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

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Btw for the ones wondering didn't cnk move here to be closer to his kids.. I was wondering the same but from what I remember he had split up with the kids and she brought them over. I'm thinking it's a possibility they're back together so he could take his kids and wife over if he signs elsewhere

They will also be 4 years older and maybe out of their formative years? Just a guess, I dont have inside info

 

[Cces]

Did Egan's brother get anywhere?

Moved to Knights

 

[CWC]

 

[Billyspleen75]

They will also be 4 years older and maybe out of their formative years? Just a guess, I dont have inside info

Yeah and also easier to say "Boys I'll be back after a 2 year contract. You guys can come for 2 months during the UK off season" rather than when he was 26 and looking at the prospect of the next 6 years or so of being away from them

 

[juju]

Btw for the ones wondering didn't cnk move here to be closer to his kids.. I was wondering the same but from what I remember he had split up with the kids and she brought them over. I'm thinking it's a possibility they're back together so he could take his kids and wife over if he signs elsewhere

Nah he has a new lady and baby with her.

His boys are still quite young (under 10) so I think he would find moving to the UK pretty tough...

 

[rugged]

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.

After 123 game he has earned his starting spot end is probably good enough that we shouldn’t actively be looking for a replacement.

 

[Dead Man Switch]

After 123 game he has earned his starting spot end is probably good enough that we shouldn’t actively be looking for a replacement.

I know where you are coming from.... the thing is for a mid level club to think that way is fine and acceptable.

For a club entering into a premiership window then the thinking changes. It is not about survival anymore. It is about having the right pieces of the puzzle to win titles. Is Pompey an elite level NRL centre? - No he isn't but he does have elite moments across games. Is he Rock Solid? - Yes he is. But with Anderson arriving I would argue that leaves just one centre position up for grabs for Leiataua, Pompey, Berry and then following on the heels Caelys-Paul Putoko, Sio Kali and Nganatatafu Vake to fight it out for over the next three years. Some might argue Kayliss Fatialofa could even make a play for it (Though there is no hint of that from the club).

That's also not factoring that Cassius Tia could come to the party with his God gifted talent too... because playing in the halves at NRL level looks to be a somewhat congested and blocked path!

They didnt buy Anderson to play wing. With Warbrick, AFP, Mellars, Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi, Motu Pasikala waiting in the slot. They have more speed, dynamic punch and metre eatting there.

I have said it several times over my posts. The Warriors roster depth is elite. Easily inside the top 3 depth in the NRL. There is going to be some utterly ruthless calls made on players. That is what it takes to win titles. Welcome to a super club in the making - mid phase.

 

[tajhay]

Maguire on Grant Anderson.

“It’s a tricky one, that one,” Maguire said.

“It’s probably a bit of a life-changing opportunity for him. When you’ve got a squad like we have, it’s about managing all that.

“He’s been given a big opportunity to go over there for his family. You work really hard to put yourself in that position.

“I think it’s nice to see a player go on and get a contract like that because they don’t come around very often.

“I know that Grant is going to be ripping in here. He’s a quality human, but unfortunately these things happen.”

 

[CWC]

I thought Anderson would be right centre doing all the Berry donkey work and D and Ali has to outplay Pompey to secure the other side?

Why is Ali suddenly deemed > Pompey next year? Would love it if he and Anderson become high quality and push Pompey to depth though, and RTS is not here next year either

 

[rugged]

I know where you are coming from.... the thing is for a mid level club to think that way is fine and acceptable.

For a club entering into a premiership window then the thinking changes. It is not about survival anymore. It is about having the right pieces of the puzzle to win titles. Is Pompey an elite level NRL centre? - No he isn't but he does have elite moments across games. Is he Rock Solid?

I could not disagree more. You are always going to have some players within a top 13 that are solid first graders and perform well but aren't superstars. Centre tends to be a great spot for this.

Anderson is a similar age to Pompey and played under half as many games. Anderson is a good player - but there hasn't done anything to suggest that he should be ahead of Pompey other than the fact he is Australian. He has one season of playing a lot of first grade which was 2025 and when it came to the finals Bellamy went in a different direction and didn't pick him. Both Bellamy and Maguire have been willing to let him go - this doesn't mean he isn't good but it should give an indication that he is not a walk in ahead of a 120+ club player

We have spent years investing in Pompey and I fear what you do to team culture if you bring in a good journey man and just give Pompeys jumper to him. Next year Pompey will be our one wing / centre that is Wah's through and through, experienced and a good injury profile. Having that culture piece right will be a key for us next year.

 

[sup42]

Maguire on Grant Anderson.

“It’s a tricky one, that one,” Maguire said.

“It’s probably a bit of a life-changing opportunity for him. When you’ve got a squad like we have, it’s about managing all that.

“He’s been given a big opportunity to go over there for his family. You work really hard to put yourself in that position.

“I think it’s nice to see a player go on and get a contract like that because they don’t come around very often.

