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

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Yes which means it’s important to get return on the money already invested.

Sure thing, Frank.

Depending on your point of view
Imo a fit Metcalf would be more influential in winning the competition than a fit Berry.

Oh for sure. I'd love to see a fit Metcalf. I constantly state that he's an incredible player.

My only issue is that he's averaged 12 games a year, since he got here.

It's not his fault and it sucks. But it is the reality of the situation.

 

[John Nick]

Sure thing, Frank.



Oh for sure. I'd love to see a fit Metcalf. I constantly state that he's an incredible player.

My only issue is that he's averaged 12 games a year, since he got here.

It's not his fault and it sucks. But it is the reality of the situation.

True mate and another fact that is often forgotten is the knee injury was a very unusual consequence of a heavy ground condition and a very careless tackle
However it happened unfortunately

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Warriors got a roster problem... Who is losing there spot to Bishop Neal? That guy is going to be a major premiership piece.

Kayliss Fatialofa can't be far off either!!! Pheeeeewwww!!

 

[CWC]

I wonder why EIT wasn’t converted to centre or lock we have so many second rowers, Gannon’s still here

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I wonder why EIT wasn’t converted to centre or lock we have so many second rowers, Gannon’s still here

I was thinking about that when warching him yesterday. What is his position?

I think his best position is middle, he seems more no frills Mahi type.

 

[Defence]

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…

Personally I’d love to keep a couple of these guys around another year- rts being a prime example- problem is that other clubs/ sports will be willing to give them 3 year deals and we can’t compete with that.

 

[WAH MAN]

I was thinking that it could be a real possibility that we let CNK go a year early, but with RTS leaving and our young FB’s not having game time in cup yet, it would be far too risky unless we somehow snag an early release for a FB at the end of the season.

I get that as insurance but I don't like his current and recent form. Here's hoping we miraculously develop a signing of significant fullback stock

 

[Naynay]

I wonder why EIT wasn’t converted to centre or lock we have so many second rowers, Gannon’s still here

Might see him as a middle, Demitric seems to be the bench lock, so so really we have an opening for a middle (or 2) with barny and marata leaving, so would expect gannon and EIT to come up.

That being said Gannon failed a HIA on the weekend i think so he could be in doubt and either Fats or Neal could be close to a first grade call up next year

 

[Five&Last]

I wonder why EIT wasn’t converted to centre or lock we have so many second rowers, Gannon’s still here

He's a prop imo.

With how fast the game is moving, I see him as a Jackson Ford type of player that could play 80 min in the middle in his peak.

I think that's a very obvious positional change that needs to happen which solves one piece to the puzzle. The club needs to start thinking about how they can get all these talented second rowers on the field at the same time with Bishop Neal showing he's the future of the club.

 

[Blain]

His career average is 67 run metres a game

This was mentioned in regards to Berry's metres - But all our centres make low metres. Probably because of the fact our wingers love a carry, but would love to see Ali and Pompey run the ball more, they are big centres.

 

[Dannevegas]

Warriors got a roster problem... Who is losing there spot to Bishop Neal? That guy is going to be a major premiership piece.

Kayliss Fatialofa can't be far off either!!! Pheeeeewwww!!

Kayliss is close to motm every week. Neal is a freak. Think they just replace Niukore and barnett

 

[Dannevegas]

He's a prop imo.

With how fast the game is moving, I see him as a Jackson Ford type of player that could play 80 min in the middle in his peak.

I think that's a very obvious positional change that needs to happen which solves one piece to the puzzle. The club needs to start thinking about how they can get all these talented second rowers on the field at the same time with Bishop Neal showing he's the future of the club.

Just a pack consisting of all our own young guys.
This would probably be a top 8 pack, all homegrown and under 23. Holy


Stowers-smith
Tafua
Eiremia-toeava
Halasima
Neal
Vaimauga

Auloa
Salalilo
Tuipuloto-vea
Fatialofa

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Personally I’d love to keep a couple of these guys around another year- rts being a prime example- problem is that other clubs/ sports will be willing to give them 3 year deals and we can’t compete with that.

RTS has more to offer. Right now he's an option in 3 different positions and a must pick. Players of his calibre should be hung onto as long as possible.....they aren't in abundance.

