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

 

[Noitall]

I see the period we are entering as a real test for Webby and his player management team. Form slumps at a time immediately after announcement of leaving (RTS, Niukore), the risk of perceptions of packing a sad with position changes (LM, CNK) and key injuries to experienced heads when desperately needed (Capewell, Barney) could see us in a negative spiral which will be challenging to stop before it's too late.

Factual or not, this combination creates unnecessary doubt amongst the group, a general lack of confidence and results in less than 110% effort, especially in defence. We saw this yesterday.

If even some of this is the actual situation it's a significant challenge ahead for Webby to address, requiring big calls and further significant risk. We face an interesting few weeks. The best way to allay such fears is to put on a massive show against Melbourne, even if we eventually lose by a few points. A hammering will add to any doubt.

Staying on for another run on the roller coaster?

My thoughts were that the announcements would galvanise the group that this is the last season together type scenario, but that might be wrong? You’d hope that the team has a greater good type attitude when it comes to selection but that might be naive? Ego surely plays a big part in this sport. I think you’re right though that it’s a big period ahead, if we can’t get up for a hurting storm team, that’s a worry. My view is that with Barnett departing that extending Capewell for a season or two is good to standards effort up and realistically has earned it I think

 

[Noitall]

Mason Barber or Jaxon Purdue should be on Cappy’s hitlist. Cowboys surely would have to give up 1 of them if we came in with a big offer.

Talk of Drinkwater to dragons next year? Trai Fuller wants 2027 as well as the rest of this season with dragons trying to get him but dragons not budging on 2027 and people wondering why?

 

[Naumaifooty]

Talk of Drinkwater to dragons next year? Trai Fuller wants 2027 as well as the rest of this season with dragons trying to get him but dragons not budging on 2027 and people wondering why?

I just think we would be a good chance to get either Purdue or Barber if we table a big offer and dangle the “starting fullback for the next 10 years” carrot in front of them. Because let’s face it no player at the club comes close to their talent and potential right from Harold Matts all the way through first grade.

 

[Dannevegas]

I just think we would be a good chance to get either Purdue or Barber if we table a big offer and dangle the “starting fullback for the next 10 years” carrot in front of them. Because let’s face it no player at the club comes close to their talent and potential right from Harold Matts all the way through first grade.

Barber is a good shout, that’d be lovely. Try get him this year.

 

[Dannevegas]

Has webby developed any backs in his time here? Leiataua and Kali will thrive in the right environment. Seems like he only wants bumper bar backs Hungus for contact.

Karapani for example, went to the broncos and is an elite winger now

 

[jumpman5xl]

Purdue please. Surely we have 4 years 800k a year and available with all the players leaving. Fullback should be also enough to entice.
Has all the makings to be an elite Fullback. Height, speed, playmaking
And only 20, plenty time to gain 5-10kg.

Then next on list
Timoko
Arthurs
Tuala
Ramien
Shibasaki??

If im Fatialofa, looking at our lack of dynamic backs and the rise of Bisbop Neil.
im looking at using this off-season to become a centre.

 

[CWC]

Cape and Boyd need to be signing priorities rn, Luke can’t play 2/3 of season and we see how our defense crumbles without Cape and Barney’s gone

 

[Zaggo]

Karapani for example, went to the broncos and is an elite winger now

Considering Karapani left the Warriors system before Webby was even involved, seems a little rough to place the blame on him!

 

[RTS’s Calves]

Apparently Timokos manager offered him to the Warriors and we’ve declined as we are going after Grant Anderson. Jeez it’s hard to fault what Cappy has done in the last 5 years but idk about this one

 

[Dannevegas]

Considering Karapani left the Warriors system before Webby was even involved, seems a little rough to place the blame on him!

Considering Karapani left the Warriors system before Webby was even involved, seems a little rough to place the blame on him!

