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

 

[Cces]

I think metcalf experiment should be over

How would you approach the remaining 2.5 years of his contract?

 

[j_p]

I wouldn't be shocked to see metcalf in reserve grade on his return,maybe even at fb. Or the 14 jumper while maybe giving Healy a break from FG but longer mins in reserve etc.
Wayde egan has done plenty of close to 70 min stints before.
Before everyone jumps at me for changing a winning team hear me out. We are only early on in clicking as a team. Forwards are sorted. Some back positions are still a work in progress and there WILL be injuries. We need to be prepared for all scenarios come the deep end of the season. Imo this will mean webby will experiment from time to time to see how different combinations work or players in different positions.
Just imagine we unlock metcalf at fullback (granted he's willing to). You have all 3 of cht, boyd, metcalf on the field. Tt or cnk as alternating 6th man on bench. They will inevitably get extended game time just due to injuries and you have multiple positions covered.

 

[j_p]

How would you approach the remaining 2.5 years of his contract?

I don't think it's over and we still need him. If boyd goes down he can slot right in. We have no other option at this stage.
Surely we can afford all 3. We don't have any million dollar players on our books anymore as far as I know unlike a lot of other clubs. Who is our top 3 paid players anyway if we were to take a guess.

 

[Noitall]

I don't think it's over and we still need him. If boyd goes down he can slot right in. We have no other option at this stage.
Surely we can afford all 3. We don't have any million dollar players on our books anymore as far as I know unlike a lot of other clubs. Who is our top 3 paid players anyway if we were to take a guess.

Would imagine JFH, Barnett and Niukore? Metcalf’s bump starts next season I think?

 

[Inruin]

How would you approach the remaining 2.5 years of his contract?

Well I'd probably play him in reserve grade for at least 5 or 6 of those 20 games I think

 

[Nostwahdamus]

Gwahnt Anderson is a great signing,Storm system and all that..
Poor Metcalf,he’s a sensitive Piscean and he must be hearing all the noise.Hes gone from absolute priority signing,to do we even need him now

 

[WAH MAN]

How would you approach the remaining 2.5 years of his contract?

I recall Casey Mclean getting sent back to NSW cup early last year. This even after playing well for the kiwis.

He spoke after his reintroduction back to first grade that Nathan Cleary had got in his ear about how you have to go through the highs and the lows and that it's not always going to be highs.

That applies well to Metty. I know he's injury sensitive but.........

With 2.5 years on his contract still in play let's see if we can get him back to max wattage and rip shit out of the comp.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Almost every Rugby convert is stretched by league trainings. There's definitely raw power and talent in MP but they look nowhere close to league fit. Maybe Miracle Failagi? However he will be the number 1 target of many teams, including Europe. I think you would be looking at young loose forwards and a few backs?

All of which involve leaving Auckland, so a sneaky look might be worthwhile. *I know nothing about rugby, just thought it was worth mentioning the logistical advantage the situation might provide.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Metcalf's injury lay off with his ACL is nothing to do with any injury history and was just unlucky. Despite some hamstring issues, this latest injury is a minor one.

From the biggest highlight of our club to someone people want moved on in 1 on-field game where he wasn't even playing in his position. Absolute drivel... And then there is the crew that think he is sulking and playing catty games with his replacement based on a look in the dressing room.

Hopefully he gets fit and back to his best soon, and then we can have some serious conversations about where everyone fits.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Metcalf's injury lay off with his ACL is nothing to do with any injury history and was just unlucky. Despite some hamstring issues, this latest injury is a minor one.

From the biggest highlight of our club to someone people want moved on in 1 on-field game where he wasn't even playing in his position. Absolute drivel... And then there is the crew that think he is sulking and playing catty games with his replacement based on a look in the dressing room.

Hopefully he gets fit and back to his best soon, and then we can have some serious conversations about where everyone fits.

