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

 

[WAH MAN]

Because the guy who was supposed to be our long term 7 is not being picked as our 7 and is questioning why.

Also, the club might not have a choice.

This years form aside, what role do you see him playing this year?

It's like a BBQ when your wife says "what do you want? Steak, chops or sausages" and your answer is YES.

 

[Cces]

What just happened last weekend mate..

We couldn't justify introducing him as one of our 4 subs because we run 2 hooker rotation & sub off a Second Rower most weeks. Did I miss something?

 

[KPWarrior]

I think its fair to talk about Luke'sreturn performances where he looked way underdone and played poorly. But at no time from what I've seen is there any doubt he loves this club and being here. It's a given his management would be asking where his future lies. These discussions happen everywhere when you have a player too good for reserve grade who is not featuring week to week.

It's weird how most of us had him pegged as a very level headed young man, committed to the club and ambitions of winning a comp with us, his "it was always going to be the Warriors" line when he was upgraded left us in no doubt, now he's the selfish villain willing to rip the club apart, the sooner it all comes out the better.

 

[Brightman]

I have two words for you.

'Compassionate Grounds'

so do I.

'Get f%#ked'

 

[tajhay]

Because the guy who was supposed to be our long term 7 is not being picked as our 7 and is questioning why.

Also, the club might not have a choice.

This years form aside, what role do you see him playing this year?

I think its fair game for his management to seek clarity on his future. Thats what his management should absolutely do, as he was signed on a marquee contract extension and was placed on bench and not played.

I think of it like a great employee who was the star. Went for a holiday, came back and was a lil rusty. In the meantime a high profile, critical project started and he was not chosen for it but asked to do menial support work.

I do not buy into the 2 clubs have made contact or whatever. They cannot speak to him as hes under contract. Sure, they can contact his agent and ask "whats up" but thats about it.

Long season ahead and likely we will need all 3 of the guys to go deep in post.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

It's like a BBQ when your wife says "what do you want? Steak, chops or sausages" and your answer is YES.

I'm a burgers kinda guy, but some people want it all, I guess...

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Leading the Dally Ms to not even seeing a pathway into the playing 17... that is a bitter pill to swallow. Surely no one could argue otherwise.

Metcalf has done nothing wrong, no disrespect has been shown, he hasn't tried to cut corners, he's a guy who has done the hard slog for many years and saw it finally starting to blossom into something. He must be desperate to be playing some football, hopefully he will be soon.

An apples and oranges analogy, but I got into the 1st XI at a very successful cricketing school when I was a junior. I then spent the best part of 2 years as 12th man/sub-fielder in a team of seniors. Though others saw my position as been a feather in the cap at that age, an heir-apparent, I just wanted to play cricket. I ended up leaving the school system and playing a lower grade in club cricket and felt a million dollars despite the school treating me like a pariah as a result. Sometimes it is just nice to know where you can fit in and contribute, and Luke is in no man's land at the moment. Worse case scenario is playing jersey 19 (20 at the Warriors) and not getting game time. No one wants to be that unless his focus is on the value of his contract. However, we know Luke is a passionate student of the game and he'll just want to know where he is going to contribute and be given the opportunity to prove himself. Give him the challenge of leading a struggling NSW Cup team back to being contenders. There is lots he can advertise in that arena.

At least he has had the opportunity to come back from injury. Some players don't get to do that.

I also think that fan's are getting too comfortable with our trajectory at the moment. We can't afford to lose good players yet. No chickens should be counted.

 

[Brightman]

We couldn't justify introducing him as one of our 4 subs

That's ok, he might be necessary against the Broncs or easier to fit in when we play the Drags. There will be opportunities for him to play but for now Boyd and THC are crucial to winning.
But let's say hypothetically he doesn't play any more than 3 games and we win 12 of the next 17 and finish 2nd or 3rd, does it really matter?
We're all just over thinking it when we're already 2nd on the ladder..

 

[rugged]

st a question about those losses involving Metcalf. Do you think he was the primary driver for the losses? As in the most responsible person?

I don't know if he was the most responsible person and haven't watched the games a second time but his stats were very poor for the tigers game and just quiet for the Sharks.

Against tigers 5 missed tackles, 2 ineffective tackles, 2 errors and 1 inside the 10. With little positive stats.

Then against the Sharks it was Tannah with 5 missed tackles and 2 handling errors and Luke had a pretty quiet game statistically (kicked the ball once)

 

[3rdstriker]

Pages and pages of going around in circles over what might be click bait.

Thanks Aussie media, something to grease the wheels during the bye week.

If this story is true I would expect NZ media to be talking about their sources in regard to this story.

Instead our local media is just doing a rehash of the rumor using the language "reports".

According to Stuff and RNZ national the club have made no comment (I wouldn't take anything from that, it is just as likely our media were too lazy to even ask).

