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​
Sio Kali	U​
Braelan Marsh	U​	U​	U​
Motu Pasikala	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: 2/6

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

 

[WAH MAN]

We’re getting a war chest. NOT.

It’s just CG pulling his usual media strings. I bet his is

Same rhetoric with the AFB release.

In fact why exactly would a club need to compensate us for agreeing to release Mitch???

Stop drinking CG’s cool aid fellas. It’s not healthy

But if it works.........

It's not too much posturing when you consider all of the other NRL dramas over players.

 

[Beastmode]

Agree, the only way we get compensation is if there are two equal monetary bids for Barnett and he, out of respect to the club takes the deal that provides us with compensation as an extra. (probably because that club needs to make room in their top 30)

Has a club received compensation for releasing a player before? …. I think it’s all hot air CG likes selling..

But hypothetically let’s say Manly offers the same amount as Newcastle

There’s no way Barnett agrees to live in the industrial mecca of Newcastle over the northern beaches of Manly…. least of all so that we are compensated for it…

In any event I would have thought these are private negotiations between Mitch and his future employer. He has no obligation to tell us who he’s negotiating with and for how much

 

[WAH MAN]

Has a club received compensation for releasing a player before? …. I think it’s all hot air CG likes selling..

But hypothetically let’s say Manly offers the same amount as Newcastle

There’s no way Barnett agrees to live in the industrial mecca of Newcastle over the northern beaches of Manly…. least of all so that we are compensated for it…

In any event I would have thought these are private negotiations between Mitch and his future employer. He has no obligation to tell us who he’s negotiating with and for how much

Best leverage we have as a club might be how we can dictate who he signs with. Which has been done before. Hot air and kool aid or not, I back CG and the office to get a positive outcome.

 

[snake77]

I think the player in return comments have been been blown out of proportion.

That is George protecting the Warriors position for 2026. If a club wants Barnett for 2026 then the Warriors will aim to get something in return.

Remember he has been released for 2027. Most likely at some point Barnett will sign somewhere and settle his future. Then continue to play out 2026.

We will need to decide what we do with the roster spot and the cap space for 2027.

 

[~Navigator~]

Would Newcastle knights let kaylan p go for Mitch to arrive, sounds like some thing in the making for the last year.

 

[Five&Last]

I think the player in return comments have been been blown out of proportion.

That is George protecting the Warriors position for 2026. If a club wants Barnett for 2026 then the Warriors will aim to get something in return.

Remember he has been released for 2027. Most likely at some point Barnett will sign somewhere and settle his future. Then continue to play out 2026.

We will need to decide what we do with the roster spot and the cap space for 2027.

My interpretation is that it's a conditional release that they will agree to for 2027, but they haven't actually released him yet. The only thing they've confirmed is that he won't be playing for the club in 2027.

The big question is if the club can't find an adequate return, will they be happy with Barnett being based in Aus, not playing for anyone and still eating up our salary cap. That's the hill George has to be willing to die on with the statement he made. I think other teams will call George's bluff and Barnett will just be released. He has no leverage, or at least no leverage to get equal return.

I think the Lomax situation has encouraged clubs to enforce contracts, even through legal remedies. I think the days of compassionate releases for no benefit to the club will slowly phase out.

 

[Playdaball]

Would Newcastle knights let kaylan p go for Mitch to arrive, sounds like some thing in the making for the last year.

After the win against the Cowboys , I’d say … nope

 

[Falcon]

I think if Barnett were to leave this year it would be a big physiological blow to the team due to his leadership presence.
This is still a young g team, and true leaders with presence are few.
He has said he’s here for the season so Mrs.B is cool with that knowing she can prep to move. Anyone coming the other way should be for 27

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Knights, Eels, Broncos who are all favourites to land Barnett realistically do not need to let a player leave to free up the cap required to sign Barnett for 27. Doubt we get anyone in return

 

[The Undertaker]

Would Newcastle knights let kaylan p go for Mitch to arrive, sounds like some thing in the making for the last year.

That depends on a few things beyond contracts. 1. Development of Wahs kids and positions on ladder after round 15 for both clubs. If we are in top 4 and kids are showing premiership window potential, that will be a sign. If Newy don’t kick on after their great first round start, he’d want to find a club to win him a title 2. If CNK transitions to centre successfully. TTs signing indicated more of a playmaker approach at fullback. If CNK plays the Rocco role and does it well (let’s see if he is named there within the first month) then KP becomes an option. 3. What alpha the Wahs sign for 2027 to replace Barney.

KP if he was indeed released by Newy to move to us (hypothetically) is a captaincy option alongside fish. One thing is we need to add more leadership given those players who may leave us this year.

