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

 

[Noitall]

I reckon Fatialofa ain't good enough to break into our firsts but too good for cup. He should find another team for his own good.

We won’t know until we get a glimpse but Bishop Neal potentially ahead of schedule could have consequences for some players?

 

[Noitall]

Mmm ham. What about Erin?

 

[Sammyw]

Fatialofa is too small to crack NRL in the backrow imo, should focus on a perm switch to centre. Laban, Leka and Neale the future.

Unsure on the obsession with Berry too, way too unreliable without any hugely redeeming qualities. Solid at best. But I also think the Anderson signing is a waste of time.

 

[Five&Last]

Broncs must be regretting Anderson come to us after this Mariner injury.

Lots of car crash victims in remote areas that get compartment syndrome in their leg end up getting their leg amputated. Very serious thing to happen and could be a career changing injury.

 

[CWC]

has everyone forgotten that TSS exists?

JFH, current Ford, Clark, TSS, Vaimauga + Gammon, Eddie and Salalilo is a middle rotation we dreamed of a few years back

Ya in 2027, props = Fish/Ford + Demi/TSS. That’s it

Everyone else is non-specialist prop or yet to debut

 

[rugged]

The overall recruitment strategy is paying huge dividends. I have always felt Webby puts a massive value on players fitness (in any other context the constant references to Jackson Fords "motor" would be alarming for his wife). This year with the change to the 6 again rule it seems like fit teams are going to dominate.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

A major calculation for signing new players or extending current players is also what juniors are expected to track into the first grade squad? You have to calculate making sure the path and slots are there.

The Warriors are manufacturing their future superstars.

Absolute lock ins for the NRL squad in the next two years appear to be.

Brandon Norris - Must be extremely close now to a NSW cup debut - A+ Talent
Bishop Neal - Knocking at the door already for an NRL debut later in the year - A+ Talent
Jason Salalilo - NRL ready now - A Talent
Makaia Tafua - NRL ready now - A Talent
Jett Cleary - Still in Development - B to A+ Talent
Joseph Ratcliffe - Development is ahead of his projected growth curve - On track to be our best ever home grown NRL Fullback - A+ Talent

That is 4 - 6 players with serious ability and impact that will strengthen the roster that you need to find slots in the top 30 relatively soon. All potential stars - All potential 5 - 10 year Warriors.

Then for these guys you find slots in the roster or you accept they will leave the club looking for opportunities / making room for the next wave of talent coming through.

Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi - A
Sio Kali - A+ Talent (Only issue is injury prone)
Caelys-Paul Putoko - B to A (Attacking talent A+/defensive liability C)
Jeremiah Lemana - A
Motu Pasikala - B+ to A
Nganatatafu Vake - A
Jack Thompson - A+
Jaydee Auloa - B+
Braelan Marsh - B+ to A
Christian Sikuvea - A
Kahu Capper - A
Connor Bowden - B to B+ (Needs way more development in my opinon - promoted more on basis of size)
Cooper Page-Wilson - B+
Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea - B to A
Tepatasi Laumalili - B to A
Emosi Ravosai - B to B+
Gordon Afoa- B - A

Can you see what the Warriors have built!!?? - Tell me this is not a dynasty club in the NRL over the next 10 years

All the talent just doesn't fit our roster

WINDOW
2027		2028
Rocco Berry - 26	Grant Anderson	Wayde Egan - 27	KEEP/Tafua?
Tanah Boyd - 26	KEEP	Jackson Ford - 27	KEEP
Kurt Capewell - 26	?	Samuel Healey - 27	KEEP
Chanel Harris-Tavita- 26	KEEP	Ali Leiataua - 27	KEEP
Marata Niukore - 26	Bishop Neal?	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad - 27	Brandon Norris
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 26	Will Warbrick	Adam Pompey - 27	Kali / Lemana / Potoko
Te Maire Martin - 26	Jett Cleary?	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - 27	Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi?
Mitchell Barnett	Jason Salalio?	Kayliss Fatialofa - 27	KEEP
Jett Cleary - 27	KEEP

We don't need a centre with defense issues so at this stage, a hard no to Putoko.

Look at Ali's size and he still struggles defensively. I think we need players that are agile and have a fair bit of size in that position.

Ali, and Pompey are all good. This Connor Bowden could be next.

 

[Garry Saloon]

Fatialofa is too small to crack NRL in the backrow imo, should focus on a perm switch to centre. Laban, Leka and Neale the future.

Unsure on the obsession with Berry too, way too unreliable without any hugely redeeming qualities. Solid at best. But I also think the Anderson signing is a waste of time.

Anderson is an NRL quality centre who will move into RTS' position next year. Not a waste of time.

 

[Dead Man Switch]

We don't need a centre with defense issues so at this stage, a hard no to Putoko.

Look at Ali's size and he still struggles defensively. I think we need players that are agile and have a fair bit of size in that position.

