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

 

[Shauns_Johnson]

3 Confirmed departures and 2 signed already.

I suspect the list of departures will increased.

Will Capewell be resigned at the most i think 12 month deal only. This could depend on Gannon progression and others in NSW Cup.

Berry. Injury record doesn't bode well for him. Maybe a fresh environment is needed for him or resigned only on a basic deal. As is suspect he wil be 2nd choice only.

Boyd and CHT. Out of the two CHT is a must given Metcalfe preferred position is 7. I like Boyd but with Metcalfe on the books we can only have one marquee number 7 and CHT is proven at 6 and has versilitiy.

TMM he could be unlucky and be squeezed out. Injuries dont help but Hanson could take this role in the club.

CNK.....is father time catching up with him. Iove his effort and committed style of play but he is starting to pick up to many niggles and with TT looking more like a NRL first grade player maybe it is time to move him on.

It like a game of chess. All what I know i wouldn't want to be finishing this puzzle for next year and beyond.

The future looks good for the club. Especially with the talent coming through.

I still think Gannon is viewed primarily as a ball playing middle forward a la Dylan Walker rather than an edge backrower. I can see a Clark/Fish/Ford (/TSS) rotation playing 160 mins between them and Gannon/Vaimauga jobsharing that ballplaying role in attack with slightly different interpretations of it. We seem to be shifting to a model of three different middle forward functions at any time: traditional modern prop (Fish/TSS/Barney), oldschool workhorse lock in the Merrin/Luck/Parker mould (Ford), and a ballplayer to get the ball at first receiver (Clark, Vaimauga atm, but neither I think are perfect for that Yeo/Walker role Webby wants of them)

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

When Metcalfe resigned i am sure the club never expected Boyd to improve like he as and actually build a strong combination with CHT.

 

[Inruin]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

There is several ways the cap can be structured to accommodate both CHT and Boyd. I don't think it's wishful thinking at all.

Boyd and CHT are good solid halves but arent going to command premium salaries IMO.

I think there is a chance we retain both.
Might be possible to release Marata early. Might be able to upgrade Boyds salary this year as part of the deal.

 

[Cces]

Do we pay anyone via third party deals? If not, why not? Our players are highly marketable.

 

[kos]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

Is that you Andrew?
Mate
We here all love CHT
And most are falling in love with Boyd
Allow some emotion
Don’t traumatise us

 

[3rdstriker]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

Like I said a while back to have a crystal ball would be perfect but not reality in terms of who to keep and who not to, its very clear atm.
I think if you're pure culture and defensive minded then you have to keep Chanel in your warriors team.
The Jury's still out on Metcalf and Boyd so just let them play it out at the back-end if Boyd wants a contract elsewhere he will keep building every area of his game including place kicks.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Do we pay anyone via third party deals? If not, why not? Our players are highly marketable.

That’s the way. Get the brown paper bags out

 

[Shauns_Johnson]

Like I said a while back to have a crystal ball would be perfect but not reality in terms of who to keep and who not to, its very clear atm.
I think if you're pure culture and defensive minded then you have to keep Chanel in your warriors team.
The Jury's still out on Metcalf and Boyd so just let them play it out at the back-end if Boyd wants a contract elsewhere he will keep building every area of his game including place kicks.

I think you're right. Pure unfounded speculation but are the wahs hierarchy calling CHT's bluff and letting him go to market to see how much they have to match? Suspect he's a bit more valuable to the wahs than he is to another club, his agent may be overplaying his hand in terms of $ ask.

 

[Shauns_Johnson]

Do we pay anyone via third party deals? If not, why not? Our players are highly marketable.

time for One NZ to give all the new Cantabs big sponsorship deals and stick their faces all over the new stadium...

 

[CWC]

Like I said a while back to have a crystal ball would be perfect but not reality in terms of who to keep and who not to, its very clear atm.
I think if you're pure culture and defensive minded then you have to keep Chanel in your warriors team.
The Jury's still out on Metcalf and Boyd so just let them play it out at the back-end if Boyd wants a contract elsewhere he will keep building every area of his game including place kicks.

I think if we wanna be brutal the news of us opening solo negotiating with Boyd instead of CHT (for now) should make Metcalf the one nervous

Like people think it’s a non-option to tell Luke to start exploring his options back home Boyd played 100% of the available games so far and CHT was available for basically 75% of the games, since Luke’s return he’s available for 40% (2/5 games)

900K minus freight is a lot of cash to upgrade others

I like Luke btw but just saying ppl are boxed in with the 2 out of 3 or 1 of Boyd/CHT thinking

 

[3rdstriker]

I think if we wanna be brutal the news of us opening solo negotiating with Boyd instead of CHT (for now) should make Metcalf the one nervous

Like people think it’s a non-option to tell Luke to start exploring his options back home Boyd played 100% of the available games so far and CHT was available for basically 75% of the games, since Luke’s return he’s available for 40% (2/5 games)

900K minus freight is a lot of cash to upgrade others

I like Luke btw but just saying ppl are boxed in with the 2 out of 3 or 1 of Boyd/CHT thinking

Hundred percent agree with the brutalness here

 

[Cces]

I think if we wanna be brutal the news of us opening solo negotiating with Boyd instead of CHT

News or rumours?

