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

 

[Wrighty]

I just want to balance my last post by saying the warriors organisation has excellent values that I look up to and admire.
1) We paid out Matt Lodge fairly and squarely according to his contract rather than dragging it into court
2) We grant compassionate releases for players.

And the reason why the Warriors make these decisions isn't for good PR with other players or for long term pay off with recruitment efforts it is just because it is the right thing to do. So I admire that greatly.

 

[Cces]

1) We paid out Matt Lodge fairly and squarely according to his contract rather than dragging it into court

We disadvantaged our squad for 1.5 seasons out of the goodness of Mark Robinson's heart

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I somewhat understand the trust Cappy rhetoric but he's also the guy who recruited Morgan Harper, Brayden Wiliame & upgraded Setu Tu to a Top 30 spot despite Webster choosing MGT ahead of him in match squads

All depth and Setu Tu was a parting gift when the spot needed to be used up after June 30. No biggies. Harper was an absolute waste, but that is my personal bias.

I'm surprised we haven't had the cash for a decent first grader in the backs in all of this time.

 

[Five&Last]

Setu Tu was a parting gift

A parting gift for what lol

Could've been used to front load Tanner or Leka who we promoted to top 30 soon after.

Just call it for what it is, poor cap management.

Cappy has been mostly good so far but still very shaky at times.. That Harper signing (although inconsequential) has now made me question and have initial doubts over each new move he makes.

 

[Blain]

I wasn't happy with the whole Harper situation and thought it was a black mark on the club to treat him like that. Either don't recruit him in the first place or if you do recruit him then play him when you have a crisis with injuries at centre. He would not have been that bad.

Treat him, what? By giving him $150k contract to play reserve grade and be first grade depth, when he could have stayed where he was and earn half that playing reserve grade? Come on.

 

[Wrighty]

Treat him, what? By giving him $150k contract to play reserve grade and be first grade depth, when he could have stayed where he was and earn half that playing reserve grade? Come on.

Would you relocate yourself to another country away from friends and family for 12 months for a $75,000 raise (before tax). I certainly wouldn't.

 

[Sammyw]

Anderson over Timoko is a wildly poor decision. Anderson is a winger who can play centre and fullback, Timoko is a legit center, his been harshly blamed for edge defensive issues imo, Fogarty was a MASSIVE liability. For half the season he was wedged between Fogarty and Jed Stuart lol

 

[Noitall]

Anderson over Timoko is a wildly poor decision. Anderson is a winger who can play centre and fullback, Timoko is a legit center, his been harshly blamed for edge defensive issues imo, Fogarty was a MASSIVE liability. For half the season he was wedged between Fogarty and Jed Stuart lol

I personally feel comfortable with the decision because our Kiwi coach is an assistant and think if he thought he was exactly who we needed, we’d make a play

 

[Damo]

I love how we find issues with Cappy after a loss or two.

 

[Muddogz]

If I remember correctly Timoko re-signed in 2024. when he was in great form. He’ll be on good coin hence Canberra being happy to let him go.

He’s definitely got more upside than Anderson but possibly at around twice the price.

 

[Blain]

Would you relocate yourself to another country away from friends and family for 12 months for a $75,000 raise (before tax). I certainly wouldn't.

Doesn't matter what I want, or what you want. It's about what Morgan Harper wanted. And it clearly was for him.

 

[Theking267]

If I remember correctly Timoko re-signed in 2024. when he was in great form. He’ll be on good coin hence Canberra being happy to let him go.

He’s definitely got more upside than Anderson but possibly at around twice the price.

If I remember correctly Timoko re-signed in 2024. when he was in great form. He’ll be on good coin hence Canberra being happy to let him go.

He’s definitely got more upside than Anderson but possibly at around twice the price.

I don’t think Grant Anderson is being signed to be a starting centre. With the new interchange rules his ability to cover the outside backs means he offers more Versatility than Timoko. Particular now that Taine is the number 1 fullback at the club and his days on the bench are probably over.

 

[sup42]

I don’t think Grant Anderson is being signed to be a starting centre. With the new interchange rules his ability to cover the outside backs means he offers more Versatility than Timoko. Particular now that Taine is the number 1 fullback at the club and his days on the bench are probably over.

Nice!

That makes the picture make a lot more sense. Considering we should be looking to move CNK on things start to look pretty thin, a two birds one stone signing as a floater on that bench is smart.

 

[Neo]

I don’t think Grant Anderson is being signed to be a starting centre. With the new interchange rules his ability to cover the outside backs means he offers more Versatility than Timoko. Particular now that Taine is the number 1 fullback at the club and his days on the bench are probably over.

I disagree. I think he’s being signed to be a starting centre. We have no centres and he is coming from some good systems. He has good pace for a centre (pre injury), and a good kick chase. He seemingly fits exactly what Webster values and it is enough to entice him away from the Broncos

 

[CWC]

Ya Anderson probably not leaving AUS to play injury cover, IMO he's right centre who can cover wing/FB

 

[Falcon]

The last 2 weeks has shown there is a gap of a a couple of additional established first graders to compliment the youth and the experienced heads in the team.
Centre is a glaring issue at the club and even if there are any exciting youth players coming through, they are 3-4 years away.
I thought the game over the weekend showed we also need a bigger body against teams like the Sharks who are monsters.

 

[Theking267]

I disagree. I think he’s being signed to be a starting centre. We have no centres and he is coming from some good systems. He has good pace for a centre (pre injury), and a good kick chase. He seemingly fits exactly what Webster values and it is enough to entice him away from the Broncos

The fact that he can cover multiple positions is more valuable than bringing Timoko who only plays centre. It also gives you more time to develop Ali who is probably still in the development stage as a player were who like Timoko is a specialist centre.

 

[Neo]

The fact that he can cover multiple positions is more valuable than bringing Timoko who only plays centre. It also gives you more time to develop Ali who is probably still in the development stage as a player were who like Timoko is a specialist centre.

Ali has been a top 30 player for multiple years now. You can’t afford to recruit based on his development.
We already have 4 specialist wingers signed for next year in Warbrick, DWZ, AKP, and Mellars. Yet only 2 centres (Pompey and Ali). Logically it would appear Anderson is being lined up as a centre

 

[Dannevegas]

Tigers are stacked for backs atm. Let’s get @Wrighty’s man crush, Starford To’a. Timoko as well.

After Watching Verhoeven on the weekend it’s kinda worrying the club is after him and Anderson, Anderson’s a good back up at best and Verhoeven looks like a lesser Version of Mellars, without showcasing any aerial skills, didn’t even attempt to bust a tackle, just running straight as an arrow.

No matter what we need to clear the books to get in 2 backs for this year, we can still win it this year we just need A fit and Firing Metcalf and a couple backs to give us that extra leg.
Arthers, Timoko or To’a. or all 3

 

[Noitall]

It’ll be confirmed today or tomorrow of Niukore to knights according to their forum