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: 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

 

[Noitall]

I mentioned this, during the loses.

People have been quick to forget how close we were to having a W/L record like the Dragons, last year.

Do we remember the CNK milked penalty at the end of the Tigers game?

Do we remember the missed knock on from RTS that lead to the winning try in the Dolphins game?

I remember.

We've won far more cohesively this year, but all of that's on the forward pack and none of that on the guys organizing them in attack, eh?

That’s not taking into consideration other teams form in those games you mentioned and how they played in those games when anyone really can knock anyone over on any given day. All the debate about Boyd vs Metcalf at halfback and their form comes down to a settled preseason in my eyes. Metcalf got one heading into the 2025 and Boyd got one coming into the 2026 season

 

[sup42]

This is my opinion on Boyd and whether or not he can go up a level. I feel that Boyd is the sort of player that when the team is playing shit, he will look shit! As he struggles to drive a struggling team around the field, he wont be able to pull off any magic. But if the team is gelling and playing well, he will continue to get into a groove. Like the NSW cup finals, he was man of the match for consecutive games. The better the team goes, the better he will go. I would bet that is the team is rolling, he would be hitting 40/20s and pulling rabbits out of his ass!

I think people that play like Boyd (organizers with a high ceiling kicking game) in a decent team will set you up to play better more often than someone that can pull Rabbits out of hats (obviously there are once in a generation players like Cleary Thurston Johns et al that can do both).

I also think Boyd doesn't get that type of credit as often as he deserves.

Take our last game against a spirited Eels where we flicked the switch and crushed them in the final minutes (a reoccurring pattern under Boyd this season with the Warriors clearly pouring the late points on). We were the fitter of the two sides. Where does that extra energy come from? We tend to focus on individual fitness, astute use of the bench, but overlook the value of winning the territorial game which starts with having a decent kicker.

Webster likes to go into half time having only used two replacements, it is a actual ploy of his, to keep his guns fully loaded. It is why they run Ford and used to run Egan non stop. And it is where Webster sees Morgan Gannon's role as an eighty minute option "he gives us more minutes" said Webster of Gannon.

Webster has been shaped in the fires of horrific and unfair injury tolls. Rather than shrug his shoulders and go 'well that is outside of my control, in the hands of fate' he has taken that experience and experimented a lot with using his bench in a minimalist way to future proof himself.

Boyd's kicking game is critical to that type of approach, constantly kicking the forwards out of trouble, sees us have more juice than the opposition.

So while I don't disagree that Boyd looks a lot better off the back of a decent forward platform, I also see Boyd (and CHT) helping to keep his men rolling.

 

[Noitall]

• Yesterday at 7:25 PM

• 
  
• #9,614

Luke metcalf talking to 2 Sydney clubs and won't be at warriors nek year






Off sharks LU forum yesterday

 

[sup42]

That’s not taking into consideration other teams form in those games you mentioned and how they played in those games when anyone really can knock anyone over on any given day. All the debate about Boyd vs Metcalf at halfback and their form comes down to a settled preseason in my eyes. Metcalf got one heading into the 2025 and Boyd got one coming into the 2026 season

Agreed re variables like how the opposition play.

The trouble I have with the settled preseason theory is it is a new thing.

We traditionally look clunky and play shithouse in the opening rounds of any give NRL season.

So I am wondering what the difference is here? Preseason under Webster???

 

[defensivebomb]

When melcalf played #6, he used to chew up too much lateral space with his “will he or won’t he” runs. RTS had no room to move outside him

If Khan-Pereira is on the wing, we will need a straight playing 6 to ensure he has space. With no space, he’d always get bundled into touch. The 6 that will give his outsides space is CHT.

So CHT to 6. Which means it is Boyd v Metcalf. One of those two is considered capable of being a marquee player.

Boyd’s stocks are an all-time high and with the new clubs, now is the best time for him to cash in on that.

Metcalf’s management know what they are doing. By them publicly requesting clarity, it puts a bit of pressure on the club, Boyd, and other clubs to get to an outcome with Boyd and clear the way for Metcalf

 

[Noitall]

Agreed re variables like how the opposition play.

