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

 

[Wrighty]

As has been documented in the past on this forum, every year we get a March signing for the following year, last March was Gannon.
I think with Warbrick the glass is either half full or half empty however you want to look at him. I view him as an NRL standard winger, he won't win the Daly M but he will be useful.

Tale of the tape
Will be 29 next year
105 kgs
6 foot 4 - Aerial threat
5 tries in 7 matches last year, 15 tries the year before
180 metres per game (great yardage carrier)
80% tackle efficiency - he won't win fans with his defence but will be reasonable.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Egans had far more head knocks than most players and he goes very well under Webster.

Warbrick missed most of last season due to concussion symptoms. There’s been genuine fears his career could have been over. Then first round of this season another HIA.

We can go ahead and sign him however I wouldn’t be surprised if he never plays a game for us. And aside from all that, he’s not that good.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

What is up with us and Wingers? Its like we lose interest, the further away the position is from the centre of the field.

I dunno. Maybe Webby likes challenging himself to turn players around that are on the outer of their careers.

 

[Noitall]

What is up with us and Wingers? Its like we lose interest, the further away the position is from the centre of the field.

I dunno. Maybe Webby likes challenging himself to turn players around that are on the outer of their careers.

Hopefully a Marcelo Montoya type signing that comes here with a new lease on life

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Hopefully a Marcelo Montoya type signing that comes here with a new lease on life

As memory serves, there was a large contingent who weren't that keen on Monty.

Until he left, atleast...

To me, this particular case is a replacement for RTS. If so, we'll have to temper our expectations - RTS is a special player and an unorthodox winger.

 

[Makasene]

Gee there's some tough critics in here...

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Gee there's some tough critics in here...

There’s also some on here who haven’t got a clue beyond Warriors games

 

[Noitall]

As memory serves, there was a large contingent who weren't that keen on Monty.

Until he left, atleast...

To me, this particular case is a replacement for RTS. If so, we'll have to temper our expectations - RTS is a special player and an unorthodox winger.

Can’t remember many positive posts at the time regarding Montoya, and interestingly since leaving he hasn’t set the world alight. Really not sure what to think because recent reports show RTS interested in hanging around?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Really not sure what to think because recent reports show RTS interested in hanging around?

Got any links to the reports?

 

[Noitall]

Got any links to the reports?

Warriors NRL forecast 2026: Brutal start, big questions and a finals finish

The Warriors face a brutal early draw with four heavyweight teams in seven weeks.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Behind a paywall unfortunately but committing was more than he was willing to do when r360 first hit the scene

 

[Makasene]

There’s also some on here who haven’t got a clue beyond Warriors games

The reaction is overblown considering the club signed Morgan Harper within the last 18 months...

Warbrick is not without risk but the same can be said of any signing usually.

If true it's a solid signing in a position of weakness. I'm struggling to see the downside. Proof is in the contract value but the player himself stacks up to me.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Warriors NRL forecast 2026: Brutal start, big questions and a finals finish

The Warriors face a brutal early draw with four heavyweight teams in seven weeks.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Behind a paywall unfortunately but committing was more than he was willing to do when r360 first hit the scene

Doesn't have any RTS quote on there anymore.
I read it when it first came out, and also listened to the interview on the Big League Podcast.

They asked him about any R360 update and he said "there's no update at all, my focus is here"

Then they turned it into a big click bait article and said he was "re-committing to the Warriors" and implied that it meant he was staying longer.

 

[Fizurg]

Warbrick isn't elite but he is an NRL quality winger (which is probably more than can be said about AKP). With him being decent but not exceptional and an injury cloud hanging over him he's probably a decent pick up for the club value wise. There's also the chance he was keen to come home which played into the Warriors favour. He fits fits the mould of a Warriors winger too. Hes a big body who can do solid hit ups in the early tackles and is a decent finisher at the other end.
The more i think about it the more I'm warming to it.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

The reaction is overblown considering the club signed Morgan Harper within the last 18 months...

Warbrick is not without risk but the same can be said of any signing usually.

If true it's a solid signing in a position of weakness. I'm struggling to see the downside. Proof is in the contract value but the player himself stacks up to me.

Harper was nothing more than a depth signing. Warbrick is for multiple years no doubt using up a decent chunk of our spare cap. Why would we entertain buying a below average NRL winger with major health risk? Dumb move.

 

[Makasene]

Harper was nothing more than a depth signing. Warbrick is for multiple years no doubt using up a decent chunk of our spare cap. Why would we entertain buying a below average NRL winger with major health risk? Dumb move.

Health risk doesn't really come into it, he's passed fit or he's not. I trust the medical professionals and he's stacked up games since.

Gannon missed the whole 2024 season due to head knocks, TMM's history is well known, Egan too.

As for being a below average winger, I think that's subjective.

As for the cap, we manage it well and have to assume we are paying market value which I'll live with, we rarely pay overs these days.

I think he's an upgrade on DWZ and that justifies the signing to me.

 

[3rdstriker]

Harper was nothing more than a depth signing. Warbrick is for multiple years no doubt using up a decent chunk of our spare cap. Why would we entertain buying a below average NRL winger with major health risk? Dumb move.

As stated above any signing has risks, just take a look from the positive side mate, if Webster can work his magic with Montoya I'm sure he can do wonders with Warbrick who has a higher ceiling.
Look at average Players like Barnett and Ford now they're both in the upper echelon #glasshalffull.

 

[Noitall]

Doesn't have any RTS quote on there anymore.
I read it when it first came out, and also listened to the interview on the Big League Podcast.

They asked him about any R360 update and he said "there's no update at all, my focus is here"

Then they turned it into a big click bait article and said he was "re-committing to the Warriors" and implied that it meant he was staying longer.

I do reckon the big money was the attraction and wonder if that’s what it would take to leave NZ? He could get a decent European rugby contact perhaps? But I don’t think an nrl team would pay him what he wants to leave NZ and r360 might be one of the few remaining options?

 

[Billyspleen75]

I do reckon the big money was the attraction and wonder if that’s what it would take to leave NZ? He could get a decent European rugby contact perhaps? But I don’t think an nrl team would pay him what he wants to leave NZ and r360 might be one of the few remaining options?

Yeah I think big money from Japan.
From 2023..

So strong was the lure of returning to NZ Warriors, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck turned down a lucrative two-year contract to make to play rugby in Japan.

"I had a Japan deal lined up," he explained. "I was just going to go, take my family, explore the world, see what happens and go from there.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I do reckon the big money was the attraction and wonder if that’s what it would take to leave NZ?

Age is obviously a factor in an athletes career (although, no one has told RTS/Barney and Capewell this apparently).

If anyone deserves to chase a decent payout, it's RTS.

He was captain of the club at a pretty hopeless time and has always been a true professional.

 

[Noitall]

Yeah I think big money from Japan.
From 2023..

So strong was the lure of returning to NZ Warriors, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck turned down a lucrative two-year contract to make to play rugby in Japan.

"I had a Japan deal lined up," he explained. "I was just going to go, take my family, explore the world, see what happens and go from there.

I hope he does stick around because I think he’s still got a lot to offer. Both wingers getting on, but Warbrick not young either. He’s obviously going to replace one of them? DWZ too on his day is quality