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

 

[Falcon]

I think this is a really good signing. He is a player with a lot of talent who compliments the current make up of the team. He maybe not a superstar but don’t think he is ever going to let you down. Fairly experienced, good age, best years ahead of him.

 

[Garry Saloon]

What the hell is wrong with you all? It's like watching 5 years eating crayons.

Grant Wah-nderson.

Gwahnt is better

 

[sup42]

Gwahnt is better

Especially if he plays badly, those games he will be 'whatta stink Gwahnt'

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I need to see defence tape.

His defense stats aren't amazing, but the sample size isn't all that big either. I'm torn between this being a player at the top of our list and it being a power stance against no compensated compassionate grounds releasing. Probably a little of both.

Interesting that two of our new wingers are from the Storm. I would really wonder if GA is wing bound though...

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Gwahnt is better

Sure thing, sport.

Now take that crayon out of your nose, before you hurt yourself

 

[Noitall]

His defense stats aren't amazing, but the sample size isn't all that big either. I'm torn between this being a player at the top of our list and it being a power stance against no compensated compassionate grounds releasing. Probably a little of both.

Interesting that two of our new wingers are from the Storm. I would really wonder if GA is wing bound though...

My pick is Gwahnt at centre likely replacing my man Pompey I think

 

[Warrior#138]

Do not disappoint me Mr Anderson

 

[rugged]

I'm torn between this being a player at the top of our list and it being a power stance against no compensated compassionate grounds releasing. Probably a little of both.

You don't give out 3 year contracts as a power stance. Given that he can play both centre and wing, I suspect he may not be in our best 13 but will probably end up starting somewhere most weeks. We might be pulling some money away from the wings and towards the halves.

 

[Blain]

Not seeing the like for like Grant x Barnett trade. Was hoping we could welcome back Jesse Arthars...

I think the "trade" narrative of Anderson is over looking his actual signing. It's not a trade, player for player as you know Mt Wellington. Barnett leaving was used as leverage to negotiate a release of a player we wanted, which turned out to be Anderson. We all know there was no way we were not going to release Barnett either way. Something is better than nothing in this instance IMO, as long as Anderson is firmly in our future plans.

 

[rugged]

Am surprised the amount of hate Pompey gets. I think he has developed into a good first grade centre, not a superstar but fairly reliable. I hope he gets an extension and is a one nrl club man.

 

[miket12]

He looks better than I was expecting. I'd say his most off putting feature is he looks like a Dad with a pornstach. But the Warriors barber can fix that - get him in a tanning bed and we can pretend he is Jerome Ropati's son.

Dave, you just realised that @ShaunJohnson7 just took you of his Christmas card list?

I don't think the Wah's were looking for a replacement prop for Mitch but a player to strengthen the centres and cheap enough to free up some cash salary space to upgrade other contracts.

From the games I saw him have at the Storm, not against the signing but still not 100% comfortable either as I've still got PSTD from other players we've brought who spent time in the Storm system.

I'll hold judgement until after he's had a pre-season under Webby.

 

[tyrael]

Sure thing, sport.

Now take that crayon out of your nose, before you hurt yourself

It's too late for him.

 

[rugged]

d say his most off putting feature is he looks like a Dad with a pornstach

I thought that was his best feature - would have been on a train and trial deal it if wasn't for the mo.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

You don't give out 3 year contracts as a power stance. Given that he can play both centre and wing, I suspect he may not be in our best 13 but will probably end up starting somewhere most weeks. We might be pulling some money away from the wings and towards the halves.

You underestimate the pettiness of our front office. Point and case - Cam George vs. the Raiders.

But in all seriousness, you're probably correct.

I just wonder if there's some precedent being set here in regards to the 'compassionate grounds' issue that's been historically prevalent with this club; a message to other clubs that we're going to want something in return, no matter the circumstance.

I actually don't mind the signing. Could be a Capewell replacement, in that we should always try and keep a slight 'aussie development system' influence in the team. The other positive is that typically Storm players come from a 'do your job' system which focuses on excelling in your roles responsibilities being the best way to contribute to the team.

Then again, he could also shit the bucket. We'll get our answers to this in 2027.

