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​
Luke Hanson	S​
Motu Pasikala	S​	U​
Caelys-Paul Putoko	S​
Jason Salalilo	S​	U​	U​
Makaia Taufa	S​	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: 6/6

2027 Top 30: 23/30
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, 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]

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

36 out of 84 at 43% for Metcalf.
46 out of 55 for CHT at 81% (& unused on bench for x2 more)

The 900k component isn't in a play until November though

 

[roguei]

To add fire to the flame that boyd could still sign here for slight unders. Himself, Egan, CHT and capes have a golf instragram page they've started (I think it was mainly via capes). Where they have started post some low lights of their play. So although im not sure those journos have the inside scoop on if he is already talking to the club, or if he has rebuffed other offers (outside of the cowboys one last year to play hooker). They at least seem to be right, that he is, indeed enjoying being here in NZ and the team. One of the things Andrew Webster seems to do well. Bring people togther, and get buy in. Can see it with luka metcalfe, the zesty boys, etc.


Link:
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXdlDV-EZF0/

 

[Buzz Killington]

If TMM wants to stay in NZ, I would be offering TMM a role in player welfare. Dude came back from being told he will never play again. Plus he is a really good dude.

 

[CWC]

If TMM wants to stay in NZ, I would be offering TMM a role in player welfare. Dude came back from being told he will never play again. Plus he is a really good dude.

He would be good insurance on the cheap year by year if we’re going with 2 of Boyd/Metcalf/CHT, and Linnane/Jett/Thompson as Linnane is an unknown and the last two might not be ready for first drop, could be down to him and Hansen…if we keep all 3 halves he’s gone IMO

 

[j_p]

If knights can have brown on 1.3 and apparently ponga on 1.5 surely we can afford 3 halves at half those prices.

 

[Brightman]

If knights can have brown on 1.3 and apparently ponga on 1.5 surely we can afford 3 halves at half those prices.

And keep them on the field 3x more, money well spent..

 

[Cces]

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?

Where was the solo negotiation part you mentioned? Is there another article?
I'm just taking the piss of that article because in the next breath after Brent Read it quotes another journo who thought Boyd was playing NSW Cup 18 months ago & was approached by the Titans when Boyd was in fact a Titan and residing on the Gold Coast having never played a single minute of NSW Cup

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Where was the solo negotiation part you mentioned? Is there another article?
I'm just taking the piss of that article because in the next breath after Brent Read it quotes a guy who thought Boyd was playing NSW Cup 18 months ago & was approached by the Titans when Boyd was in fact a Titan and residing on the Gold Coast & had never played a single minute of NSW Cup

Probably let the apprentice write that article but in all seriousness, Brent reed who works under the daily telegraph always seem to be the first publisher to break any NRL news and are very reliable.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

we must have the most socialist cap sheet in the comp going forward, equitable distribution at Penrose baby.

Only Luke and Fish would be in the top tier of earners, and not that close to the top either. Raiders might be similar, Tapine would get a lot dunno about the rest.

I wouldn't worry about the money implications of keeping all 3, only the team chemistry ones, if the same person is being left out or played out of position every week, are they going to grin and bear it positively? You might get away with it for next year, but not any longer than that.

We saw in 2024 only takes a couple of players to ruin the vibes

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

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

we must have the most socialist cap sheet in the comp going forward, equitable distribution at Penrose baby.

Only Luke and Fish would be in the top tier of earners, and not that close to the top either. Raiders might be similar, Tapine would get a lot dunno about the rest.

I wouldn't worry about the money implications of keeping all 3, only the team chemistry ones, if the same person is being left out or played out of position every week, are they going to grin and bear it positively? You might get away with it for next year, but not any longer than that.

We saw in 2024 only takes a couple of players to ruin the vibes

This is very true. It is interesting how this plays out. For once the future of the club in the halves is positive.

 

[CWC]

Where was the solo negotiation part you mentioned? Is there another article?
I'm just taking the piss of that article because in the next breath after Brent Read it quotes another journo who thought Boyd was playing NSW Cup 18 months ago & was approached by the Titans when Boyd was in fact a Titan and residing on the Gold Coast having never played a single minute of NSW Cup

So your argument is “you are just taking a piss.” Geez

In your own screenshot, Brent Read, not Riccio, was literally quoted saying “He will only move if that deal won’t get done.” that’s how I interpret the current situ, if you see that and think he’s dating us while sexting others at the same time, that’s fine as well

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

Part of the deliberate of the contract offers for Boyd, CHT and even TMM. Will factor in the development of Hanson, Jett, Linnane and Thompson, plus the from and fitness of Metcalfe.

 

[Cces]

So your argument is “you are just taking a piss.” Geez

"The" piss
Look, I don't believe that a guy that has no job security from Nov 1st this year, and has been free to discuss with other clubs for the last 6 months, has instructed his manager to negotiate with just 1 out of 18 franchises for 2027 and beyond. He got pushed out of the Titans early so it's not his first rodeo & he'll understand it's a cut throat business.
Call me cynical but I also don't put much stock in Fox Sports reporting

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If TMM wants to stay in NZ, I would be offering TMM a role in player welfare. Dude came back from being told he will never play again. Plus he is a really good dude.

They could set up a fishing and hunting show on sky for him. And he can take past and present players on a hunt. Secretly getting players away from Australia to fall in love with the place?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I wish the club would go back to Chevy Stewart. We need backup to tain next year, and one that's ready for NRL, Not from within.

 

[Billyspleen75]

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

When I saw the Leka Hallensteins promos, I assumed that was a third party deal

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

I wish the club would go back to Chevy Stewart. We need backup to tain next year, and one that's ready for NRL, Not from within.

Do you think CNK will be moved on at the end of the season

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Do you think CNK will be moved on at the end of the season?

I hope not because we don't have a ready made back up to Tuaupiki, unless they see Lamana going to FB next year in cup for Doyle?

Who else is ready?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Some players that might test the market next year at fullback.

C Stewart
J Bula (bad management)
L Hopoate
J Papalii

I would love H Farnworth at FB!

Maybe Sloan gets pushed out this year from the dragons and no one picks him up like Boyd?

Heath Mason could be a decent back up until our young guys come through?

 

[Ref]

There is plenty of time left for several of our juniors to carve up in NSW Cup to push their claims.