I deffo hope we get Metcalf back to his best as were clearly a better team with him, but the whole injury thing is a bit of an issue hey. He's played 43 games to date, i know its not all injury related but if you look at other 27 year olds playing the game, most have played about 150 games, some upwards of 200 games.
He's essentially played around 75% less games than most other players around his age...hugely concerning and makes me wonder if this is the guy we can really rely on moving forward for the next 2 years.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I deffo hope we get Metcalf back to his best as were clearly a better team with him, but the whole injury thing is a bit of an issue hey. He's played 43 games to date, i know its not all injury related but if you look at other 27 year olds playing the game, most have played about 150 games, some upwards of 200 games.
He's essentially played around 75% less games than most other players around his age...hugely concerning and makes me wonder if this is the guy we can really rely on moving forward for the next 2 years.

Berry has played more games than Metcalf and he’s 3 years younger.

That’s a telling stat when your deciding who to build a team around for a premiership push.

 

[CWC]

I hope we keep all 3 halves given the way CHT plays and Luke’s medical history

And Luke get off the phone reading comments is not good for mental health

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I deffo hope we get Metcalf back to his best as were clearly a better team with him, but the whole injury thing is a bit of an issue hey. He's played 43 games to date, i know its not all injury related but if you look at other 27 year olds playing the game, most have played about 150 games, some upwards of 200 games.
He's essentially played around 75% less games than most other players around his age...hugely concerning and makes me wonder if this is the guy we can really rely on moving forward for the next 2 years.

Hamstrings yes, a concern. ACL - luck of the draw. Hopefully he doesn't have Tommy Turbo hamstrings.

 

[CWC]

So Boyd’s parents came over for this game, his fiance with a bub was playing AFL for Adelaide. Maybe they marry in Queenstown and signs a new contract

 

[Matiunz]

On another note… are any of those Moana Pacifica players worth looking at and realistic option?

Short answer -No
You’re talking by far the worst super rugby team regularly getting a score put on them. Not sure how many would get a start at another SR club let alone worth us investing in converting

 

[Warrior#138]

Keen to get a view from peeps. RTS and Barnett gone. Maybe lose Capewell, DWZ and CNK gone. More than the talent that represents which can be replaced do we risk losing too many culture setters / club men in one fell swoop? I feel like that leaves the likes of Fish, Erin Clarke and a few up and comers carrying the role of Warriors Kaumatua in the group. Is that an area we should actually be looking to recruit? Another Wylie boss forward like Capewell or Barnett? Is it even a thing? Just thinking about how some clubs show loyalty over form to certain players that embody the club. Very keen to hear what anyone thinks…

 

[CWC]

Keen to get a view from peeps. RTS and Barnett gone. Maybe lose Capewell, DWZ and CNK gone. More than the talent that represents which can be replaced do we risk losing too many culture setters / club men in one fell swoop? I feel like that leaves the likes of Fish, Erin Clarke and a few up and comers carrying the role of Warriors Kaumatua in the group. Is that an area we should actually be looking to recruit? Another Wylie boss forward like Capewell or Barnett? Is it even a thing? Just thinking about how some clubs show loyalty over form to certain players that embody the club. Very keen to hear what anyone thinks…

I’d keep Cape for 1-2 years even just for off field influence, tactical input/teaching and share minutes with Leka/Laban/EIT to avoid burnouts, unless we’re saving the cap to buy marquees

 

[Warrior#138]

Can someone tell me why we would resign / extend Rocco Berry? Genuinely keen to understand with his game time and injury history what the reason would be to keep him in? Feels like a Benry situation - the potential minus consistent injuries equals a straight forward decision

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Can someone tell me why we would resign / extend Rocco Berry? Genuinely keen to understand with his game time and injury history what the reason would be to keep him in? Feels like a Benry situation - the potential minus consistent injuries equals a straight forward decision

Someone pointed out that Luke Metcalf is 3 years older than Rocco and so far has played 3 games less than him. And we gave him a million dollars lol.

Rocco should see a nice pay rise his next contract

 

[CWC]

Someone pointed out that Luke Metcalf is 3 years older than Rocco and so far has played 3 games less than him. And we gave him a million dollars lol.

Rocco should see a nice pay rise his next contract

He should fast and protest in front of Warriors HQ #BerriesLivesMatter