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]

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

My bad.

No dramas. My memory gets a bit faded to it all too

 

[Makasene]

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.

I'm not so sure on this one.

If it goes that way, getting it done quickly might be the play.

Sometimes you don't need something in return. Removing an issue and clearing 3 years of cap is a good outcome.

Maybe it's money that could go CHTs way to close that deal?

 

[Cces]

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.

He said he prefers playing 7 & enjoys having the ball in his hands more often. CNK stated he was solely a Fullback when RTS joined the club. Blokes are allowed a preference

 

[Noitall]

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.

Bit messy. Wonder how relationships are between Metcalf, Boyd and CHT? Most seem to be understanding of the business side

 

[sup42]

obviously, numbers and stats aren't everything but just for reference from nrl site

Thanks for doing that.

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.

Tis a good thing then that contracts don't allow you to talk to other clubs till the deadline (1/11/2027).

I am gonna wait for the Warriors to grant him permission to either test the market or go home on compassionate grounds.

Funny thing is, if he was playing for another club and we were in the market place, I would be hoping we don't sign him (frees us from his not insignificant health risk).

 

[skinnydippng]

on one hand I do feel for him tbh
like i remember webby saying last year it was luke’s team and he is the 7, he was doing well leading the dally ms as we know, club showed faith offering him a big money deal post-second-acl, to his credit he did not go to market nov 1

would have seen tanahs form last year in his place and thought he was safe, then tanah and the whole team lift this year, he gets back in and is rusty - people call for him to be dropped for chanel, and then he gets a minor injury setback just to come back and be extended benched

(i mean i didn’t see cht complaining about being extended benched for metcalf but idk)

i also understand if he isnt playing he and his family might wonder what the point of being in nz is away from their extended families

but on the other hand i don’t love his (alleged!) attitude, it isnt very teamfirst

add in him bring 27 and only playing 40-odd games of first grade, he doesn’t have the games behind him other dodge muscled players eg turbo has behind him, even adam reynolds who was always claimed as injury prone, when he was at souths his lowest games total for a season was 16! (granted hes missing more now at the broncs but he did help them get a prem and also is much older)

and he’s only been benched for one game

also like i remember the whole ‘iron sharpens iron’ taine and cnk welcoming the competition of each other thing too, with metcalf (allegedly) saying he’d be open to playing 6 short term… but there is no 6 jersey available at the moment, think cht wouldn’t be appreciating that much (especially given i thought they were mates but who knows!)

all in all i just hope this doesn’t derail the team much post-bye week

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Bit messy. Wonder how relationships are between Metcalf, Boyd and CHT? Most seem to be understanding of the business side

They're competitors, right?

Deep down Boyd knows that Metcalf wants his job and
Deep down CHT knows that Metcalf is willing to take his, as a stepping stone.

Let's be honest, professionalism only goes so far before you start taking things personally.

 

[sup42]

Bit messy. Wonder how relationships are between Metcalf, Boyd and CHT? Most seem to be understanding of the business side

They are all friends (we are told) I have no trouble believing that, watching these three personalities.

If Metcalf knew ahead of time that he wanted to go back to Australia.....these rumors would be serving his friends VERY well in their contract negotiations (just saying, the pressure goes on the Warriors to secure the two birds that are not looking to get out unless they get their own way).

It would be a masterstroke if this is all planned and all three parties get what they really want.

 

[Cces]

I think this week's drama could have been avoided, or at least delayed, if Metcalf had actually been given a chance to push his case at #7, albeit in Cup, rather than sit idle on the extended bench. With no chance to play any minutes this weekend it seems like a wasted opportunity. The counter argument is he needed to be there to cover injury but him having to potentially play 79 straight minutes in the NRL on the back of a hamstring injury was risky in itself. 60 minutes in Cup should have been the go

 

[skinnydippng]

Bit messy. Wonder how relationships are between Metcalf, Boyd and CHT? Most seem to be understanding of the business side

the real measure is who is appearing on capewell’s golf instagram!

jacko, chanel, wayde, tanah, pompey, jett cleary that i’ve seen so far

you’re not real friends until you conduct the ‘hit ball into hole’ rite of passage!