I’m using him as an example, a player with potential but gos to the right environment and kills it, nothing to do with us or Webby.
I see Kali and Leiataua as karapani, I know we’ve seen this story a lot before tho

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Apparently Timokos manager offered him to the Warriors and we’ve declined as we are going after Grant Anderson. Jeez it’s hard to fault what Cappy has done in the last 5 years but idk about this one

Certainly disappointing from the outside looking in, but i guess at the end of the day Webby, Cappy and co would have good intel and if they don't think hed be a good fit or cant improve him here, then fair enough. Recruitment wise they've got so many correct over the last 3 years that I have to back their decision

 

[Dannevegas]

Certainly disappointing from the outside looking in, but i guess at the end of the day Webby, Cappy and co would have good intel and if they don't think hed be a good fit or cant improve him here, then fair enough. Recruitment wise they've got so many correct over the last 3 years that I have to back their decision

Look at the state of our backs, and they don’t want Timoko. That’s just crazy. I definitely don’t trust their decisions when it comes to putting an backline together.
Instead they want a winger who’s about to be 30 by the time he gets here although I do rate Warbrick, and some Reggie’s player in Anderson.

 

[Cces]

our defense crumbles without Cape and Barney’s gone

Against the Raiders & Knights we conceded just 3 tries, only one was on Capewell's edge, & it was from a kick.
Barnett's stint vs Knights was 26-0 but vs Tigers it was 4-28.
Both Capewell & Barnett are amongst our top defenders but we can do a very good job without them, when the mindset is right

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I’m using him as an example, a player with potential but gos to the right environment and kills it, nothing to do with us or Webby.
I see Kali and Leiataua as karapani, I know we’ve seen this story a lot before tho

Is there anything you can see Webby could be doing differently, or wrong?
With the exception of being dropped 2 weeks ago, Ali's largely been in fg the majority of the time hes been available the last 2 or 3 years, while Kali appears to have not progressed as hes always injure, so im not too sure what could be improved, especially when this environment has seen about 80% of our players having career best years under Webby

 

[CWC]

Apparently Timokos manager offered him to the Warriors and we’ve declined as we are going after Grant Anderson. Jeez it’s hard to fault what Cappy has done in the last 5 years but idk about this one

How long ago was that? Andy looked pretty busted and Timoko we could grab this year….and still sign Andy if we want, so there better be rumors of Timoko been a prick or into gangs or something make me feel better

Stacy still picked him for the kiwis…

 

[Cces]

Apparently Timokos manager offered him to the Warriors and we’ve declined as we are going after Grant Anderson. Jeez it’s hard to fault what Cappy has done in the last 5 years but idk about this one

A specialist right Centre, who also did a great job for Kiwis on the left in 2023, & can't play the homesick card in NZ yet we apparently didn't want him. Odd call. Must be down to $

 

[CWC]

A specialist right Centre, who also did a great job for Kiwis on the left in 2023, & can't play the homesick card in NZ yet we apparently didn't want him. Odd call. Must be down to $

What a way to start a monday eh

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Apparently Timokos manager offered him to the Warriors and we’ve declined as we are going after Grant Anderson. Jeez it’s hard to fault what Cappy has done in the last 5 years but idk about this one

Most probably a salary cap issue. Timoko is a Kiwi International. Anderson would be alot cheaper. Plus, With all his attacking prowess, There's a reason sticky has him playing Reggie's. Hes as bad as Ali, Dal & recently CNK with his defensive reads.

 

[Dannevegas]

There's a reason sticky has him playing Reggie's. Hes as bad as Ali, Dal & recently CNK with his defensive reads.

I dont think he’s too bad on defence. They can afford to drop him because,
Kris and Sasagi are guns.

And we’re over here running out Pompey and CNK in the centres

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Mason Barber or Jaxon Purdue should be on Cappy’s hitlist. Cowboys surely would have to give up 1 of them if we came in with a big offer.

Purdue is a local boy/junior so they’re probably going to give him the big contract to stay