The trouble I have with the settled preseason theory is it is a new thing.

We traditionally look clunky and play shithouse in the opening rounds of any give NRL season.

So I am wondering what the difference is here? Preseason under Webster???

Really think our forward pack has a lot to with both having a solid platform to work off

 

[shuffle]

Shit form if true!!!

• Yesterday at 7:25 PM
• 
  
• #9,614

Luke metcalf talking to 2 Sydney clubs and won't be at warriors nek year






Off sharks LU forum yesterday

 

[Noitall]

Shit form if true!!!

We’re only told what they want media to know, perhaps it’s with Warriors blessing?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

That’s not taking into consideration other teams form in those games you mentioned and how they played in those games when anyone really can knock anyone over on any given day. All the debate about Boyd vs Metcalf at halfback and their form comes down to a settled preseason in my eyes. Metcalf got one heading into the 2025 and Boyd got one coming into the 2026 season

Fair points on the opposition. Swings both ways.

I was more trying to draw attention to fact that we were constantly in positions where we needed 'clutch' plays as a result of the observations that Sup made.

Whereas, we aren't being put into the same situations this year.

 

[Noitall]

Fair points on the opposition. Swings both ways.

I was more trying to draw attention to fact that we were constantly in positions where we needed 'clutch' plays as a result of the observations that Sup made.

Whereas, we aren't being put into the same situations this year.

It’s hard to put both seasons against each other because of different circumstances but both seasons we’ve travelled well under both 7’s. One could say that contract year has brought good form out of Tanah Boyd, but I don’t think many thought it was there in the first place. It could be Metcalf’s inability to stay on the field that’s changed the equation?

 

[Rizzah]

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

One could say that contract year has brought good form out of Tanah Boyd

Metcalf was originally signed to October 2025, right?

It could be Metcalf’s inability to stay on the field that’s changed the equation?

For me it's a factor. But it's not the crux.

 

[Lance155]

That’s not taking into consideration other teams form in those games you mentioned and how they played in those games when anyone really can knock anyone over on any given day. All the debate about Boyd vs Metcalf at halfback and their form comes down to a settled preseason in my eyes. Metcalf got one heading into the 2025 and Boyd got one coming into the 2026 season

100% both players were given the keys and the belief. Also not to mention the massive change to the speed of the game and how the rest of the team plays.

There is just too many factors to make the comparison.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Interested in the earlier comment that his side wasn't happy about him being rushed back in.

His management or some of the players? I would expect Webby would have quietly canvassed the leadership team as well for some thoughts.

The team vibe would be an important consideration to me. The Galvin episode at the Dogs maybe provides a lesson

 

[Cces]

Metcalf was originally signed to October 2025, right?

No. Initially a 2 year deal (23 & 24) but extended it by another 2 in March '24

 

[Noitall]

Metcalf was originally signed to October 2025, right?

Extended before he got to market I think?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

No. Initially a 2 year deal (23 & 24) but extended it by another 2 in March '24

True. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Extended before he got to market I think?

Yeah, I had it in my head differently. Should have checked.

My bad.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

If he is released, we’d be on the receiving end of a massive compensation package. He still has THREE years on his contract remaining. That’s literally bigger than most contracts in general, so if he wants to walk we are expecting a huge swap and money our way, or he’s back in reserves.

 

[Makasene]

Imagine if all our players played the club with this proffesionalism.

Ford would be an edge backrower, RTS and CNK would be fullbacks with one running around in cup.

It isn't professionalism at all.

Professionalism is a private conversation between Andrew Webster and Luke Metcalf that none of us nor media ever get to speculate on.

Let's hope it is a fiction.

2 Months ago when having his first game back, he went on radio and said he wants to be 7.

This ain't no fiction.

Remember when people were suggesting there was nothing to the photo of AFB standing away from the huddle.

I expext agitation from here. Latest rumour is Parra want him next year. That's still at 6 though.

No word yet on Dragons interest.