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

 

[MaybeTop8]

More likely we'd end up with Mad Jack

Nothing wrong with mad jack

 

[John Nick]

Nothing wrong with mad jack

Jack the Ripper. Every team needs a mad knut

 

[WAH MAN]

Jack the Ripper. Every team needs a mad knut

We could give Jackson Ford some angry pills. He's built for it.

Webby keeps him on the bench with a chain around his neck. Then let's him off and says "Kill Jacko......Kill"

Should be right.

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

The Barnett for Lomax trade this season makes a lot of sense on one side of the coin.

The Eels were willing to allow Lomax to go to the Storm if they gave them Uitukomanu (sp?) who is a respresentative prop. The Storm refused which scuppered the deal.

Lomax is available now and gives the Warriors the ability to release Barnett now (good PR) and improves our team. We have more depth in the pack than the backs and Lomax could play wing, centre or fullback. He would probably be better that any of our wingers or centres. I haven't seen him play full back but if my memory is correct I think he originally went to the Dragons to play fullback so maybe he could play there also, ignoring the CNK and TT re-signings.

Also the NRL would love this as it removes the legal stoush which they are being dragged into. Lomax wants to play NRL this season and we can pay him what he would have been earning at the Eels (probably).

Sure it wouldn't suit the Storm but those cheating cunts can go and get fucked.

The only downside I can see is that Lomax may not want to come here. However, it is worth considering that whilst he bought a beach side property, he is willing to move to Melbourne.

I think logically it could be done, it just comes down to whether Lomax could be persuaded to come and stay.

 

[Wrighty]

I have concerns about us making jokes about Mad Jack as I truly believe he is actually mad. And we should show consideration and kindness to him. This is not a joke post.

 

[Cces]

Just after the 30 min mark, Anthony Gelling suggests CNK may be leaving soon. Just a passing comment.

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39tqKtGyld8owo5Pj01sjc?si=iD4YTvmyRhOOP4Thuy-0PQ&t=1804&ct=1772

 

[Garry Saloon]

Just after the 30 min mark, Anthony Gelling suggests CNK may be leaving soon. Just a passing comment.

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39tqKtGyld8owo5Pj01sjc?si=iD4YTvmyRhOOP4Thuy-0PQ&t=1804&ct=1772

Sounded like he was guessing to me

 

[UpTheWahs]

Just after the 30 min mark, Anthony Gelling suggests CNK may be leaving soon. Just a passing comment.

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39tqKtGyld8owo5Pj01sjc?si=iD4YTvmyRhOOP4Thuy-0PQ&t=1804&ct=1772

Interesting. He is signed till end of 2027.

 

[Five&Last]

Just after the 30 min mark, Anthony Gelling suggests CNK may be leaving soon. Just a passing comment.

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39tqKtGyld8owo5Pj01sjc?si=iD4YTvmyRhOOP4Thuy-0PQ&t=1804&ct=1772

That's the move. Not interested in shifting him to the centres for a final year. Taine is in his prime couple years now while CNK is on the decline.

Let CNK chase a longer term deal. RTS on a one year extension offers adequate fullback backup. Plus I like the look of Brandon Norris playing fullback in the trial, he's a supplementary contract smokey for next year imo.

 

[Defence]

I’d happily hand Lomax a 2 year deal and as a sweetener he can play whichever position he wants.

 

[Mr Drag]

We could give Jackson Ford some angry pills. He's built for it.

Webby keeps him on the bench with a chain around his neck. Then let's him off and says "Kill Jacko......Kill"

Should be right.

He has the god of Bogans in his name!

 

[CWC]

Hard no to Lolmax

Dude will have 4 clubs in 1.5 years including the flopped 360. Unless we’re addicted to breaking records for the shortest compassionate release

 

[watcher]

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 they play their cards right it may work. Remember there will be multiple clubs wanting tk sign him so it is a case who brungs the best offer

 

[CWC]

If they play their cards right it may work. Remember there will be multiple clubs wanting tk sign him so it is a case who brungs the best offer

WB at $8 share just played Paramount and Netflix to seal the sale at $32 today, we can do the same

 

[BabylonPink]

We could give Jackson Ford some angry pills. He's built for it.

Webby keeps him on the bench with a chain around his neck. Then let's him off and says "Kill Jacko......Kill"

Should be right.

Mad Max 2 wez vibes

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Just after the 30 min mark, Anthony Gelling suggests CNK may be leaving soon. Just a passing comment.

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39tqKtGyld8owo5Pj01sjc?si=iD4YTvmyRhOOP4Thuy-0PQ&t=1804&ct=1772

just an opinion. Hardly constitutes a credible rumor based on any fact. As long as he wants it, CNK is our FB under Webby.

 

[tajhay]

Taine is in his prime few years now while CNK is on the decline.

Refer to the last line for each screenshot

CNK Last year at FB


TT Last year at FB


CNK gets a bit of hate but he put pretty decent numbers last year (consistently over 200m a game and over 300m in 4 games last year). He plays the game exactly as how Webster wants him to play.

Whilst i also would like to see some attacking flair into the team, im not sure if Webster would be reshuffling the spine to gain that, especially early into the season.

The other thing is that Tuaupiki has started at fullback 15 times at The Warriors, and on 4 occassions has failed to finish the game. He is small similiar to Kini etc but his durability could perhaps be questioned, unless we plan on utilising a bench spot for a reserve fullback.

 

[CWC]

Refer to the last line for each screenshot

CNK Last year at FB
View attachment 15939

TT Last year at FB
View attachment 15940

CNK gets a bit of hate but he put pretty decent numbers last year (consistently over 200m a game and over 300m in 4 games last year). He plays the game exactly as how Webster wants him to play.

Whilst i also would like to see some attacking flair into the team, im not sure if Webster would be reshuffling the spine to gain that, especially early into the season.

The other thing is that Tuaupiki has started at fullback 15 times at The Warriors, and on 4 occassions has failed to finish the game. He is small similiar to Kini etc but his durability could perhaps be questioned, unless we plan on utilising a bench spot for a reserve fullback.

Roger or CNK if at centre can cover FB if TT starts and just move a second rower there eg EIT

 

[Five&Last]

Refer to the last line for each screenshot

CNK Last year at FB
View attachment 15939

TT Last year at FB
View attachment 15940

CNK gets a bit of hate but he put pretty decent numbers last year (consistently over 200m a game and over 300m in 4 games last year). He plays the game exactly as how Webster wants him to play.

Whilst i also would like to see some attacking flair into the team, im not sure if Webster would be reshuffling the spine to gain that, especially early into the season.

The other thing is that Tuaupiki has started at fullback 15 times at The Warriors, and on 4 occassions has failed to finish the game. He is small similiar to Kini etc but his durability could perhaps be questioned, unless we plan on utilising a bench spot for a reserve fullback.

CNK counting stats have always been strong. Even games when I've been been bashing him in the post game threads, I've looked at his running meters and they've always been high. He never has an off game in terms of work rate. I think you have to look at past that with him, he just doesn't inject enough creativity for such an influential position.

But unrelated to that, he's 31 this year. How many fullbacks are dominant in their early to mid thirties, or even really continuing to improve. While TT is entering his prime years. I guess its about getting ahead of predictive trends.

Again, I want to see Brandon Norris given the full year in the number 1 in NSW cup over Doyle. He has the speed, tackle breaking and amazing in the air. I think he could be the answer as soon as end of next season.

 

[Boston Boy]

No way I would pick up Lomax. He left the dragons and now the eels. Always with a bit of drama and seemed unsettled, not worth it at all. Also as if Barney would want to go to the eels, why not go to Penrith rather than the eels?