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

 

[Tookey 2.0]

i don't really know what yous are on about with these convoluted swaps, this year he will play for us, unless there is a very unlikely player swap, which could only really be front rower who wants to live in Auckland for front rower who does not (Barnett)

Right?! In a recruitment page of all places...

Tbh, I don't get what YOU are on about.

Cam George has said if there are clubs wanting Barney for 2026, they'll have to pony up a player or two. So its being discussed...in a recruitment thread lol.

Hopefully that's cleared it up for ya!

 

[Horriors2013]

I think we should have a good look at the market asap. Noticed Griffin Neame at 18th man for the cowgirls? Injury or down the pecking order? Would go for him and a FB .
A JFH and Leota reunion/combo would be next level!

I agreed with your whole post but want to focus on this part. I think Moses Leota/JFH would be a very reasonable bet. Why not? They showed at Pahs and in Kiwis that they gel as a combo.

And I've been hoping for Neame for some time. I think he'd be a great fit and playing alongside JFH would level him up I reckon. I'm also holding out for Keano Lini yo come home on compassionate grounds

 

[WAH MAN]

if KP is a no go, would we settle for Fletcher Sharpe?

Not sure they would let him go. And though he's injured, Jye Linnane is our Fletcher Sharpe guy.

Or a deal has already been done & the club is keeping it quiet due to the Nov 1 anti tampering law.

Aaaah yes..........The forbidden dance.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Webby mentioned yesterday that the club isn’t necessarily looking for another forward in response to Barnett leaving and that they are quite happy with the stock of young forwards coming through.

 

[Fizurg]

Surely anti tampering wouldn't apply if your dealing with the club directly?

 

[Horriors2013]

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.

That's a viable option. But would you instead take the low-hanging fruit and offer Capes or Marata an extension? It beats the stress of negotiating with an outsider who may try to drag it out? I think business-wise it makes sense. Keep the experience you have rather thsn taking a gamble elsewhere? Their role would be clear: level up the young bucks then leave

 

[Bevosa]

My thoughts.

We talked the same big game when AFB was released, we wanted a player in return, we even got a released list of players Webby was supposedly interested in from various clubs.
Nothing came of it we got zero out of releasing him, hell the sharks even countered the offer we had for BHU.

The only way I can see we are getting something out of this is if its cover for negotiations that have already (maybe illegally) been going on, and this is just a way to get a release for that player early, i.e. Ponga or wasn't Jordan Riki putting up cryptic posts late last year while in Auckland?

 

[Theking267]

My thoughts.

We talked the same big game when AFB was released, we wanted a player in return, we even got a released list of players Webby was supposedly interested in from various clubs.
Nothing came of it we got zero out of releasing him, hell the sharks even countered the offer we had for BHU.

The only way I can see we are getting something out of this is if its cover for negotiations that have already (maybe illegally) been going on, and this is just a way to get a release for that player early, i.e. Ponga or wasn't Jordan Riki putting up cryptic posts late last year while in Auckland?

We got James Fisher Harris

 

[Horriors2013]

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.

Hear hear! Yup totally agree. Wayne Scurrah's response would be 'sell more jerseys' . Really happy about how the club handles these situations now. Asking for a swap is the best process IMO. It balances the equation out. Why she would we give another club a leg up at our expense? Ponga for Barnett will be fine thank you .

 

[Horriors2013]

My thoughts.

We talked the same big game when AFB was released, we wanted a player in return, we even got a released list of players Webby was supposedly interested in from various clubs.
Nothing came of it we got zero out of releasing him, hell the sharks even countered the offer we had for BHU.

The only way I can see we are getting something out of this is if its cover for negotiations that have already (maybe illegally) been going on, and this is just a way to get a release for that player early, i.e. Ponga or wasn't Jordan Riki putting up cryptic posts late last year while in Auckland?

But you could argue that we and Penrith literally swap players

 

[Milking!]

Or a deal has already been done & the club is keeping it quiet due to the Nov 1 anti tampering law.

It kinnnnda has that feel - why else would Cam George say anything? Bronx are always stacked with young, established or ‘I can fix him’ talent that would appeal to a lot of clubs. Newcastle has KP, needs forwards, does fit location-wise, and is structurally cooked cap-wise.
Think the posturing sounds like if anyone else wants to dance and the ‘close to home’ argument gets a little murky, Barney will listen with a caveat of ‘the Wahs need something’ to make this palatable.

 

[enterthewarrior]

The real question is would Ponga want to move to Auckland and play for us ?

 

[Blain]

The real question is would Ponga want to move to Auckland and play for us ?

No.

 

[WAH MAN]

We got James Fisher Harris

That wasn't a player swap but. Fish happened to fall into the laps of Warriors head office. Also an early release on compassionate grounds so we can't be aggrieved about Barney's request. It has the bones of a win win situation.

 

[Username: Required]

Wouldn't it be ironic if the Eels offered us Dylan Walker as a player swap for Barny? Lol

 

[Theking267]

That wasn't a player swap but. Fish happened to fall into the laps of Warriors head office. Also an early release on compassionate grounds so we can't be aggrieved about Barney's request. It has the bones of a win win situation.

That’s why were not letting him go this year until we get a replacement like what happend with Fonua-Blake

 

[Billyspleen75]

 

[Sammyw]

thats CNK and TT extended, safe to say we arent looking at a fullback (Ponga).

we will need maybe a winger? definitely a centre (berry broken and off contract, jury out on Leiatau), a 6 (CHT aint it plus hes off contract), a frontrower and potentially another backrower assuming Capes and Niukore leave.

cant thrust all the young guys in to carry us immediately. market is dry though..

 

[JaggedJ]

thats CNK and TT extended, safe to say we arent looking at a fullback (Ponga).

we will need maybe a winger? definitely a centre (berry broken and off contract, jury out on Leiatau), a 6 (CHT aint it plus hes off contract), a frontrower and potentially another backrower assuming Capes and Niukore leave.

cant thrust all the young guys in to carry us immediately. market is dry though..

I don't think we're in any rush to sign more forwards unless they add something we significantly lack.

I can see Niukore or Capewell getting a one year extension if they're interested but not both.

We've invested a lot of time into Aussie halves so I lean towards us staying internal there too.

So 1-5 is definitely where we're aiming for imo.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

thats CNK and TT extended, safe to say we arent looking at a fullback (Ponga).

we will need maybe a winger? definitely a centre (berry broken and off contract, jury out on Leiatau), a 6 (CHT aint it plus hes off contract), a frontrower and potentially another backrower assuming Capes and Niukore leave.

cant thrust all the young guys in to carry us immediately. market is dry though..

I think we will still be looking for a game-changing fullback. I think the trend is to lock up your squad due to player shortages and new teams. Signing TT is safety first, but CNK can change position if a playmaking fullback becomes available.