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

 

[CWC]

What I enjoyed hearing last weekend was the Aussie commentators saying how much pace we have in our backline. What a good feeling that finally was (well until DWZ got chased down easily haha!)

AKP, TT, Ali give us so much more firepower on attack.

The slowest starting back now is probably CHT lol

 

[roguei]

Do you really think the club would let this scenario happen? They've got it under control.

Outside of CHT. With the other two being Aussies. It's always going to be hard to predict what they'll do in the future. So yeah I do think it's a real possibility we don't land Boyd. He could be loving it like Walker and Barnett were. But who's to say his wife does, his kid does or even that his extended family does.

I personally don't think it's so much up to Webster and Cameron George. It's just the risk we have with two Aussie playmakers. One could refuse to sign waiting for a great Aussie contract/only wanting a year before PNG. The other is an injury prone playmaker who only wants to play 7 long term and is willing to leave because of it.

So overall, we need to lock down cht asap.

 

[Blain]

Funny how in all this we lost the Taine actually speaking (not a rumour) about getting pissed at Webby for getting dropped when he played well.

That's your take on what he said - He wants to play first grade every week, and is hungry to stay in the team. It pissed him off that he couldn't hold the spot. That's what I heard from him. Not really anything you wouldn't expect from a player?

Having a meeting with the club along with management, and the management then seemingly leaking that to Sydney media is slightly different.

 

[Beastmode]

That's your take on what he said - He wants to play first grade every week, and is hungry to stay in the team. It pissed him off that he couldn't hold the spot. That's what I heard from him. Not really anything you wouldn't expect from a player?

Having a meeting with the club along with management, and the management then seemingly leaking that to Sydney media is slightly different.

Big call saying it was management leaking it. What’s the benefit for the club in doing this ?

 

[Lance155]

That's your take on what he said - He wants to play first grade every week, and is hungry to stay in the team. It pissed him off that he couldn't hold the spot. That's what I heard from him. Not really anything you wouldn't expect from a player?

Having a meeting with the club along with management, and the management then seemingly leaking that to Sydney media is slightly different.

Kind of my point. One came from the players mouth and the other came from a rumour. I have no issue with either players stance as a whole

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Outside of CHT. With the other two being Aussies. It's always going to be hard to predict what they'll do in the future. So yeah I do think it's a real possibility we don't land Boyd. He could be loving it like Walker and Barnett were. But who's to say his wife does, his kid does or even that his extended family does.

I personally don't think it's so much up to Webster and Cameron George. It's just the risk we have with two Aussie playmakers. One could refuse to sign waiting for a great Aussie contract/only wanting a year before PNG. The other is an injury prone playmaker who only wants to play 7 long term and is willing to leave because of it.

So overall, we need to lock down cht asap.

I was replying to your comment saying we could end up with Jett Cleary & Thompson as our halves next year if we're not careful.
I won't get to that point. Even if it did, God forbid. We still have TMM & Hanson as well.

But yeah, As I've stated many times this week. Extend CHT and let Boyd & Mets negotiate who leaves or stays. Or both?

 

[Cces]

Context is everything, Leka does it to the opposition fans

He does it at Mt Smart too

 

[Warriors55]

The slowest starting back now is probably CHT lol

I think DWZ would give him a run for his money Got to say that DWZ has impressed me much more than last year, he is just slow for a winger and can get caught out on defence for his lack of speed and can miss chances on attack. But his physical presence is good along with his finishing and aerial ability. Defence has improved. Hands can let him down at time.

 

[Lance155]

I think DWZ would give him a run for his money Got to say that DWZ has impressed me much more than last year, he is just slow for a winger and can get caught out on defence for his lack of speed and can miss chances on attack. But his physical presence is good along with his finishing and aerial ability. Defence has improved. Hands can let him down at time.

Pompey or Boyd would have to be contenders as well? Our backline is still pretty plain if you ask me. Only AKP and Ali (when he engages) have genuine X factor

 

[CWC]

Big call saying it was management leaking it. What’s the benefit for the club in doing this ?

Management = Luke's agent.

 

[Warriors55]

Pompey or Boyd would have to be contenders as well? Our backline is still pretty plain if you ask me. Only AKP and Ali (when he engages) have genuine X factor

Agreed. We look better on attack with RTS and Ali in the centres. TT has good acceleration.

I don't envy the club at the moment dealing with the Tanah and Metcalf situation. They can't really drop Tanah so either Luke is at 6 or on the bench. If he is on the bench too long he will push to leave the club. I think the club want to see how Tanah goes over the next month especially the games against Penrith and Brisbane.

