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

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I'm not trying to be disparaging to TT in any way. He is a good player, and it is nice to have him.

His defence is decent, and is hearty given his size.
I've watched him a lot in both grades - in reserve grade he breaks the line often with his lively play and links well. My personal opinion is that so far in first grade he has gone sideways a lot, and hasn't often had the turn of pace to exploit the half gap.

Yes, he was a big presence in our underdog victories. His performance may have been heightened by our lack of expectation. I was surprised at what a good fist he made of FG in those games, he seems to have a good head, and seems undaunted by the step up.

He has played 25 games in first grade for 3 tries, 9 try assists and 6 line breaks. I don't have stats for which of those were at wing, and which were at fullback.

Better than Bula, Fa'alogo and Iongi, sure - Tigers, Storm depth and Eels. Kind of my point, he is a good player, but not the x-factor we need to be up with the big boys.

With no Metcalf, I feel we someone who can light things up.
CNK, DWZ, RTS, Pompey, Ali, CHT and Boyd might get the job done on the back of our rampaging pack and upbeat game plan that we saw in the last trial.
TT would really liven things up some more.
You'd still want CNK in there too, he had a bit of sharpness about him along with his usual kamikaze runs.
[/QUOTE]

We are desperately short on x factor. To hear the club acknowledge that the back line is where we need to spend Barnett's money is absolute music to my ears and shows how much more they are on the pulse these days than the "any name will do" mindset of the past.

 

[YouKnowIt]

CNK is not really a great defender, agree on being safe under the high ball plus and great team man.

Come on... He's a great defender, it's attack he lacks. Yardage and D he's up there

 

[CWC]

TT does 10 vs 1 try savers though, he’s a magician

 

[Noitall]

Another club joins race for Barnett; Future of young Knight in limbo - Transfer Whispers

Another club joins race for Barnett; Future of young Knight in limbo - Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Dragons join the clubs interested in Barnett. Some great young forwards there. Timing wise with Haas going to rabbits, broncos seems like the likely destination?

 

[Lance155]

Any info on why Taine extended? Has to be one of the below.
1. CNK to move to another position at some point
2. Too many elite fullbacks in the comp so why be a backup elsewhere
3. Changing position to find a spot (unlikely)

 

[JustVisiting82]

Any info on why Taine extended? Has to be one of the below.
1. CNK to move to another position at some point
2. Too many elite fullbacks in the comp so why be a backup elsewhere
3. Changing position to find a spot (unlikely)

I don't have any info but I reckon your number 2 is at least part of the equation. I'm not sure I can think of any other clubs he could go to where he would have a better chance of getting picked ahead of the incumbent fullback than he does here - probably a few roughly on par but that's about it.
There's the Bears starting next year of course but they might have already earmarked Meaney as their number 1.

 

[Leon Black]

Come on... He's a great defender, it's attack he lacks. Yardage and D he's up there

I don’t know what games I was watching last year but recall some poor one on one misses and burnt for speed on plenty of occasions

 

[CWC]

I don’t know what games I was watching last year but recall some poor one on one misses and burnt for speed on plenty of occasions

1 on 1 he’s done every time but TT just backpedals to stall until support arrives and runner had too much time to think

CNK let in some 40/20s and the Penrith shocker in the playoff last year

CNK should really be weaned to centre since we only have Pompey, and that’s it, Ali and Berry are not durable and then it’s Leka, Cape, Laban and Gannon

 

[sydneywarrior92]

1 on 1 he’s done every time but TT just backpedals to stall until support arrives and runner had too much time to think

CNK let in some 40/20s and the Penrith shocker in the playoff last year

CNK should really be weaned to centre since we only have Pompey, and that’s it, Ali and Berry are not durable and then it’s Leka, Cape, Laban and Gannon

my issue with CNK at centre is he tends to go missing. We still need a huge workrate from him- his work out of the back is central to our gameplan. So we do lose a lot of yardage moving him out of FB and putting TT there in my view.

 

[Brightman]

Any info on why Taine extended? Has to be one of the below.
1. CNK to move to another position at some point
2. Too many elite fullbacks in the comp so why be a backup elsewhere
3. Changing position to find a spot (unlikely)

4. Knows his value now that no other clubs showed interest..

 

[Blain]

I am not sure Ponga at the price he is would be a good buy. Hasn't been that resilient last couple of years, and just not sure how he would fit in the clubs culture, seems to be rumors around him all the time passing to go to rugby or talking to other clubs etc. Was good 2024 but didn't exactly set the world on fire last year. Seems risky and would skew our cap.

