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: 23/30
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, 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

 

[Damo]

Solid first grade outside back, not a game breaker but they are needed in the squad.

400k a year is fine considering the 11.7M cap and 150k minimum.

 

[tajhay]

With Anderson joining us it would Be interesting what the storm forum was saying about him leaving for the Broncos.
Was it like damn we lost one here or thank God he is gone.

Official thread and signing news - Page 349 - StormFans.club

They moved on pretty quick

But theres another thread there that said Warbrick would have to come via feeder team from injury for their finals clash as Anderson was in too much of a hot form.

 

[WAH MAN]

At 400k a season for a proven first grader and 26 years of age it's a good deal. It definitely helps with our centre/wing headaches.

Hang on. I thought 26 is ancient or does that just apply to Taine the fullback that gets ragdolled and doesn't pass to Dallin?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

The way we are releasing players are we accumulating cap for 27 or 28?

Well its been about 8 weeks since weve had any KP to Wahs rumors so by all means...

Knights have had a great start to the year and without Ponga they've had good wins over the Dogs and Raiders. I wonder if they perform well again this weekend that 1.4mil price tag of Ponga's is starting to look really good to pump into their forward pack.

Charnz to Perth would be a great way to get him outta his last year with us. We can compassion the shit out of a release for a 2 or 3 year contract with the Bears, would be a great, solid signing

 

[The Warrior Waka]

With Anderson joining us it would Be interesting what the storm forum was saying about him leaving for the Broncos.
Was it like damn we lost one here or thank God he is gone.

I found this as the storms release to Broncos.

Storm player #222, Anderson made his NRL debut in Round 14 2022, crossing for two tries in a memorable performance as Craig Bellamy’s team defeated the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.

The Newcastle-born centre has since impressed throughout his time in purple, crossing for 22 tries from 36 games, including ten tries from his 12 appearances this season.

Storm General Manager of Football Frank Ponissi thanked Anderson for his service and commitment to the Club.

“Grant has been an outstanding representative of Melbourne Storm over the past few seasons,” Ponissi said.

“He’s a great example of a player who has made the most of every opportunity, working his way through our feeder system with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, before earning his place in the NRL side

Alot of them didn't want him to go. Some said there's no room for him, And said good riddance.

 

[Blain]

He seems like a real Webster signing, highly thought of, super versatile, but not super flashy. Good size and pace.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMPv8kndQo

The estimated wages are a complete media guess, $450k is the median wage in the NRL I believe, so a little under that. But a top 20 player if that's close to true. I think he may be the DWZ roster spot replacement?

I don't know if he's taking a spot over AKP, Ali, Pompey, Warbrick or Berry if we are full strength next year, but for a 3 year deal at decent money they must have a plan for him.

I wonder what Pompeys future is, he just hasn't stepped up when we need him. Seems to have 4 quiet games then 1 good game.. I'm not convinced he's our true number 1 centre in 2027.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

The highlights video is just how good the storm halves were going last year!

It’s good safety first signing don’t let Ali and Pompey get too comfortable, they could have had unchallenged paths to the centre spots next year if Berry never comes right.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

2027 backline:
1- TT
2- Warbrick
3- Ali
4- Anderson
5- AKP

Finally got some much needed pace that we’ve all been calling out for.

Is Anderson fast?

 

[Noitall]

He seems like a real Webster signing, highly thought of, super versatile, but not super flashy. Good size and pace.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMPv8kndQo

The estimated wages are a complete media guess, $450k is the median wage in the NRL I believe, so a little under that. But a top 20 player if that's close to true. I think he may be the DWZ roster spot replacement?

I don't know if he's taking a spot over AKP, Ali, Pompey, Warbrick or Berry if we are full strength next year, but for a 3 year deal at decent money they must have a plan for him.

I wonder what Pompeys future is, he just hasn't stepped up when we need him. Seems to have 4 quiet games then 1 good game.. I'm not convinced he's our true number 1 centre in 2027.

Pompey will see his contract out I think, but become depth. Starting to think they’ll extend Berry if he can string some games together

 

[Dannevegas]

Is Anderson fast?