 

[CWC]

News or rumours?

Journos exchanging intel publicly then reported on news site

 

[Cces]

Journos exchanging intel publicly then reported on news site

Did you get the "solo" negotiation part from this article that would like us to believe that Boyd was playing NSW Cup 18 months ago and the Titans wanted him to jump ship from the Gold Coast to the... Gold Coast?

 

[Muddogz]

We have two advantages to having CHT and Boyd next year. One is that most teams have locked in most of their salary caps to stop the Bears poaching players. The 2nd is the Chiefs come in 2028 which might make one or both happy to sign a one year contract, figuring they can get a better contract offer in 2028.

Still 3 into 2 doesn’t work, and someone is going to be unhappy.

 

[sup42]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

Well considered and full of good logic.

But the missing variable from the no clubs pay three halves starting NRL salaries is that Metcalf is becoming increasingly high risk medically.

That changes everything.

Especially when the other options are arguably playing better footy.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

since Luke’s return he’s available for 40% (2/5 games)

The context is even worse when you consider season ticket holders.

If you went to every home game (9 + 10 + 9 a year at Go Media) since Metcalfs debut year here (2023), you would have been to a grand total of 28 games.

Add another 2 for home finals and you can call it 30.

By the end of the 2025 season, Metcalf had played a grand total of.......

34 games (for the Warriors).

Edit: corrected the numbers

 

[CWC]

Did you get the "solo" negotiation part from this article that would like us to believe that Boyd was playing NSW Cup 18 months ago and the Titans wanted him to jump ship from the Gold Coast to the... Gold Coast?
View attachment 17109

Can you enlighten me on where Brent Read, the journo giving the information about the negotiation, said Titans wanted Boyd to jump from Titans to Titans?

 

[Vancent]

Guys I love the speculation but there's just no world in which the Warriors sign three halves on starting halves' salary. It's a really poor use of the cap and wastes decent coin that can go to big upgrades in less well paid positions, or to spread to keep our homegrown talent around longer. No clubs do this, unless there's a clear way in which one of the halves can play elsewhere.

So it's two out of the three. I don't really see them jettisoning Metcalf after one year into three (assuming there are offers he'd accept elsewhere) so with the other renewals needed this season (and they'll both want multiyear deal security given their form) it's one of Tanah or CHT.

What the best sides do is bridge this by having a young guy with upside on a multi-year deal, or a cheaper half who wants a year in a good system before having a crack at starting again elsewhere on better coin (like Scheider, SOS, Cogger at Penrith over the years; Madden at Brisbane; arguably even Boyd signing for us). Ultimately I think the Linnane signing was intended to secure us in advance against this instance we knew we were facing, with Jett, Hanson and Thompson also in the mix down the track. Maybe there will be an unders halves signing if Linnane doesn't quite make the grade (we were pretty quick at moving on the likes of Keighran/Volkman/Asi once we had a look at them and deemed them not up to first grade).

Any chat about keeping all of CHT/Met/Boyd is basically nice thinking but won't actually happen in a world where the comp has a salary cap

There may well be actually.

One is already signed to a new deal, and another two are pre-disposed to staying for varying but similar reasons (love NZ, understand the value to their development of staying in a successful system), combined with the fact neither of them or our fullback would likely secure $1m deals.

Spreading the discounts in a rising cap scenario to secure all three is not only possible but probable in this case.

I don’t think we have hugely expensive backs, or any one player in fact.

I think the patch we’re in at the moment has been long fought for, and is a result of the front office, pathways and on field personnel all executing their roles beautifully.

What that looks like is young talent coming through, depth signings and great coaching helping younger and experienced talent evolve into better players.

I think players and their agents are close enough to each Team’s dynamics to know what’s going on and the value of it.

I’m prepared to be pleased with the re-signing of both Tanah and CHT - no, I don’t have any inside info.

 

[CWC]

The context is even worse when you consider season ticket holders.

If you went to every home game (9 + 10 + 9 a year at Go Media) since Metcalfs debut year here (2023), you would have been to a grand total of 28 games.

Add another 2 for home finals and you can call it 30.

By the end of the 2025 season, Metcalf had played a grand total of.......

34 games (for the Warriors).

Edit: corrected the numbers

Basically 34 out of 83 games at 41% with 900K

CHT at 44 out of 57 at 77%

Boyd at 18/18 at 100%.

Both current halves at probably 2/3 of 900K each after the extension