 

[Theking267]

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.

Seems a bit rogue that they offered him a new contract knowing they needed a player swap to get Mitch Barnett. They did the same with Verhooven.

 

[Blain]

Am surprised the amount of hate Pompey gets. I think he has developed into a good first grade centre, not a superstar but fairly reliable. I hope he gets an extension and is a one nrl club man.

I don't think people are hating him (unless I have missed some posts). I don't think he is good enough however to be an untouchable first choice NRL selection however.

 

[Dead Man Switch]

It looks to me that Anderson will be an astute signing, especially on the basis to how the Storm fans and Broncos fans reacted to him leaving.

The fact the club handed Anderson a 3 year contract shows they rate him. The background on him from the Storm and Broncos is he is an extremely dedicated worker that oozes class and has some decent speed on him. On that basis I don't think he is a fill-in reserve grader. It also points to the Warriors realizing their young backs (Especially the centres) are still some time off being NRL ready.

Jeremiah Lemana
Sio Kali
Caelys-Paul Putoko
Nganatatafu Vake

Also factor in that Rocco Berry contract ends this year and Adam Pompey and Ali Leiataua next year and it is quite intriguing to see the dynamic shifting and planning around how this team is planning to attack and run their shapes.

Something else to consider is Morgan Gannon, EIT and Kayliss Fatialofa (Who we clutched back from the Panthers) can not crack first grade currently. I think they are fighting it out to replace Kurt Capewell in the match day squad for 2027. EIT is contracted through to 2028 but Fatialofa is only contracted through to 2027, so he desperately needs an opportunity to show his value to the club too. Resigning Capewell would further complicate that!

 

[CWC]

It looks to me that Anderson will be an astute signing, especially on the basis to how the Storm fans and Broncos fans reacted to him leaving.

The fact the club handed Anderson a 3 year contract shows they rate him. The background on him from the Storm and Broncos is he is an extremely dedicated worker that oozes class and has some decent speed on him. On that basis I don't think he is a fill-in reserve grader. It also points to the Warriors realizing their young backs (Especially the centres) are still some time off being NRL ready.

Jeremiah Lemana
Sio Kali
Caelys-Paul Putoko
Nganatatafu Vake

Also factor in that Rocco Berry contract ends this year and Adam Pompey and Ali Leiataua next year and it is quite intriguing to see the dynamic shifting and planning around how this team is planning to attack and run their shapes.

Something else to consider is Morgan Gannon, EIT and Kayliss Fatialofa (Who we clutched back from the Panthers) can not crack first grade currently. I think they are fighting it out to replace Kurt Capewell in the match day squad for 2027. EIT is contracted through to 2028 but Fatialofa is only contracted through to 2027, so he desperately needs an opportunity to show his value to the club too. Resigning Capewell would further complicate that!

Are our prop stocks coming through or are they playing Laban or Clark there once Barney and Marata leave? EIT and Gannon could be the ideal 13 cover and free up rooms for Fats and Neal later.

Clark, Ford and Demi will have to do the heavy lifting of leadership if Cape leaves too

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Are our prop stocks coming through or are they playing Laban or Clark there once Barney and Marata leave? EIT and Gannon could be the ideal 13 cover and free up rooms for Fats and Neal later.

Clark, Ford and Demi will have to do the heavy lifting of leadership if Cape leaves too

You are right, there are options - though Clarke and Laban have really made a difference for us in the backrow.

Our prop stocks are very healthy! Though because we always carry 5 specialist props, I could see them still sign a decent prop in the market as the true Barnett replacement. Or optionally they upgrade someone like Salalilo or Cooper Page-Wilson.

James Fisher-Harris
Jackson Ford
Demitric Vaimauga
Tanner Stowers Smith

Followed in reserve grade by
Jason Salalilo (Signed with the club until 28) - IMPACT
Cooper Page-Wilson - SIZE
Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea - DYNAMIC

Then fringe NSW cup/Jersey Flegg

Tepatasi Laumalili
Emosi Ravosai

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Odds on Anderson being the next Ford?

Grunt Anderson you reckon? Since we can't fit a wah in his name?