Probably a tier below Dallin, so na not really. More just a all round solid type

 

[CWC]

Pompey will see his contract out I think, but become depth. Starting to think they’ll extend Berry if he can string some games together

Wonder if GA can play FB if Berry’s shoulder holds up, then you have 4 centres. Though I think we have a lot of cap especially if Cape is not renewed, wonder who are on the market soon? Drinky?

 

[mrblonde]

Well its been about 8 weeks since weve had any KP to Wahs rumors so by all means...

Knights have had a great start to the year and without Ponga they've had good wins over the Dogs and Raiders. I wonder if they perform well again this weekend that 1.4mil price tag of Ponga's is starting to look really good to pump into their forward pack.

Charnz to Perth would be a great way to get him outta his last year with us. We can compassion the shit out of a release for a 2 or 3 year contract with the Bears, would be a great, solid signing

Wait, so we're going the "Charnz has requested a compassionate grounds release from the Warriors because he wants to be as far, far away from his family as he can but still be in the NRL." route? Mmmkay, never seen it happen before, but I guess NRL players, like everybody else, can actually desire to live as far away from their a-hole fam as possible...

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Always good to know how good a player is by how the fans react to him being confirmed to be leaving.

How are the Broncos fans taking the news from their forum?

“ Its a shame because I like what little we saw of Ganderson.”

“Yeah, well, that's shit but that's the game these days.”

“I was really looking forward to what Anderson could have provided us. He looked a class above in his 2 games. It's a shame we're losing him.”

“Big loss Anderson. He’s a gun . F u wahs …..”

“Genuinely shits me but oh well. Plenty of talented backs around the comp that would love to be in our backline.”

“p.s. this is from the article - The Broncos were reluctant to lose Anderson and tabled a counter offer, but the Warriors’ deal was more lucrative and too good to refuse.”

“Shame to lose his versatility.”

“Warriors do seem very well run these days though, good on them”

“Does that mean we get Barnett this season? seeing as we were already getting him next season so why did we give them Anderson? **** the wahs”

“Why do the wahs need Granderson anyway? They've got Warbrick going there next year. Don't they have Dwz and khan-Pereira already??”

“Sad to lose GAnderson ffs”

“Where are they even going to play him? They've got Brick coming, Khan-Pereira, I assume DWZ is still staying. They also have big wraps on Leiataua. Yes they lose RTS but.. seems a lot to spend on a non-guaranteed starter.”

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

So we’re burning Charnze at the stake now?

Fine. I’ll get my torch.

 

[Playdaball]

Vinnie, Louis, Daniel and now Grant !

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Is Anderson fast?

In comparison to Pompey which is where I have him in the team, yes

 

[snake77]

The line about the Broncos making a counter offer is interesting. He only just signed there last year so could have got an upgrade. Also interesting as it looks like the Warriors were sticking to their guns about wanting someone in return for releasing Barnett. So, it is a bit weird the Broncos making an offer. Could just be the reporter putting 2 and 2 together and getting 7.

It is good having the speculation about Barnett over. Now he can concentrate on his final year here.

Anderson seems like a good get. Mcguire went after him early last year to get him to the Broncos. Hopefully, he recovers from his injury and gets some football in to finish the year.

We are losing some experience at the end of this year. The flip side of that is it frees up cap space.

 

[CWC]

Welcome to adjust my couch potato guess

Barney - 800K
RTS - 650K
DWZ - 650
Marata - 600
TMM - 500
——————————
Total - 3.2M

Warbrick - 500?
Anderson - 400
———————————-
Total - 900K

3.2M - 900K = 2.3M

Boyd - 100, extend +500=600?
CHT - 400, extend +200?

2.3M - 800k = 1.5M

How much to upgrade the young guns?

And Cape and CNK could be on 600K+ each?

We could have 1.5M-2.7M spares to upgrade and sign more recruits?

 

[3rdstriker]

So we’re burning Charnze at the stake now?

Fine. I’ll get my torch.

How do we respond to this!!!

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Hang on. I thought 26 is ancient or does that just apply to Taine the fullback that gets ragdolled and doesn't pass to Dallin?

We he did just blow a knee out...