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

 

[Cces]

NRL 2025: Loko Pasifiki Tonga to make NRL debut for St George Illawarra Dragons after once failing to make his school footy team https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...-s-set-for-his-nrl-debut-20250507-p5lx5m.html

Thanks for the link.
Missing out on the top team at Keebra as a 14/15 year old doesn't really point to laziness. If he was like that once upon a time, his debut vs us last year (30 min stint for 111m & 18 tackles @100%) showed he ain't afraid of hard work these days

 

[WAH MAN]

I think Capewell would be handy to keep around and there was a feeling at broncos he was let go too early. It really only cost them one season though with a poor one after he left and they won the comp a couple of years later, and who knows he was a factor anyway for a dip? Obviously an admission centre is past him if needed with Halasima getting time there? Potentially could stay on the field more than we had with Barnett and 6 man benches could be handy to carry someone like him who could cope with the middle, play an edge or last resort centre

Capewell's value showed through in last year's golden round vs Cowboys when they were trying to run us down and we were under the pump. There were mongrel hard carries that needed doing and he (as well as others) put their hands up and made those runs.

 

[WAH MAN]

Thanks for the link.
Missing out on the top team at Keebra as a 14/15 year old doesn't really point to laziness. If he was like that once upon a time, his debut vs us last year (30 min stint for 111m & 18 tackles @100%) showed he ain't afraid of hard work these days

Their forum has a few members who are open to the trade. I just don't see the value in it.

 

[Wrighty]

Their forum has a few members who are open to the trade. I just don't see the value in it.

There is not going to be a win win trade. If we are lucky enough to be given compensation, which is seeming more likely the more teams enter the race, then the other team need to make on the trade - they are not giving us like for like or why make the trade. Maybe you know that all already and are just saying that Loko in particular has no value in your view?? I personally think he would be a great get, but I am not getting invested as the media are putting this on the table. St George themselves may have no intention of offering him.

 

[WAH MAN]

There is not going to be a win win trade. If we are lucky enough to be given compensation, which is seeming more likely the more teams enter the race, then the other team need to make on the trade - they are not giving us like for like or why make the trade. Maybe you know that all already and are just saying that Loko in particular has no value in your view?? I personally think he would be a great get, but I am not getting invested as the media are putting this on the table. St George themselves may have no intention of offering him.

I don't think he is what we lack at the moment or once Barney leaves. I believe Tepatasi Laumalili is a big unit and young Bishop Neal might still have growth in him so we aren't lacking in big fellas.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I don't think he is what we lack at the moment or once Barney leaves. I believe Tepatasi Laumalili is a big unit and young Bishop Neal might still have growth in him so we aren't lacking in big fellas.

Absolutely that bigger body is what we lack. We have nothing like that in first grade and those guys you mentioned would be lucky to get a handful of games in first grade in the next 3 years.
If we swapped and Loko was available for us from next week, in the next 3 years (injury permitting) hed play 70 games.

Still not convinced we need him due to the players we have currently, but we don't have anyone on our roster that compares to him atm

 

[Noitall]

I don't think he is what we lack at the moment or once Barney leaves. I believe Tepatasi Laumalili is a big unit and young Bishop Neal might still have growth in him so we aren't lacking in big fellas.

It hasn’t ever been denied about the middle forward targets we’ve approached in the last 12-18 months that I mentioned in a post before, the only other is Davvy Moale. He doesn’t fit the bill of the big tall targets I mentioned in Seyfarth, Hazelton and NAS, but he’s an out and out prop and young. I really wouldn’t be surprised if Warriors are interested in LPT

 

[WAH MAN]

It hasn’t ever been denied about the middle forward targets we’ve approached in the last 12-18 months that I mentioned in a post before, the only other is Davvy Moale. He doesn’t fit the bill of the big tall targets I mentioned in Seyfarth, Hazelton and NAS, but he’s an out and out prop and young. I really wouldn’t be surprised if Warriors are interested in LPT

I wouldn't be surprised either if we make the play. But I'd clone Leka and Demetric before getting Sam Lousi 2.0

 

[Noitall]

I wouldn't be surprised either if we make the play. But I'd clone Leka and Demetric before getting Sam Louis 2.0

Joining our environment might do wonders for him? Would imagine some don’t warm to Shane Flanagan

 

[WAH MAN]

Joining our environment might do wonders for him? Would imagine some don’t warm to Shane Flanagan

But since he wants an early release from Dragons (or rumoured to). Would we be on release standby with him too?

