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

 

[Lance155]

Barnett was one of those rare middles that was super effective at bending and line and having real steel on D. Most either excell at one or the other (Fish, AFB etc). Generally the youth will come through with a better attacking side, so we may need a more Fish style middle replacement

 

[Canonball]

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

Why is anyone talking about Nelson ? It's not his game anymore

 

[John Nick]

Why is anyone talking about Nelson ? It's not his game anymore

Big no thanks to NAS for me

 

[WAH MAN]

Big no thanks to NAS for me

That's still talking about Nelson

Maybe we pivot to Blenheim or Picton or maybe Motueka.

 

[Dippa]

We’ve seen time and again that the Warriors are one of the few clubs capable of working quietly and executing deals away from the noise of the media cycle. The JFH situation was a perfect example. While the headlines were dominated by talk of AFB’s release and how the club could possibly cover such a loss, the Warriors simply went about their business.

The club now has breathing room to shape what comes next. It makes you wonder — is this early narrative really a signal to the wider NRL landscape, or just part of a larger plan already in motion behind the scenes? Who knows. But if history tells us anything, it’s that this club rarely stands still. Personally, I’m backing the Warriors and genuinely excited to see how this unfolds.

 

[MurrayTD]

That's still talking about Nelson

Maybe we pivot to Blenheim or Picton or maybe Motueka.

Love it, took me back to the The Riwaka pub, Great place just out of Motueka.. Not sure if it still exists but was an awesome beer garden back in the day.

 

[Evil_Mush]

The club now has breathing room to shape what comes next. It makes you wonder — is this early narrative really a signal to the wider NRL landscape, or just part of a larger plan already in motion behind the scenes? Who knows. But if history tells us anything, it’s that this club rarely stands still. Personally, I’m backing the Warriors and genuinely excited to see how this unfolds.

Yeah, I'm assuming they've already mapped out exactly who they want from each of the likely teams he'll go back to, and as Cam said is just a matter of negotiating when that time comes.

 

[Tpadds]

The news coming out today from Cam George that the club will seek a player in exchange for Barnett is another sign of how well the club is run in my opinion.

It would be a heartless individual to begrudge Barney for making the decision to be closer to family when a child's medical needs are a factor.

Breaking the news before the beginning of the season (after Webster noted that this discussion had been going on since November) puts it in a box, for Barnett himself, as well as the squad. A brief well produced interview allowing Barnett to reaffirm his commitment for this year, as well as thank the club and the fans is perfect.

Then for the CEO to come out after allowing a brief period of letting the news settle and point out that whilst the club support their player's decision and will facilitate a move, the clubs best interests will not be glossed over.

Barnett with a functional ACL is an Australian rep prop. Almost every team in the comp would rush to secure his services. The warriors have played this perfectly in terms of saying, yes Barnett will leave but he will leave to play for a club who offers us appropriate compensation.

We are all aware that family circumstances will always play a part in how long the club can hold onto Aussie imports. If the club was able to trade the final year of Barnett's contract for 3-4 years of quality from a player coming the other way it could end up being a net positive scenario.

Maybe that's all just mental gymnastics to try to cope with loosing Barney but it does feel like the club is in very capable hands.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

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

giving people false hope based on "trust me, bro" doesn't help anyone. If we must discuss rumors, at least make sure it comes from a credible source like Chamas.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

KP for Barney. Make it happen CG.

 

[Noitall]

giving people false hope based on "trust me, bro" doesn't help anyone. If we must discuss rumors, at least make sure it comes from a credible source like Chamas.

Think it stemmed from the person posting that NAS had commented on Barnett’s departure apparently? Perhaps not a solid rumour like chammas would have, but a talking point all the same

 

[Jaffa J]

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.

Or Ice Papa

 

[Wrighty]

Cam George is Whistling Dixee. He has no bargaining leverage. He can't hold Barnett back unless a player is given in compensation as Barnett is refusing to play here next year. We have no bargaining position. We have tried before to get compensation given to us for players and failed eg we tried with Reece Walsh (don't ask me for an article to prove that I just remember it, if you don't remember that then let's go with your memory I don't care).

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

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

Ponga for Barnett, sounds good to me!

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Cam George is Whistling Dixee. He has no bargaining leverage. He can't hold Barnett back unless a player is given in compensation as Barnett is refusing to play here next year. We have no bargaining position. We have tried before to get compensation given to us for players and failed eg we tried with Reece Walsh (don't ask me for an article to prove that I just remember it, if you don't remember that then let's go with your memory I don't care).

if he goes to parra we could get volkman back!

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I tell ya what dont sleep on Jackson Ford, his stock has gone up, he could be the guy that gets a new long term deal.

 

[sballer7]

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.

I think this could just be a shaking of the NRL tree...see which kiwi test players fall out wanting a compassionate releases back home.

 

[Hitro]

Cam George is Whistling Dixee. He has no bargaining leverage. He can't hold Barnett back unless a player is given in compensation as Barnett is refusing to play here next year. We have no bargaining position. We have tried before to get compensation given to us for players and failed eg we tried with Reece Walsh (don't ask me for an article to prove that I just remember it, if you don't remember that then let's go with your memory I don't care).

Nobody knows what the terms of the compassionate release is with Barney. Could well be that we have agreed to release him conditional on agreeing a player swap with a club near his hometown.

CG would only release AFB to a Sydney club so definitely precedent here.

I think they are playing it well.

 

[Wrighty]

Ponga for Barnett, sounds good to me!

If the compensation request is taken seriously then this is could be really be a legit possibility. At some stage Knights to reshape their salary cap profile to invest in the forwards.
From Broncos I would ask for Ben Te Kura
From Eels I would ask for Brian Kelly

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Ponga, Te Kura, or Kelly. Too difficult to choose!