NRL starters to State of Origin starters in the space of 2 years with us?

Webby deserves loads of credit too

 

[WarriorsNrlFanatics]

The best thing Barnett has done for the Warriors is shown that an Aussie player can come here and boost his career, rather than taking overs and tanking his career. Barnett, Clark and Metcalf were all mid ranger guys who are now considered elite.
That's got to be huge when the Warriors go to market looking for new players.

And people say coming to the Warriors is career suicide, that is totally a myth!! He’s basically turned his career around and played his best at the Warriors. That’s a credit to Mitch, and the whole club

 

[Boston Boy]

Would be awesome if we swapped him for Moses Leota I think that would be the perfect outcome for our team, a young powerful experienced prop who has lived in NZ. He would also add a heap to our young bucks. He doesn't get the most metres but everything he does is quality.

 

[Barty]

Would be awesome if we swapped him for Moses Leota I think that would be the perfect outcome for our team, a young powerful experienced prop who has lived in NZ. He would also add a heap to our young bucks. He doesn't get the most metres but everything he does is quality.

I don't think it would be the best use of the money. We have a lot tied in our forward pack (salary cap wise). With Barney leaving, Marata and KC off contract, I believe it is a good time to "re-distribute" our cap differently. Barney has been amazing for us - will be looked upon as a great. Our young ones our developing up front. This could be a great opportunity to trade Barney for one or two players that Cam George has mentioned. This could really strengthen the squad moving forward. I really hope TSS etc really continue their impressive pre-season form, and allow for this to happen.

 

[juju]

Warriors demand player swap from clubs seeking to sign Origin star

There’s no lack of interest in Mitchell Barnett, but prospective clubs are going to have to compensate the Warriors in exchange for his signature.

www.smh.com.au

This is paywalled... but the club really don't have much leverage when they've already announced the release on compassionate grounds. Unless they're prepared to pay Barney to sit out a year back in NSW.

Best they can really do is use the salary cap space it opens up.

 

[Boston Boy]

I don't think it would be the best use of the money. We have a lot tied in our forward pack (salary cap wise). With Barney leaving, Marata and KC off contract, I believe it is a good time to "re-distribute" our cap differently. Barney has been amazing for us - will be looked upon as a great. Our young ones our developing up front. This could be a great opportunity to trade Barney for one or two players that Cam George has mentioned. This could really strengthen the squad moving forward. I really hope TSS etc really continue their impressive pre-season form, and allow for this to happen.

We will lose Capewell, Marata and Barney. That's a lot of experience to lose. If we want to compete with the best teams there is no way our young bucks are ready. We might be close but I think we really need another hardened experienced forward. Leota also has a similar defensive ethos as our team and would fit in perfectly. Might be able to get him a little cheaper than Barnett. I'd spend most of barneys money on Leota and redistribute Capewell and Maratas cash and potentially look for a fullback.

 

[Falcon]

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.

Good point - I could help but think the same thing when I listened to Cam George talk it through and his parting shot was ‘ maybe there is someone who wants to come home’ … Nek minute

 

[Falcon]

Can Cape play prop next year lol, wouldn’t mind extending his desired 2-year deal and be a co-cap with his experience

Otherwise we lose Barney, Cape and keep Marata…yikes

Injuries aside, I think Capewell could be a good middle interchanging with Erin Clark.

 

[Falcon]

Warriors demand player swap from clubs seeking to sign Origin star

There’s no lack of interest in Mitchell Barnett, but prospective clubs are going to have to compensate the Warriors in exchange for his signature.

www.smh.com.au

This is paywalled... but the club really don't have much leverage when they've already announced the release on compassionate grounds. Unless they're prepared to pay Barney to sit out a year back in NSW.

Best they can really do is use the salary cap space it opens up.

Warriors demand player swap from clubs seeking to sign Origin star​

By Adrian Proszenko and Dan Walsh​

Updated February 24, 2026 — 5.48pmfirst published February 23, 2026 — 3.27pm
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The Warriors expect to be “compensated in the form of a player or two” by any club looking to sign star forward Mitch Barnett.
Barnett will return to Australia for family reasons at the end of the year after the Warriors granted him a release on family compassionate grounds from the final year of his contract. The NSW Blues forward will be in high demand, with the Broncos and Eels already expressing initial interest just hours after his availability became public.

Blues star Mitch Barnett is a man in demand after the Warriors granted him a release at the end of the season.CREDIT: DYLAN COKER
While the Warriors are prepared to let Barnett go 12 months early given his child’s medical requirements and the need for more family support, they expect something in return from any club that attempts to sign him.
“Mitch and his agent know very clearly that whilst we’ve been completely considerate and understanding of this situation in agreeing to release him, there is a business component to it,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

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“And that is we expect to be compensated in the form of a player or two for allowing Mitch to go home, from the club that shows interest. We will work through that process.
“There’s probably only 12 clubs that would fit his bill … There’s no point sitting here and guessing who or what that [compensation is until Gav [Barnett’s agent Gavin Orr] rings us and says ‘Club A is interested in Mitch and this is what they can offer up. Or is there something else you prefer?’ That’s how that conversation starts. Until that happens, you don’t know.”
George made it clear that a transfer fee - which doesn’t provide any salary cap advantage to the Warriors - will not be considered. “It gives you no relief at all,” he said.
“We want to be compensated in the form of a player. What that position and who that player is, each club could have a different alternative for us.”
Orr said club representatives from Parramatta and Brisbane had already called him about Barnett.