I don't like that Luke is demanding the 7 position even though I am a fan. What's best for the team right now is Tanah stays 7 and Luke busts his ass to become a great 6 this year or bides his time until Tanah is injured or regresses back to 2025 form. What we don't want is to throw all our eggs in the Tanah basket and he can't continue the good form, Luke leaves and Jett isn't ready and we become a mid table team.

Hopefully Luke just wants some clarification as to his role for the rest of the year but that is hard for Webby to do with CHT and Tanah playing so well and Healey being a necessity on the bench.

 

[WAH MAN]

Big call saying it was management leaking it. What’s the benefit for the club in doing this ?

Might be referring to Mettys management

 

[Lance155]

Agreed. We look better on attack with RTS and Ali in the centres. TT has good acceleration.

I don't envy the club at the moment dealing with the Tanah and Metcalf situation. They can't really drop Tanah so either Luke is at 6 or on the bench. If he is on the bench too long he will push to leave the club. I think the club want to see how Tanah goes over the next month especially the games against Penrith and Brisbane.

I don't like that Luke is demanding the 7 position even though I am a fan. What's best for the team right now is Tanah stays 7 and Luke busts his ass to become a great 6 this year or bides his time until Tanah is injured or regresses back to 2025 form. What we don't want is to throw all our eggs in the Tanah basket and he can't continue the good form, Luke leaves and Jett isn't ready and we become a mid table team.

Hopefully Luke just wants some clarification as to his role for the rest of the year but that is hard for Webby to do with CHT and Tanah playing so well and Healey being a necessity on the bench.

I think the ideal situation is Tannah extends one more year and we get some time to see it play out. I don't mind Metcalf coming through cup (as long as it as at 7). What I don't want to see is Boyd can only be dropped if we lose.

 

[WAH MAN]

I think the ideal situation is Tannah extends one more year and we get some time to see it play out. I don't mind Metcalf coming through cup (as long as it as at 7). What I don't want to see is Boyd can only be dropped if we lose.

Isn't us losing a great reason for someone to be dropped?

 

[CWC]

Agreed. We look better on attack with RTS and Ali in the centres. TT has good acceleration.

I don't envy the club at the moment dealing with the Tanah and Metcalf situation. They can't really drop Tanah so either Luke is at 6 or on the bench. If he is on the bench too long he will push to leave the club. I think the club want to see how Tanah goes over the next month especially the games against Penrith and Brisbane.

I don't like that Luke is demanding the 7 position even though I am a fan. What's best for the team right now is Tanah stays 7 and Luke busts his ass to become a great 6 this year or bides his time until Tanah is injured or regresses back to 2025 form. What we don't want is to throw all our eggs in the Tanah basket and he can't continue the good form, Luke leaves and Jett isn't ready and we become a mid table team.

Hopefully Luke just wants some clarification as to his role for the rest of the year but that is hard for Webby to do with CHT and Tanah playing so well and Healey being a necessity on the bench.

Imagine you are Webby, George, CHT and Boyd or their agents reading the papers today. Relaxing bye round eh

 

[Lance155]

Isn't us losing a great reason for someone to be dropped?

Always been firm on this. Just because we win doesn't give every player a free out. Just as an example Leka being quite poor the last 2 weeks. Obviously the player who comes in for you also needs to be performing well.

 

[roguei]

I was replying to your comment saying we could end up with Jett Cleary & Thompson as our halves next year if we're not careful.
I won't get to that point. Even if it did, God forbid. We still have TMM & Hanson as well.

But yeah, As I've stated many times this week. Extend CHT and let Boyd & Mets negotiate who leaves or stays. Or both?

If TMM and Hanson don't find contracts before this song and dance is over. Both are also only here for this year. We've only got jett, jack, and Metcalf signed for next year onwards. The longer it goes on for the more people will just make permeant plans around what they think is going to happen.

 

[Lance155]

Another issue is there is now serious pressure on Metcalf in every opportunity he has. Hard to see him not overplaying his hand when he next takes the field

 

[Blain]

Big call saying it was management leaking it. What’s the benefit for the club in doing this ?

No, as in Metcalf's management. These pests are what feed the Sydney media frenzy.

 

[CWC]

Remember Dallin returned to cup in 2023 after a calf strain and he scored 4 tries and people were like he's too good for cup, then I think Kosi got injured and he returned?

I just don't get why Luke's not playing cup at all this year to build the "look he's amazing scoring 20 points and a hat trick he's ready!" hype and fitness and put healthy pressure on Boyd/CHT to perform?