One thing I will say about this year, something has changed at the club. You see it in Andrew Webster, he is very serious these days, quite intense, and seems to have matured as a coach.

He is a boss now in the street sense of the word.

He will have no problem asking Metcalf's management to point to where in the contract it says Luke Metcalf is guaranteed the half back position.....if any of this is even true.

The Warriors cannot afford to let any distractions meddle with their all important negotiations with Chanel and Tanah's agents just now.

Quite honestly if this stuff is true, the Warriors would be best telling Metcalf and his manager to piss off.

This is the last comment I need to read about Metcalf, well said mate.

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

What do you mean what do I mean? I know what is the public was told too, although I wonder why he felt he had to leave and I felt the Dragons were ready to sign him before he even approached the club for a release.
It's like his manager saw a payday and convinced Ronald to move. The rest was awfully unfortunate and I don't believe the club had any bad intentions with how it played out after the fact, they did the honourable thing after the Dragons and Volkman's manager took care of themselves.

What I mean is this, I would hate to see Metcalf follow a similar path. Secure a release, sign elsewhere and then not realise his potential and spoil what's left of his short career to date.

I think Luke should stay at the Warriors and should play where the coach wants him to play, and I think he adds to our team and his clutch plays are valuable and hard to find.

I'm also of the opinion that the so-called journo who splurted this unsubstantiated rumour is a bum..

Yep just undermines the warriors. It’s a cheap shot by the journo. Sydney playbook and a measure of our success. The amount of talk about it shows the Machevillian move has paid off. I say shut ya mouth cobber!

 

[WAH MAN]

I don't know if he was the most responsible person and haven't watched the games a second time but his stats were very poor for the tigers game and just quiet for the Sharks.

Against tigers 5 missed tackles, 2 ineffective tackles, 2 errors and 1 inside the 10. With little positive stats.

Then against the Sharks it was Tannah with 5 missed tackles and 2 handling errors and Luke had a pretty quiet game statistically (kicked the ball once)

I guess the question I would ask now is if he wasn't injured would we drop him anyway or understand there is expected rust?

 

[rugged]

I think its fair game for his management to seek clarity on his future. Thats what his management should absolutely do, as he was signed on a marquee contract extension and was placed on bench and not played.

Yeah though don't forget he was put straight back in the side as soon as he was fit, didn't do a whole lot, we lost two games and he got injured. They may want it spelt out but the situation is pretty simple to sum up, most of the forum have done so over the last 48 hours.

 

[Cces]

But let's say hypothetically he doesn't play any more than 3 games and we win 12 of the next 17 and finish 2nd or 3rd, does it really matter?

Having our next in line half playing less than 3 games come playoff time would matter. He'd be a little bit under done, even with his hypothetical (& highly unlikely) 20 minute Fullback cameos, if called upon

 

[Makasene]

We need to accept this situation is unprecedented. I can't think of another time where a marquee player, and halfback no less, has signed a major extension and finds themselves out of the team within 6 months.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

We need to accept this situation is unprecedented. I can't think of another time where a marquee player, and halfback no less, has signed a major extension and finds themselves out of the team within 6 months.

Literal soap opera material.

Meanwhile, other clubs can’t buy a half.

 

[rugged]

I guess the question I would ask now is if he wasn't injured would we drop him anyway or understand there is expected rust?

Not sure if he would have been dropped. But at the time he came back Boyd and CHT were 2/2 this year, his injury gave them more time together and they extended that to 5/5, at that point neither was getting dropped and they got the dub against the Eels to go 6/6. So much discussion but really it comes down to that stat, they are unbeaten as a halves pairing this year.

 

[WAH MAN]

Not sure if he would have been dropped. But at the time he came back Boyd and CHT were 2/2 this year, his injury gave them more time together and they extended that to 5/5, at that point neither was getting dropped and they got the dub against the Eels to go 6/6. So much discussion but really it comes down to that stat, they are unbeaten as a halves pairing this year.

It's awesome that they are 5/5 together. It really is. We just need to figure out the best fit for Luke. I'm sure the best thing is for him to stay and be patient still

 

[Brightman]

Having our next in line half playing less than 3 games come playoff time would matter. He'd be a little bit under done, even with his hypothetical (& highly unlikely) 20 minute Fullback cameos, if called upon

Oh well, 'if' I won lotto, 'if' I listened to my Pops, 'if' this 'if' that..

 

[rugged]

It's awesome that they are 5/5 together. It really is. We just need to figure out the best fit for Luke. I'm sure the best thing is for him to stay and be patient still

And 6/6 after the Eels and agree - I am fan of both, but I totally see a future where Luke gets a chance and is too good to drop. The best thing for now is get him some good minutes in NSW cup. That would also give us a chance to stress test the hammy.