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

 

[CWC]

How much bigger do we see Neal getting? From what people say he needs to stay on an edge because his skills demand it. He’s got a taste and the drive he seems to possess might see him rise up the ranks rather quickly?

They say he's a future Kikau, I think Webby might follow Leka's route and debut him late next year and a regular bench spot in '28? Maybe too many in front to debut later this year?

 

[Noitall]

They say he's a future Kikau, I think Webby might follow Leka's route and debut him late next year and a regular bench spot in '28? Maybe too many in front to debut later this year?

If Fatialofa gets to his tackle breaking best again this weekend, I’d like to see him debut soon

 

[Dead Man Switch]

They say he's a future Kikau, I think Webby might follow Leka's route and debut him late next year and a regular bench spot in '28? Maybe too many in front to debut later this year?

I have always thought that Bishop Neal is the Warriors Kikau. And he will be a major part of the Warriors premiership puzzle.

Viliame Kikau - 1.95m, 116kg
Bishop Neal - 1.95m, 113kg

 

[Rick O’Shay]

If Fatialofa gets to his tackle breaking best again this weekend, I’d like to see him debut soon

First time I'd seen him in action. Reminded me a bit of Konnie. Is 2nd row his position or has he played a bit of centre as well?

 

[Noitall]

First time I'd seen him in action. Reminded me a bit of Konnie. Is 2nd row his position or has he played a bit of centre as well?

People keep saying centre but it looks like any time spent there was a while ago and doesn’t seem to spend any time there I don’t think?

 

[Dead Man Switch]

If Fatialofa gets to his tackle breaking best again this weekend, I’d like to see him debut soon

He truly can't be far off - but nobody is losing their spot currently in the Warriors squad. I mean, who do you drop from the forwards? Even Marata Niukore is probably thinking this is his one shot to win a premiership right now - and he is facing less game time currently - watch for him to pick up steam too!

 

[Rick O’Shay]

People keep saying centre but it looks like any time spent there was a while ago and doesn’t seem to spend any time there I don’t think?

Wasn't sure. Sometimes it's hard to tell although I think Putoko was on that side as well. He's a talent also and good old Tokoroa boy.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

First time I'd seen him in action. Reminded me a bit of Konnie. Is 2nd row his position or has he played a bit of centre as well?

he can actually pass the ball though.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

he can actually pass the ball though.

Good point and something our centres from those days seemed not be capable of, Kata another one

 

[Noitall]

He truly can't be far off - but nobody is losing their spot currently in the Warriors squad. I mean, who do you drop from the forwards? Even Marata Niukore is probably thinking this is his one shot to win a premiership right now - and he is facing less game time currently - watch for him to pick up steam too!

If Halasima has been dropped for turning up to training late as the other thread states, perhaps this weekend he gets his boarding pass?

 

[selector]

From a salary cap and retention perspective I hope Jackson Ford doesn't win the Dally M or Dally M Prop of the year or that he plays SOO.

If he were to do either or both then he would rightly expect to get a significant pay rise. Is he someone the club should be paying elite prop money for? $850k - 1 million per year. Probably not.

But if we do. What are the flow on effects? do we have less money to offer to our youngsters to keep them. Do we miss out on potential signings because we don't have the money.

I would let Jackson Ford walk if he were to ask for elite prop money and back Webster and Cappy to find a suitable replacement on less money.

 

[John Nick]

From a salary cap and retention perspective I hope Jackson Ford doesn't win the Dally M or Dally M Prop of the year or that he plays SOO.

If he were to do either or both then he would rightly expect to get a significant pay rise. Is he someone the club should be paying elite prop money for? $850k - 1 million per year. Probably not.

But if we do. What are the flow on effects? do we have less money to offer to our youngsters to keep them. Do we miss out on potential signings because we don't have the money.

I would let Jackson Ford walk if he were to ask for elite prop money and back Webster and Cappy to find a suitable replacement on less money.

That's what the salary cap was instigated for

 

[Rick O’Shay]

From a salary cap and retention perspective I hope Jackson Ford doesn't win the Dally M or Dally M Prop of the year or that he plays SOO.

If he were to do either or both then he would rightly expect to get a significant pay rise. Is he someone the club should be paying elite prop money for? $850k - 1 million per year. Probably not.

But if we do. What are the flow on effects? do we have less money to offer to our youngsters to keep them. Do we miss out on potential signings because we don't have the money.

I would let Jackson Ford walk if he were to ask for elite prop money and back Webster and Cappy to find a suitable replacement on less money.

