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

 

[jmb_31]

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?

Looking at the off contract list it looks like the main X factor FB options popping up over the next few seasons are Hammer, Sua Faalogo and a potentially FB converted Farnworth (which isn’t a bad shout). Out of those 3 though realistically Farnworth is the only one I could see moving here unless we completely break the bank for Hammer which hasn’t necessarily worked for us in the past with signings.

 

[juju]

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.

Asking for a conversation should be kept in house though. Somebodies leaking.

 

[Damo]

Asking for a conversation should be kept in house though. Somebodies leaking.

Quite an obvious manager agitation which I assume Metcalf gave the go ahead to.

 

[Theking267]

It’s pretty poor management to be fair to sign a player for 900 thousand and then to not play him and then to say he’s going to keep picking a winning combination when Luke only played 2 games not exactly an equal sample size.

 

[Damo]

It’s pretty poor management to be fair to sign a player for 900 thousand and then to not play him and then to say he’s going to keep picking a winning combination when Luke only played 2 games not exactly an equal sample size.

I think the only misstep here is he should have got some game time in NSW Cup.

 

[Jaffa J]

Its funny we had the Leniu rumours yesterday and people not keen due to character issues then the Metcalf news drops later that day

 

[Theking267]

I think the only misstep here is he should have got some game time in NSW Cup.

Plus Webby deciding to play CNK at centre for his games and then switching CNK back to Fullback for the Titans. Instead of trying to keep things familiar he seemed to want to change everything when Luke came back

 

[Beastmode]

I think the only misstep here is he should have got some game time in NSW Cup.

Do you think Luke would have agreed to playing Cup?

Actually is he playing cup this weekend to get some game time in

 

[Cces]

Do you think Luke would have agreed to playing Cup?

Actually is he playing cup this weekend to get some game time in

He's done it before on his return from injury.
No Cup game. All their Byes align with NRL side

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Let's be clear on this - The Warriors are in the driving position here. They have a 3 year contract with Luke. I do not believe they want to let Luke go.

Luke is Clutch. Wants the moments, Owns the moments.
Tanah is controlling. Will drive the team across the park week in / week out. Elite kicking game. Running game rapidly improving.

The Warriors look and perform better with Tanah running the ship.
The Warriors will win more close games with heavy weight teams with Luke producing clutch moments.

Both compliment each other perfectly. It is down to Luke's attitude to having to wear the #7 on his back.

Does Luke want serious money and individual glory or does he want to win a title at the Warriors. The window to win the title is here right now. He will not get that at PNG, Dragons, Eels.

If you want to keep CHT too, then Luke needs to play fullback... otherwise goodbye CHT.

 

[Brightman]

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.

I reckon the club has to draw a line in the sand here. Many times has the club been forthright in granting contractual release on compassionate grounds and should be lauded for those decisions but, this is not one of those moments and we do want LM playing for us regardless of whether he's wearing a 7, 6 or 1 (my choice) on his back.
His management might be inferring they only have Luke's best interests in mind but there are also several existing and expansion clubs looking for gun halves and let's face it, player managers will likely be looking to maximize the financial opportunities a fiasco like this "presents".
Volkman found out the hard way, Dragons still lack quality halves and neither are in a position to challenge for a premiership.

Luke Metcalf for the next three years is in the right place at the right time to get paid well and potentially win a Grand Final.
Warriors can replace him, can he replace the Warriors..

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Plus Webby deciding to play CNK at centre for his games and then switching CNK back to Fullback for the Titans. Instead of trying to keep things familiar he seemed to want to change everything when Luke came back

True.

We should sack the coach.

 

[beaveraldinho]

I personally think Metcalf is doing what's best for everyone involved.

*The Warriors are better off with Boyd on less cap. That's hard to argue any way you look at it.

*Luke is better off being a guaranteed 7 with only 3-5 years left of his career.

*A club that's not completing for a Championship will appreciate his clutch moments which fans love.

I was one of those fans who loved watching Metcalf rip through the middle and wish him the best if he goes.

Why is letting him go the best move for Warriors?

*We've got a bunch of halves coming through the system for 2028. This opens up clear paths for them.