 

[Five&Last]

Just a pack consisting of all our own young guys.
This would probably be a top 8 pack, all homegrown and under 23. Holy


Stowers-smith
Tafua
Eiremia-toeava
Halasima
Neal
Vaimauga

Auloa
Salalilo
Tuipuloto-vea
Fatialofa

8. Laban
9. Tafua
10. Ieremia-Toeava
11. Halasima
12. Neal
13. Vaimauga

14. Tiatia / Marsh / Perese-Sukroo
15. Salalilo
16. Stowers-Smith
17. Fatialofa
18. Sikuvea

 

[Dannevegas]

8. Laban
9. Tafua
10. Ieremia-Toeava
11. Halasima
12. Neal
13. Vaimauga

14. Tiatia / Marsh / Perese-Sukroo
15. Salalilo
16. Stowers-Smith
17. Fatialofa
18. Sikuvea

Forgot about Laban.
Would be a big swinging dick move if Webby named one of our pack lineups this season fully consisting of our homegrown juniors.
That’d be a buzz all the young forwards just feeding off each other

 

[Dead Man Switch]

From watching his career, in no shape of form is Eddie Ieremia-Toeava an NRL prop - Though he could do a fix-it job playing there in a pinch. I wouldn't even try to manufacture him into one either.

I know he played a couple of NSW cup games there but so did Freddy Lussick!!

He is a lean, athletic, hard working machine in the 2nd row. He simply has to play so good they have no option but to select him. Just like Kayliss is doing. EIT is super dependable and the type of guy who will never let you down. A genuine Mr. fix-it in the forward pack.

Your props typically punch holes through the middle of the field and get the team surging forward.

The next two young guys off the block to do that look will be Jason Salalio and Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea. Two genuine, impactful ball runners. I know Salalio can double as a lock but the guy is a concrete block, extremely robust and hits the wall very, very hard.

 

[Five&Last]

From watching his career, in no shape of form is Eddie Ieremia-Toeava an NRL prop - Though he could do a fix-it job playing there in a pinch. I wouldn't even try to manufacture him into one either.

I know he played a couple of NSW cup games there but so did Freddy Lussick!!

He is a lean, athletic, hard working machine in the 2nd row. He simply has to play so good they have no option but to select him. Just like Kayliss is doing. EIT is super dependable and the type of guy who will never let you down. A genuine Mr. fix-it in the forward pack.

Your props typically punch holes through the middle of the field and get the team surging forward.

The next two young guys off the block to do that look will be Jason Salalio and Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea. Two genuine, impactful ball runners. I know Salalio can double as a lock but the guy is a concrete block, extremely robust and hits the wall very, very hard.

EIT is 6'3, he's easily going to be able to add another 6 -7 kg over the next few years. Just look back at how Naufahu Whyte transformed his body to transition from lean back rower to first grade prop in the space of 2-3 years.

EIT has already played first grade coming on at prop and, in my opinion, he looked better in those stints than he has in NSW cup which is a lower level.

His work rate is wasted in the second row. He needs to be closer to the action to leverage his motor (either 13 or prop).

They don't call him David Goggins for no reason.

JFH and Ford are elite props that aren't exactly trampling over the top of people. Its a different game now with the 6 again speed. You need a prop that can play high minutes (even full games), with huge motors and no pace drop-off, so that we have more interchanges available for our middles that bend the line like Vaimauga, Salalilo, Laban (?), RTV, Laumalili and Afoa. The reality is these guys are going to play less minutes the faster the game becomes.

Leka and Bishop are our cornerstone second row pairing that we should be building around.

 

[CWC]

Eddie should be 13 he has incredible hands and work rate, Clark can move to propping over time. Demi said he likes it simple. I don’t know what Gannon is doing here lol.

 

[Five&Last]

Eddie should be 13 he has incredible hands and work rate, Clark can move to propping over time. Demi said he likes it simple. I don’t know what Gannon is doing here lol.

Yeah i like Eddie at 13 as well but Vaimauga is a better ball player at this stage.
Pretty interchangeable tho.
Could go 8. Vaimauga 9. Tafua 10. Laban 11. Halasima 12. Neal 13. EIT

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Yeah i like Eddie at 13 as well but Vaimauga is a better ball player at this stage.
Pretty interchangeable tho.
Could go 8. Vaimauga 9. Tafua 10. Laban 11. Halasima 12. Neal 13. EIT

Laban has been solid without killing it in the second row. As a big body do you see him moving into the front row and when?