A lot of moving parts… and wishful thinking. But it’s the NRL. Anything could happen.

 

[Woofa]

I'm convinced its KP for Barney. All lines up and the hints are making sense. KP wants to get to know his 'roots' and Barney wants to go home.. that and 20 other hints that just line up. KP will sign on for $1 to $1.2M Im sure.. Fingers crossed anyway.

 

[tyrael]

I'm convinced its KP for Barney. All lines up and the hints are making sense. KP wants to get to know his 'roots' and Barney wants to go home.. that and 20 other hints that just line up. KP will sign on for $1 to $1.2M Im sure.. Fingers crossed anyway.

Why would we resign TT, have rts and cnk AND sign KP.

Didn't we also resign cnk last year?

 

[Fizurg]

Has a club received compensation for releasing a player before? …. I think it’s all hot air CG likes selling..

But hypothetically let’s say Manly offers the same amount as Newcastle

There’s no way Barnett agrees to live in the industrial mecca of Newcastle over the northern beaches of Manly…. least of all so that we are compensated for it…

In any event I would have thought these are private negotiations between Mitch and his future employer. He has no obligation to tell us who he’s negotiating with and for how much

There's been all sorts of deals wrangled between clubs over the years. I believe the Warriors agreed to sign Lussick as part of the deal of Volkman being released. I'm sure there's a lot more that going on behind closed doors too.

Also Barnetts family live in Taree and the closest NRL club to them is Newcastle. At a guess he would choose that over Manlys beaches.

 

[Fizurg]

Why would we resign TT, have rts and cnk AND sign KP.

Didn't we also resign cnk last year?

I get the impression that CNK very much wants to be living in NZ. I would hazard a guess his latest contract extension wouldn't have been for massive money. Hes coming to the end of his career and realistically his other options would be super league or reserve grade / back up back line cover at any other NRL team he goes to.
TT may have been let know that KP is coming and he can either resign as back up fullback for the Warriors or test the market.
Neither player is in a particularly strong position to negotiate their salary and is suspect their numbers may reflect that. If they aren't on big money and are seen as suitable back up / utility options then i could see the reason the Warriors would have re-signed them both.
I'm not sating that's what i think is happening but to me if there was any weight to the KP murmurings then this is a scenario that could make sense to me.

 

[Woofa]

I get the impression that CNK very much wants to be living in NZ. I would hazard a guess his latest contract extension wouldn't have been for massive money. Hes coming to the end of his career and realistically his other options would be super league or reserve grade / back up back line cover at any other NRL team he goes to.
TT may have been let know that KP is coming and he can either resign as back up fullback for the Warriors or test the market.
Neither player is in a particularly strong position to negotiate their salary and is suspect their numbers may reflect that. If they aren't on big money and are seen as suitable back up / utility options then i could see the reason the Warriors would have re-signed them both.
I'm not sating that's what i think is happening but to me if there was any weight to the KP murmurings then this is a scenario that could make sense to me.

Yeah agree.. CNK would move to centre, retire or go aboad to UK for 2-3 years. TT is a utility to me and could be an excellent 6 or wing. RTS is a winger now and will sign for 1-2 more years likely. The way players go down its prudent to have players of TT class in the squad.

 

[Garry Saloon]

We’re getting a war chest. NOT.

It’s just CG pulling his usual media strings. I bet his is

Same rhetoric with the AFB release.

In fact why exactly would a club need to compensate us for agreeing to release Mitch???

Stop drinking CG’s cool aid fellas. It’s not healthy

Yeah but after the afb release we got jfh. Sooo

 

[Dannevegas]

Why would we resign TT, have rts and cnk AND sign KP.

Didn't we also resign cnk last year?

If Kp is willing and able I think we just make it work, TT back up fullback and CNK to centre or Reggie’s.
But I don’t know KP looks pretty keen on delivering at Newcastle, but we’d definitely release cap pressure on them

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Yeah but after the afb release we got jfh. Sooo

Since when did JFH ever play for the Sharks?

 

[Noitall]

If Kp is willing and able I think we just make it work, TT back up fullback and CNK to centre or Reggie’s.
But I don’t know KP looks pretty keen on delivering at Newcastle, but we’d definitely release cap pressure on them

Fletcher Sharpe is too good for them and has to be on the field. Sandon Smith at 6 and Sharpe to fullback I reckon they could be keen on? I like people are throwing positive thoughts like Woofa and others out there, think he’d put us at the next level

 

[enterthewarrior]

Lol I think it's very highly unlikely Ponga will come over here and play for us.