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“You can tell why those clubs are interested. Obviously, Payne [Haas] is leaving the Broncos and Parramatta were chasing Keon [Koloamatangi] pretty hard [before he signed with the Dragons] … it’s early days,” he said.
Barnett said it was difficult breaking the news to his Warriors teammates on Tuesday morning.
“The decision has come over a period of time, we’re trying to work through a decision that developed a while back,” Barnett told the club’s website.
“It’s come to this point in time, it’s not a decision that was made overnight …

 

[Boston Boy]

Warriors demand player swap from clubs seeking to sign Origin star​

By Adrian Proszenko and Dan Walsh​

Updated February 24, 2026 — 5.48pmfirst published February 23, 2026 — 3.27pm
Save
Share
Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size
Listen to this article
5 min
The Warriors expect to be “compensated in the form of a player or two” by any club looking to sign star forward Mitch Barnett.
Barnett will return to Australia for family reasons at the end of the year after the Warriors granted him a release on family compassionate grounds from the final year of his contract. The NSW Blues forward will be in high demand, with the Broncos and Eels already expressing initial interest just hours after his availability became public.

Blues star Mitch Barnett is a man in demand after the Warriors granted him a release at the end of the season.CREDIT: DYLAN COKER
While the Warriors are prepared to let Barnett go 12 months early given his child’s medical requirements and the need for more family support, they expect something in return from any club that attempts to sign him.
“Mitch and his agent know very clearly that whilst we’ve been completely considerate and understanding of this situation in agreeing to release him, there is a business component to it,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

Advertisement​

“And that is we expect to be compensated in the form of a player or two for allowing Mitch to go home, from the club that shows interest. We will work through that process.
“There’s probably only 12 clubs that would fit his bill … There’s no point sitting here and guessing who or what that [compensation is until Gav [Barnett’s agent Gavin Orr] rings us and says ‘Club A is interested in Mitch and this is what they can offer up. Or is there something else you prefer?’ That’s how that conversation starts. Until that happens, you don’t know.”
George made it clear that a transfer fee - which doesn’t provide any salary cap advantage to the Warriors - will not be considered. “It gives you no relief at all,” he said.
“We want to be compensated in the form of a player. What that position and who that player is, each club could have a different alternative for us.”
Orr said club representatives from Parramatta and Brisbane had already called him about Barnett.

Advertisement​

RELATED ARTICLE​

NRL 2026​

‘His footy IQ is unbelievable’: The man hailed as Dragons’ best off-season recruit​

“You can tell why those clubs are interested. Obviously, Payne [Haas] is leaving the Broncos and Parramatta were chasing Keon [Koloamatangi] pretty hard [before he signed with the Dragons] … it’s early days,” he said.
Barnett said it was difficult breaking the news to his Warriors teammates on Tuesday morning.
“The decision has come over a period of time, we’re trying to work through a decision that developed a while back,” Barnett told the club’s website.
“It’s come to this point in time, it’s not a decision that was made overnight …

Awesome! Good on you George. Isn't it great to have a club and CEO who are smart and savvy. Look forward to hearing what we get. A young dynamic fullback would be nice.

 

[juju]

Awesome! Good on you George. Isn't it great to have a club and CEO who are smart and savvy. Look forward to hearing what we get. A young dynamic fullback would be nice.

Might of been a bit smarter to approach suitors before announcing the release.
... but who's to say the club didnt do that before going public I guess.

Going to be interesting.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

IMO, we need a fullback.

CNK is getting on old and slow.
And Taine is….. Handy. But he no longer has the benefit of youth. He’ll be 27 by the end of the year. He ain’t Kini level, that’s for damn sure. (Genuinely a Taine fan btw)

I’d sign NAS, on a contract that has so many clauses in it, that if he even sniffs the wrong way he’s gone. 400k-ish.

Marata Niukore? Seriously, 200-250k…..
If he doesn’t like it? Fuck off then.

So we really will have Barnetts and Niukore (majority) salary.

 

[WAH MAN]

Awesome! Good on you George. Isn't it great to have a club and CEO who are smart and savvy. Look forward to hearing what we get. A young dynamic fullback would be nice.

They have known for a while. I remember Barney early pre season talking up Marata and maybe Demetric. I'm sure in hindsight that he was trying to move them up to soften the blow of his departure. I reckon Cam and Cappy have already illegally talked about KP and probably already have targets in mind to replace Mr. Barnett.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

We will lose Capewell, Marata and Barney.

Potentially add in Roger, TMM and even Chanel if he left.

That's:
Marata 157
Capewah 179
Barney 177
Roger 232
Chanel 95
TMM 110
Boyd 78

All of them might not leave, but that's 1028 games of experience (not including the games that will be played this year) that we potentially lose.

It's okay to replace some of those players with up and comers but you can't lose that much experience and expect to get the same results on the field.

Expect one or two experienced signings imo - 150+ games of experience