Ponga looks like he genuinely doesn't give a shit anymore. I'd be spewing if I was a Knights fan and knew he was getting $1.4m while picking up spoons - Not to mention the yearly rumours of him wanting to leave..

 

[WHB]

Another club joins race for Barnett; Future of young Knight in limbo - Transfer Whispers

Another club joins race for Barnett; Future of young Knight in limbo - Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Dragons join the clubs interested in Barnett. Some great young forwards there. Timing wise with Haas going to rabbits, broncos seems like the likely destination?

Will the Dragons have the $$$$ for him with Keon heading over on 1mil + a season.
Like there young crop of fowards.
Eden,Stewart,Couchman brothers and Halangahau.
Finau was the only back i liked of there's but he a Raider now.

 

[Theking267]

Will the Dragons have the $$$$ for him with Keon heading over on 1mil + a season.
Like there young crop of fowards.
Eden,Stewart,Couchman brothers and Halangahau.
Finau was the only back i liked of there's but he a Raider now.

Loko Pasifiki Tonga wants an early release so could be the player used in a player swap

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Loko Pasifiki Tonga wants an early release so could be the player used in a player swap

That would be such a dragons move releasing a young gun for an older player

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Any info on why Taine extended? Has to be one of the below.
1. CNK to move to another position at some point
2. Too many elite fullbacks in the comp so why be a backup elsewhere
3. Changing position to find a spot (unlikely)

I wonder if weve cottoned on to the the 19 man bench, and having a quick, nippy dude on the bench is going to be vital to the game moving forward.

Not only is Taine great back coverage - he can play FB and half, and moving CNK to centre and pushing centre's out to wing mean that we can cover all positions in the back line - we now also have a 'special teams' of sorts. Down by 10 with 15 minutes to go, we can bring Taine on to try and create something. I have no doubt there will be a few trick plays being conjured up for those kind of scenarios

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I wonder if weve cottoned on to the the 19 man bench, and having a quick, nippy dude on the bench is going to be vital to the game moving forward.

Not only is Taine great back coverage - he can play FB and half, and moving CNK to centre and pushing centre's out to wing mean that we can cover all positions in the back line - we now also have a 'special teams' of sorts. Down by 10 with 15 minutes to go, we can bring Taine on to try and create something. I have no doubt there will be a few trick plays being conjured up for those kind of scenarios

I love this thinking!

Will the 18/19 man evolve into x-factor players that can strategically be used for the last 20 minutes depending on game scenario.

I was thinking they would just be juniors acting as injury cover with little strategic thought but can see the better teams using those positions strategically and within 3-4 years those positions becoming key tactical NFL style players.

We might see players training specifically for 20 minute roles - think the bigger men - Talakai, NAS, etc who the game is seemingly passing by now becoming special purpose game changers only used as a plan B in the last 20 minutes.

Interesting to see how the positions develop.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I love this thinking!

Will the 18/19 man evolve into x-factor players that can strategically be used for the last 20 minutes depending on game scenario.

I was thinking they would just be juniors acting as injury cover with little strategic thought but can see the better teams using those positions strategically and within 3-4 years those positions becoming key tactical NFL style players.

We might see players training specifically for 20 minute roles - think the bigger men - Talakai, NAS, etc who the game is seemingly passing by now becoming special purpose game changers only used as a plan B in the last 20 minutes.

Interesting to see how the positions develop.

Yeah hard out, that's what I was thinking, a 'special teams' of sorts.

I think the beginning of the year is going to be vital with the 19 man bench - i think by a certain point - maybe rd 10-15 teams would have figured out the best way to use the bench (or emulate the teams who have used it best in the first few rounds). As everyone's currently in the same situation with the 19 man bench relatively being unknown with how it will play out, if we nail it and win a few more games early as a result of that, we could really get a roll on.

Our first 10 games is probably our hardest stretch this year, so if we can jag a few wins due to a better use of that bench and say win 6 or 7 of the first 10, our draw is so good over the rest of the comp that Imo we'll make top 4.

 

[WAH MAN]

Loko Pasifiki Tonga wants an early release so could be the player used in a player swap

He's a massive unit. But might be too big

 

[Theking267]

He's a massive unit. But might be too big

He probably doesn’t fit Webby style of front rower but he could be good as impact forward of the bench

 

[WAH MAN]

He probably doesn’t fit Webby style of front rower but he could be good as impact forward of the bench

Yeah I get that. But if we want to develop bench impact I think the likes of Demitric and Tanner and even Taine with extended bench could provide significant impact without going for Loko. As massive as he is.