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

 

[Dempsey]

Ew. No thanks.

We've got better.

Good depth prop.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Im going to say we have the best forward pack (including reserve depth) in the comp.

Who’s better? Roosters and Raiders were both elite packs and were blown away.

In a perfect world our pack never gets dominated.

And for the next 3+ years

You are right mate and as much as I love Capes and Barnett, they are getting older and when they leave the likes of TSS and Vaimauga will step up, develop and get bigger mins. We are in a good spot.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

According to Barry Toohey from The Newcastle Herald, the Newcastle Knights “are very keen” to land Marata Niukore and are closing in on a deal with him for the 2027 season.
Code Sports understands that the Warriors are resigned to losing the versatile forward who they handed a $2.5 million contract in 2023.
Off-contract at the end of 2026 along with seven other teammates, Niukore has featured in 157 matches in the NRL, with 61 of those coming with his current club.
The other 96 games come during his time with the Parramatta Eels between 2018 to 2022, which included playing in a grand final against the Penrith Panthers.
He has also played multiple internationals for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand Kiwis over the years.

He's a contract guy...tonight was the best I've seen him since he signed even though he's the oldest he's ever been....he was outstanding. You take that guy but as we know, you sign him long term, you probably don't get that. That's fine, we get that guy this season

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Fuck. No thanks to Anderson(Centre). Rather persevere with Broken Berry in the hopes hes over the worst of it when he returns.
Pompey has locked the other position in. And I still have high hopes that Ali comes good. Centre cover for Berry & Pomps.
Unless Dwz & Roger are gone next year. Then i don't mind him as a winger with Warbrick.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Fuck. No thanks to Anderson(Centre). Rather persevere with Broken Berry in the hopes hes over the worst of it when he returns.
Pompey has locked the other position in. And I still have high hopes that Ali comes good. Centre cover for Berry & Pomps.
Unless Dwz & Roger are gone next year. Then i don't mind him as a winger with Warbrick.

We need to resign one of our vet wings I think for a year at least. Both in great form, great team mates, great people etc. Wouldn't be mad if they both got 1 year extensions. At their age though you don't want to commit more than that.

 

[CWC]

He doesn't have a triple barreled surname so do we even want him?

Sir Grant Anderson (SGA)

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Tanah has rightly ignited this conversation and I'm not expressing my "I am the rightest right" view but rather my opinion.

That 7 jersey is Metcalf's to wear and yield to Tanah. I can't see how Metcalf should lose the spot given the incumbency and recent contract signing.

Remember how Justin Hodges told Danny Buderus that he was number two? And Cam Smith was number one?

It's kinda like that in a humourous way.

Tanah is our number two number seven.

Comparing Metcalfs position to Cameron Smiths is a whole different kettle of fish.

I get where your coming from but Metcalf should just focus on staying on the field no?

Do we want Boyd playing cup? If it's just a number then Metcalf should have mo worries wearing the six jersey. It's more about the roles they bring, this is going to be a good debate until Metcalf can get back to first grade.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

He's a contract guy...tonight was the best I've seen him since he signed even though he's the oldest he's ever been....he was outstanding. You take that guy but as we know, you sign him long term, you probably don't get that. That's fine, we get that guy this season

Can we get compensation for Niukore leaving for Newcastle?

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Can we get compensation for Niukore leaving for Newcastle?

Pretty sure Ponga would be keen on a move to play with JFH if you saw their post match interaction

 

[CWC]

Can we get compensation for Niukore leaving for Newcastle?

Marata wants a compassionate release to Sydney, George wants a player swap, one of the mullets

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Marata wants a compassionate release to Sydney, George wants a player swap, one of the mullets

Great KP for Maratas....with his salary we can probably afford it lol

 

[Muddogz]

I’m ok with Anderson, can play centre and wing and on both sides looking at his highlights. He’ll be a gatekeeper for the young talent coming through. Bit like a Blake Ayshford.

I’m not sure we’ve got anyone coming through who will be ready by next season in those positions.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

I’m ok with Anderson, can play centre and wing and on both sides looking at his highlights. He’ll be a gatekeeper for the young talent coming through. Bit like a Blake Ayshford.

I’m not sure we’ve got anyone coming through who will be ready by next season in those positions.

Hence why resigning one of RTS or DWZ is important.....high character guys, both legends of the club.....both playing great..... shouldn't be too hard a decision

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Hence why resigning one of RTS or DWZ is important.....high character guys, both legends of the club.....both playing great.....should be too hard a decision

Legends and sentiment doesn't mean much when during the middle of a pandemic , Our Captain and leader left us to play rugby. He was going to leave us if 360 kicked off too. Its just business.

Rts will be 34 by june next year. Dallin 31. Dal might be worth an extension. Warbrick 29, Anderson 27. There is enough experience to help out with our young guys. And Warbrick and Anderson seem to be nice trouble free men.

Norris & Mellars are going great guns. AKP is still finding his feet. Sio Kali is bossing it in SG Ball. Pasikala is powerful young man.

I think we'll survive without RTS. Altho, I miss his professionalism and impact on our youth behind the scenes.

 

[Dempsey]

Legends and sentiment doesn't mean much when during the middle of a pandemic , Our Captain and leader left us to play rugby. He was going to leave us if 360 kicked off too. Its just business.

Rts will be 34 by june next year. Dallin 31. Dal might be worth an extension. Warbrick 29, Anderson 27. There is enough experience to help out with our young guys. And Warbrick and Anderson seem to be nice trouble free men.

Norris & Mellars are going great guns. AKP is still finding his feet. Sio Kali is bossing it in SG Ball. Pasikala is powerful young man.

I think we'll survive without RTS. Altho, I miss his professionalism and impact on our youth behind the scenes.

He left during the pandemic because he didn’t see the first year of his sons life and his son didn’t know who he was.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

He left during the pandemic because he didn’t see the first year of his sons life and his son didn’t know who he was.

Did he not go to rugby to try and make the ABs?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

He left during the pandemic because he didn’t see the first year of his sons life and his son didn’t know who he was.

And I don't think he was the only one missing their kids and partners.

 

[Cces]

He left during the pandemic because he didn’t see the first year of his sons life and his son didn’t know who he was.

You're a little loose with the truth here

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

I'm pretty sure his family relocated to be with him before he choose to leave too

 

[Dempsey]

Did he not go to rugby to try and make the ABs?

Man’s got to earn a living even when he’s at home

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Legends and sentiment doesn't mean much when during the middle of a pandemic , Our Captain and leader left us to play rugby. He was going to leave us if 360 kicked off too. Its just business.

Rts will be 34 by june next year. Dallin 31. Dal might be worth an extension. Warbrick 29, Anderson 27. There is enough experience to help out with our young guys. And Warbrick and Anderson seem to be nice trouble free men.

Norris & Mellars are going great guns. AKP is still finding his feet. Sio Kali is bossing it in SG Ball. Pasikala is powerful young man.

I think we'll survive without RTS. Altho, I miss his professionalism and impact on our youth behind the scenes.

He also stuck with us that entire season during the pandemic? I think he was injured our last game but rather than go home, he stayed with the team, What do you have an issue with?

He's one of New Zealand's greatest ever league players, still in great form, wing is his spot now, he would be fine for one more year.