Ali, and Pompey are all good. This Connor Bowden could be next.

I am even more iffy on Connor Bowden out of all the juniors. Being Stacey Jones cousin and supersized has got him fast tracked. Aside from an excellent try two weeks ago the guy has not looked a legit winger, centre or second rower in any games I have watched. Has all the physical aspects to make it but I think he is way off NRL.

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Fatialofa is too small to crack NRL in the backrow imo, should focus on a perm switch to centre. Laban, Leka and Neale the future.

Unsure on the obsession with Berry too, way too unreliable without any hugely redeeming qualities. Solid at best. But I also think the Anderson signing is a waste of time.

Kayliss Fatialofa is 4 cm taller and 2kg lighter than Siofa Talakai. I think he could easily play that same role at the Warriors with similar impact on the game. Effective off the bench and can fill in 2nd row/centre due to injury.

Berry a total professional but I think he missed his window at the Warriors with what is now coming through.

 

[sup42]

Fatialofa is too small to crack NRL in the backrow imo, should focus on a perm switch to centre. Laban, Leka and Neale the future.

Unsure on the obsession with Berry too, way too unreliable without any hugely redeeming qualities. Solid at best. But I also think the Anderson signing is a waste of time.

Kaylis is listed at 2cm taller than Erin CLark and the same weight bro.

I won't expound on that point other than to say he is a unit for a 21 year old.

Not a big forward, not a small forward.

 

[Hitro]

I am even more iffy on Connor Bowden out of all the juniors. Being Stacey Jones cousin and supersized has got him fast tracked. Aside from an excellent try two weeks ago the guy has not looked a legit winger, centre or second rower in any games I have watched. Has all the physical aspects to make it but I think he is way off NRL.

In fairness to him, he's only 18 - plenty of time to develop. I find it strange he's been working his way in from wing to edge as he's gone up grades

 

[Dead Man Switch]

In fairness to him, he's only 18 - plenty of time to develop. I find it strange he's been working his way in from wing to edge as he's gone up grades

I agree, he is young and has potential within him to go on to good things. His dimensions already put him at a good advantage over others.

I think they desired with his attributes to make a big strong winger out of him but he just wasn't explosive enough and didn't have the wingers skillset. Then he played a few games at centre and he didn't look a natural at all there. The Warriors look to be favoring dynamic/explosive centres - shifting away from the Pompey type. He wasn't that.

Second row would be his most natural fit to make it but he is going to need to take the bull by the horns and play a lot more ruthless and aggressive. Not taking into account who he is up against to make it to the full=time roster. He will need to go KILL-MODE.

There is a great player in him I suspect but it's probably going to take SINK 'or' SWIM to find it as they have hallmarked him for NRL fulltime spot in 2028 as part of his contract.

 

[Boston Boy]

In fairness to him, he's only 18 - plenty of time to develop. I find it strange he's been working his way in from wing to edge as he's gone up grades

Bowden seems to lack a little power or explosiveness. Got some good physical attributes. If he gets a bit more aggressive he could develop but to be fair he feels a little underwhelming at the moment.

 

[Sammyw]

Kaylis is listed at 2cm taller than Erin CLark and the same weight bro.

I won't expound on that point other than to say he is a unit for a 21 year old.

Not a big forward, not a small forward.

I wouldn’t take much stock in listed heights and weight tbh he looks way smaller than Talakai and Clarke lol but anyway let’s see.

Anderson is an NRL quality centre who will move into RTS' position next year. Not a waste of time.

He’s played 10games out of 50 in the centers, he’s an middle of the road NRL winger who “can” play center.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

He’s played 10games out of 50 in the centers, he’s an middle of the road NRL winger who “can” play center.

If there's one thing we can count it, it's that he'll get better here.

 

[Cces]

He’s played 10games out of 50 in the centers, he’s an middle of the road NRL winger who “can” play center.

Nope, that's incorrect. 50% of his games in 2025 were at Centre & 15 of his last 35 NRL games have been starting in the position

 

[Sammyw]

Nope, that's incorrect. 50% of his games in 2025 were at Centre & 15 of his last 35 NRL games have been starting in the position

Yea fair, I stand corrected. Dunno what I was reading

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I'm not sure where Anderson plays yet. I am hoping and have fingers, toes, legs & ballsacks crossed that Berry will come right. Won't give up on him just yet.

Next year, Berry & Ali are my centres & Warbrick & AKP/Dwz wingers.
Has Anderson played FB before?
Or Metc...Nevermind

 

[KPWarrior]

The best thing about waiting for these injury prone players to come back.....Rocco, Mets, is our season is not entirely dependent on it. We seem to be doing a job with equally talented players, the halfs are killing it, Ali is improving week on week. Identifying others like Anderson to fill a role when Roger leaves keeps us in good stead. It's a far cry from the old days!