*We can't challenge for a Championship with a 50/50 that our marquee player isn't even going to be fit for the finals.

*The extra cap can add star power somewhere else (Fullback?).

 

[The Undertaker]

This feels like a big distraction….
Who benefits from this?

- Luke is under contract. It’s up to him to win his place back. Tannah gave him the template in 2025 by working his arse off and taking his shot when presented.
- Luke is still getting his $900k for 3 years. Which is what he wanted. What has he to gain by going full scorched earth? Nothing. In effect he will give leverage to other teams to lowball him if this gets messy. I’m not buying it.
- Boyd and CHT are likely being offered upgraded but fair deals and this may in effect put pressure on them to decide to take the offer or not. Ie Luke is chomping at the bit. Take it or leave it. CHT is likely to take his time anyway as he operates a bit differently to most…. Boyd wants to ink something and will likely take unders for a year or two as he is growing here
- Personally I think this is a smokescreen or distraction for something else during the bye week. I’m no oracle but I’d bet Webby, McFadden and George are in Aussie for a couple of days meeting someone. It’s a good story to distract the media isn’t it?

Just sayin’…..

 

[Beastmode]

Metcalf #7
Luai #6

Superstars on tax free dollars for the same amount at the Warriors. Brand new stadium. Luxury houses and apartments by the sea. Full stadiums every week chanting your name.

That’s what PNG are selling him right now I reckon…

Metcalfs manager in a predicament…

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

We know CHT is own man, marches to the beat of his own drum, playing for toddy payten in Townsville of all places seems a weird choice but maybe the money is way better. Hypothetically.

But if he does do that, not particularly enthused about boyd-metcalf 7-6, bad defensive combo, they’d have to devote time and resources into getting Lukey Met to accept and excel in his old role, and your probably not getting value for money out of him by reducing his input. And they both have the same family reasons to play the compassionate release card at some point.

It would be easier if some other team came in big for Tanah for 2027, he still plays this season as long as he’s fit and in good form. You could say the same if another team wants to take on Metcalfs deal, but then you need CHT to stay.

Best case all three accept a bit less status (and maybe money) in order to be a part of an elite squad, but that’s starting to seem unlikely.

 

[CWC]

I think the only misstep here is he should have got some game time in NSW Cup.

Seeing all the leaking (apparently we're the news and gone viral over in AUS too?) makes me wonder whose idea was it not to play cup last week....

Anyway I'm sure they're up in arms about the promise the club sold to them last year as a marquee 7 (legit reason to grieve I guess), plus family and friends usually would encourage the main character to feel hard done by. Wondering when all SJ and his guests are like "Luke's the 7 the future!!" did it flame the fire or they sensed something and were legit trying to comfort his ego.

Maybe it's all planned by the club and his management - go out make a dent, he gets to be 7 somewhere and paid well and close to family, we free up the cap to upgrade CHT/Boyd and maybe sign another player to improve the weaknesses

Maybe the rabbitohs and dragons are the ideal sydney clubs? They were the ones I think would be after Boyd before

And I'm still thinking about Timoko lol, kiwi strike player available now.

 

[CWC]

This feels like a big distraction….

Epstein files?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Metcalf #7
Luai #6

Superstars on tax free dollars for the same amount at the Warriors. Brand new stadium. Luxury houses and apartments by the sea. Full stadiums every week chanting your name.

That’s what PNG are selling him right now I reckon…

Metcalfs manager in a predicament…

Tbh, have you heard of a more win win for everyone involved?

LM, even if he took a slight pay cut to 800k with PNG means he gets more money, likely a longer contract, the 7 jumper AND a chance to win a premiership with the Wahs in 2026 and 2027

The Wahs - Are able to sign CHT and Boyd for 2+ years, guaranteed halves coverage in 2026 and 2027 with LM, and frees up a halves spot from 2028 when our young pups are gunna be hot. Gives us 900k to make a play for someone like Herbie at fullback, or another marquee signing.

PNG - Superstar halves pairing for their first 3 years in the comp

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Epstein files?

Next week's teamlist may be heavily redacted.

Peak Webby mind games.