 

[Noitall]

But since he wants an early release from Dragons (or rumoured to). Would we be on release standby with him too?

To release Barnett straight away do you mean?

 

[WAH MAN]

To release Barnett straight away do you mean?

No sorry. I meant that if we get Loko who wants out of his contract as well, should we expect him to want another early release from us if his joy levels aren't full?

 

[MurrayTD]

Absolutely that bigger body is what we lack. We have nothing like that in first grade and those guys you mentioned would be lucky to get a handful of games in first grade in the next 3 years.
If we swapped and Loko was available for us from next week, in the next 3 years (injury permitting) hed play 70 games.

Still not convinced we need him due to the players we have currently, but we don't have anyone on our roster that compares to him atm

Well said and agree completely.
Just to add to your sentiment., you ultimately have to take the best option available, I understand the need for an outside back and agree with the right player it is where the money should be spent, however, if there isn't the right one available then you take the best option in any position to add value to your team.
In the limited looks I have seen of LPT he looks very likely with the ability to grow into a possible AFB presence under the tutelage of JFH and co, and who knows, a big body bending the line and drawing more defenders may be more beneficial for our backs than an actual back signing.

 

[enterthewarrior]

RTV is about the same size as LPT. He's the big body we already have. The question is will he play any first grade this year to show he can foot it with the big boys.

 

[Noitall]

RTV is about the same size as LPT. He's the big body we already have. The question is will he play any first grade this year to show he can foot it with the big boys.

I think Laban would be closest to his build at 1.89m. He, EIT and Gannon are among our tallest with those two at about 1.9m. LPT is 1.96m and a bigger frame than what we’ve got and 116kg. You could probably even bring him down to 113kg and be more mobile but still a wreaking ball. It’s just science that those extra kgs often go further in collisions

 

[WAH MAN]

Joining our environment might do wonders for him? Would imagine some don’t warm to Shane Flanagan

Absolutely that bigger body is what we lack. We have nothing like that in first grade and those guys you mentioned would be lucky to get a handful of games in first grade in the next 3 years.
If we swapped and Loko was available for us from next week, in the next 3 years (injury permitting) hed play 70 games.

Still not convinced we need him due to the players we have currently, but we don't have anyone on our roster that compares to him atm

I know those young guys are years away but still don't think we need him or would benefit. I like the Tanner sized prop and the Fish etc. I think our ability to bend and break defences this season will be based on dominating the ruck speed to our advantage. The bigger blokes seem to cumbersome to me. But if we get him and he kicks on I will give him his lollies and applause

 

[Playdaball]

Lomax is a good player, but how long could you imagine him sticking around in Auckland!

2 weeks

 

[Playdaball]

No idea on the exact ons and outs of a possible Barnett exchange but the idea of picking up one of the Broncos Kiwi outside backs has merit.
Despite having his family in Qld, Jesse Arthars , is Nz Born and bred and used to play for the East Coast Bays Barracudas - same Jnr club as the Anderson boys .
I believe he could add value to the Warriors as he did during the COVID period .

 

[Wrighty]

No idea on the exact ons and outs of a possible Barnett exchange but the idea of picking up one of the Broncos Kiwi outside backs has merit.
Despite having his family in Qld, Jesse Arthars , is Nz Born and bred and used to play for the East Coast Bays Barracudas - same Jnr club as the Anderson boys .
I believe he could add value to the Warriors as he did during the COVID period .

I think he would rank ahead of Rocco Berry and Ali for the second centre position.

 

[tajhay]

No idea on the exact ons and outs of a possible Barnett exchange but the idea of picking up one of the Broncos Kiwi outside backs has merit.
Despite having his family in Qld, Jesse Arthars , is Nz Born and bred and used to play for the East Coast Bays Barracudas - same Jnr club as the Anderson boys .
I believe he could add value to the Warriors as he did during the COVID period .

Arthars is off contract at the end of 2026 anyway so Warriors could negotiate directly with him rather than be part of an exchange.

Plus he looks like he is set on leaving Broncos anyway.

Broncos tipped to block outside back making immediate move to rival Queensland team

Michael Maguire and the Broncos appear keen to hold onto the star after interest from a rival club. Find out more here.

au.news.yahoo.com