Just my gut feel but I think Jacko is in the Steve Price and Campion mode. He's ours

 

[CWC]

Jacko won't win the dally m, maybe just for prop?

I hope Marata gradually gets overtaken in the depth chart and drop to cup, he's on the out and our new boys are actually better, plus other posters mentioning his lack of sliding causing domino issues on the edge

 

[Cces]

I hope Marata gradually gets overtaken in the depth chart and drop to cup, he's on the out and our new boys are actually better, plus other posters mentioning his lack of sliding causing domino issues on the edge

If he continues to be unused in 19 man squad he'll be fairly under done when we play the Dragons ahead of State of Origin. Minutes in Cup for him could be good insurance for potential selection of Barnett &/or Ford

 

[KPWarrior]

I hope Jacko wins the lot! And all the accolades that go with it. That's the beauty of having a coach that can turn seemingly average players into the best in the comp, that's how you win prems. Reality is we can't keep them all but we can keep the ones we want and along with that comes upgrades.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I hope Jacko wins the lot! And all the accolades that go with it. That's the beauty of having a coach that can turn seemingly average players into the best in the comp, that's how you win prems. Reality is we can't keep them all but we can keep the ones we want and along with that comes upgrades.

Jacko will be 30 by the time he starts 2028 (contracted until end of 2027), props usually peak a bit later and arguably could be coming into the best years of his career, lets kick this down the road a little and see how he goes as theres a good chance he cant sustain this, its a pretty herculean effort that surely not many can maintain...

Also, of note if Demi continues the way he is hell be 24 in 2028 and 80-90 games into his career. I feel hell be commanding a starting spot around then so could be a great time for Jacko to go home and collect a cool mill from the Dragons lol

 

[KPWarrior]

Jacko will be 30 by the time he starts 2028 (contracted until end of 2027), props usually peak a bit later and arguably could be coming into the best years of his career, lets kick this down the road a little and see how he goes as theres a good chance he cant sustain this, its a pretty herculean effort that surely not many can maintain...

Also, of note if Demi continues the way he is hell be 24 in 2028 and 80-90 games into his career. I feel hell be commanding a starting spot around then so could be a great time for Jacko to go home and collect a cool mill from the Dragons lol

If we're in a premiership window, I'd say he's right in his prime. Probably could reduce his minutes a bit, but he's thriving in this system, strikes me as a bloke chasing a premiership, if he was to leave I doubt he'd go back to the Drags to dig them out of a hole. Demi's gone to another level this year, he has time on his side. A 30 year old prop is nothing these days.

 

[Five&Last]

From a salary cap and retention perspective I hope Jackson Ford doesn't win the Dally M or Dally M Prop of the year or that he plays SOO.

If he were to do either or both then he would rightly expect to get a significant pay rise. Is he someone the club should be paying elite prop money for? $850k - 1 million per year. Probably not.

But if we do. What are the flow on effects? do we have less money to offer to our youngsters to keep them. Do we miss out on potential signings because we don't have the money.

I would let Jackson Ford walk if he were to ask for elite prop money and back Webster and Cappy to find a suitable replacement on less money.

I tend to agree. I'm not paying 850k+ for Ford just yet. A long way to go until 1 November though.

I don't think he wins Dally M anyway. He has to fatigue at some point with his play style. Those later rounds his output is going to drop and playmakers will start clutching it up. Its Cleary's to lose based on everyone's form.

I would say he's a shoe in for Dally M prop of the year at this point.

SOO is an interesting one. I think the Haas injury changes things and there's probably an opportunity for Ford to start and play big minutes. Before that I would've probably said he might not get picked for the same reason Terrell May wasn't picked last year, he's not much of an impact player. You probably would've had Haas and Keaon as your starters with Leniu and AFB providing spark and impact off the bench.

 

[Noitall]

I tend to agree. I'm not paying 850k+ for Ford just yet. A long way to go until 1 November though.

I don't think he wins Dally M anyway. He has to fatigue at some point with his play style. Those later rounds his output is going to drop and playmakers will start clutching it up. Its Cleary's to lose based on everyone's form.

I would say he's a shoe in for Dally M prop of the year at this point.

SOO is an interesting one. I think the Haas injury changes things and there's probably an opportunity for Ford to start and play big minutes. Before that I would've probably said he might not get picked for the same reason Terrell May wasn't picked last year, he's not much of an impact player. You probably would've had Haas and Keaon as your starters with Leniu and AFB providing spark and impact off the bench.

Finals time a whole new competition starts too and everything goes up notches. That will be interesting to see who can make the step up provided we get there of course