“I know that Grant is going to be ripping in here. He’s a quality human, but unfortunately these things happen.”

Interesting comments.

Dunno what to make of it, he seems to intimate that Grant Anderson won the sweep stakes with the type of contract he got here (not what you want to hear from the soon to be previous employer).

The lament at the end is just the generic obligatory we will be sad to see him go fluff.....while also contradicted that earlier by mentioning their squad depth in such a way as to leave little doubt that he was down the pecking order in Madges plans.

I imagine the Titans felt the same way about getting rid of Clark.

 

[tajhay]

Interesting comments.

Dunno what to make of it, he seems to intimate that Grant Anderson won the sweep stakes with the type of contract he got here (not what you want to hear from the soon to be previous employer).

The lament at the end is just the generic obligatory we will be sad to see him go fluff.....while also contradicted that earlier by mentioning their squad depth in such a way as to leave little doubt that he was down the pecking order in Madges plans.

I imagine the Titans felt the same way about getting rid of Clark.

I think it indicates that he was on far less at the Broncos for 2026 and 2027, and Broncos revised offer to stay was also much less than what he signed on at the Warriors for. I think its fair to say we are currently overpaying for him, and once he is a Warrior, just hope he is able to play to the value we have placed on him for 3 years.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I could not disagree more. You are always going to have some players within a top 13 that are solid first graders and perform well but aren't superstars. Centre tends to be a great spot for this.

Anderson is a similar age to Pompey and played under half as many games. Anderson is a good player - but there hasn't done anything to suggest that he should be ahead of Pompey other than the fact he is Australian. He has one season of playing a lot of first grade which was 2025 and when it came to the finals Bellamy went in a different direction and didn't pick him. Both Bellamy and Maguire have been willing to let him go - this doesn't mean he isn't good but it should give an indication that he is not a walk in ahead of a 120+ club player

We have spent years investing in Pompey and I fear what you do to team culture if you bring in a good journey man and just give Pompeys jumper to him. Next year Pompey will be our one wing / centre that is Wah's through and through, experienced and a good injury profile. Having that culture piece right will be a key for us next year.

Anderson > Pompey > Berry

Its professional sports and Pompey isnt that guy.

 

[CWC]

Injury aside GA is gonna play better than the highlight reel shown under Webby, probably peaks in year 2

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Interesting comments.

Dunno what to make of it, he seems to intimate that Grant Anderson won the sweep stakes with the type of contract he got here (not what you want to hear from the soon to be previous employer).

The lament at the end is just the generic obligatory we will be sad to see him go fluff.....while also contradicted that earlier by mentioning their squad depth in such a way as to leave little doubt that he was down the pecking order in Madges plans.

I imagine the Titans felt the same way about getting rid of Clark.

I think it indicates that he was on far less at the Broncos for 2026 and 2027, and Broncos revised offer to stay was also much less than what he signed on at the Warriors for. I think its fair to say we are currently overpaying for him, and once he is a Warrior, just hope he is able to play to the value we have placed on him for 3 years.

Staggs - one of the top 3 centres in the game, game breaking
Shibasaki - Broncos feel good story that went from Broncos NYC team a decade ago to the cusp of retirement, then in 2025 went from a train and trial to scoring the GF match winner.

Anderson was heavily cockblocked and yet still managed a few appearances. I take Madge's comments to mean that Anderson has done all right things to earn it, but has to go to NZ to grab it due to the Broncs current team.

 

[CWC]

I think GA is above Arthurs over there?

 

[rugged]

Anderson > Pompey > Berry

It’s professional sports and Pompey isnt that guy.

I agree that Pompey isn’t “that guy” but you are dreaming if you think Anderson is. We are taking about either of them being a comment first grade. Bellamy certainly didn’t see GA as that guy as he dropped him last year when it came to the big games.

Anderson > Pompey > Berry

Its professional sports and Pompey isnt that guy.

Neither Anderson or Pompey are "that guy" - but I don't know what you're seeing in Anderson that Bellamy missed when he dropped him at the key time last year. I guess it depends how you rate Pompey and I think not a star but a good first grade regular. So far what we have seen from GA is that he is a gap filler with the potential to become a good first grade regular - but because he's an aussie people assume he must be better than who we have.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Neither Anderson or Pompey are "that guy"

You are correct. So if we uncover a local junior or if Webby turns Anderson into Ford 2.0 then its win / win.

 

[3rdstriker]

I always take what he says with a grain of salt. He has a tendency to jump the gun.

Or he's just straight up misleading.

 

[sup42]

I think it indicates that he was on far less at the Broncos for 2026 and 2027, and Broncos revised offer to stay was also much less than what he signed on at the Warriors for. I think its fair to say we are currently overpaying for him, and once he is a Warrior, just hope he is able to play to the value we have placed on him for 3 years.

How do you get a first grader from the Storm for less than 400k a season is what I would like to know? Berry and Pompey would be on at least that coin.

Still, the old adage applies....no one knows what any of these blokes are really on.