(on that note i don’t often see luke hanging with teammates or appearing in anyones social media comments but maybe he just isn’t a big socials guy)

 

[france]

I think he's a six. It's just been thrown around in here as an idea for him to be our first grade fullback. More immediately he needs to get on the field and play games to get fitness and f

sorry guys i didnt know where to put this,but it doesnt look like the last 3 games from last week have been counted yet in our tipping comp...thanks

 

[juju]

Not really the team first mentality we're after is it.
He's on $900k plus - With the team performing & two dud performances from him - bide his time & do a Tannah and prove yourself with the grind. Disrupting the playing group with media chatter is yuck.

 

[jmb_31]

Personally, I think that while Metcalf may have a higher ceiling than Boyd, as a previous poster said what’s the point in a higher ceiling if he’s injured 50% of the time. Boyd’s style is what we need more. We’ve all seen what happens to us over the years if we don’t have atleast one half capable of kicking the ball well and controlling the game. I’d be more inclined to use the Metcalf money to get a strike weapon FB as I don’t think any of our current options are what helps take you to a premiership win.

CHT is a no brainer to keep given his over all play, hunger on the field and willingness to play wherever is necessary.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Personally, I think that while Metcalf may have a higher ceiling than Boyd, as a previous poster said what’s the point in a higher ceiling if he’s injured 50% of the time. Boyd’s style is what we need more. We’ve all seen what happens to us over the years if we don’t have atleast one half capable of kicking the ball well and controlling the game. I’d be more inclined to use the Metcalf money to get a strike weapon FB as I don’t think any of our current options are what helps take you to a premiership win.

CHT is a no brainer to keep given his over all play, hunger on the field and willingness to play wherever is necessary.

It's a bit of a shame that this whole Metcalf saga didnt play out a little earlier...

I wonder if Metcalfs money became available a month earlier and Drinkwater was still contemplating his future, would we have looked attractive for a 2 year, 900k smash and grab type contract. Try and win a premiership on top of getting a payday type deal.

Come over here with most of the pieces of the premieeship puzzle already sorted, his distribution skills and individual brilliance could have been the difference for us in 2027 or 28 before the young guys vying for the 1 spot take over in 2029.

Who, realistically could we bring in that will move the needle closer to our first premiership?

 

[roguei]

People talking like we've already signed boyd and cht for more than this year. Would be really funny if we make Metcalf walk before signing anything and end up with jett and Jack Thompson as our 7 and 6 for next year (as hanson is also off contact I think).

You're counting your chickens before the hatch...

 

[Noitall]

I’d love all this

They're competitors, right?

Deep down Boyd knows that Metcalf wants his job and
Deep down CHT knows that Metcalf is willing to take his, as a stepping stone.

Let's be honest, professionalism only goes so far before you start taking things personally.

Problem is when factions of players make their decision and support one for one reason or another. I don’t think it takes much to destabilise cohesion as someone like AFB displayed I reckon

 

[Noitall]

People talking like we've already signed boyd and cht for more than this year. Would be really funny if we make Metcalf walk before signing anything and end up with jett and Jack Thompson as our 7 and 6 for next year (as hanson is also off contact I think).

You're counting your chickens before the hatch...

Or Nathan Cleary for 2028

 

[Garry Saloon]

I have no problem with Metcalf getting his management to talk to the club. His dream is to be an Nrl 7. He can feel that dream slipping away, so he gets an honest conversation going.

There are two themes to the response in this forum and on social media:

1. He's got a bloody cheek making noises about moving on to another club.

2. Who needs him?! Boyd and CHT are our guys.

If we don't need him then we should be giving him our blessings to start to look around. Letting him go would be a sizeable gamble, but not an unreasonable one, given his injury history and the log jam of halves we have.

If one half was to leave I would rank their departure from most gutting to least gutting: CHT, Boyd, Metcalf.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Can we win a comp with Boyd and CHT? Maybe not, but they will more than likely get us there if not close to it.

Could Metcalf win a comp? Probably more likely than Boyd and CHT. But he wont get us there with his history of not stringing games together.

The issue that really frustrates me is this being leaked to the media. That tells me he wants out. There is no team first in this and for someone who has only played 43 NRL games, its really disappointing and reflects so poorly on his reputation.

Surely the club have already held discussions with him about how he can get back to the 7 jeresy....it makes no sense they would have had these discussions already.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Lastly, im suprised people are confident in retaining CHT. His brother is playing in Aussie, his parents live there too?

I think he will go....