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: 23/30
2027 Supplementary: 0/6

2027 Gains: Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), William Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)
2027 Losses: Mitchell Barnett (Brisbane Broncos), Luke Metcalf (St George Illawarra Dragons), Marata Niukore (Newcastle Knights), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Wakefield Trinity)

Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Kurt Capewell, 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, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Sam Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Motu Pasikala, Adam Pompey, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

 

[Makasene]

So if we are trying to get a player in return for Metcalf, which I suspect could be happening behind closed doors. Who would we actually be interested in from the Dragons?.
Maybe a gun junior because I don’t see a lot in first grade that intrigues me

We're not getting someone back.

The most important thing in all of these early releases is "what is the best outcome for the club"

The club were not able to get a player back for AFB. Fish was not part of that transaction.

Barny was a bit different.

In this case, the best outcome for the club was that this was sorted before the next game.

We don't need a player from the Dragons, we need a settled camp to carry on the march to a maiden prem.

 

[JaggedJ]

We fought pretty hard for a player from the Broncos.

Said "whatever" to giving away Metcalf to the Dragons.

That's a pretty big vote of confidence in our current halves as well as the guys right below them.

 

[Buzz Killington]

We are pretty stacked as far as depth for halves go. You just have to reach a deep as you can to get one, as there are not many ready on the surface. But over the next few seasons there will be halves for everyone.

 

[Sammyw]

Suspect a compassionate release for Barney in which we have copped a few times in recent years was treated a tad more differently, Barney attitude always impeccable and him staying committed to the cause was never in doubt. Metcalf wanted out and has jumped off the proverbial ship. To avoid it becoming toxic we would have wanted this situation sorted and dealt with straight away. I’d be shocked if we wanted anyone from the dragons anyway lol their roster stinks

 

[Horriors2013]

A fair portion of that has presumably gone Boyd's way?

CHT too, maybe it's still just the 12 months but could be a banger of a deal for him next year?

David Riccio said that although publicly CHT said 12 months, after the club let Mets leave he was looking to sign a multi-year deal. That made sense to me.

 

[Horriors2013]

Suspect a compassionate release for Barney in which we have copped a few times in recent years was treated a tad more differently, Barney attitude always impeccable and him staying committed to the cause was never in doubt. Metcalf wanted out and has jumped off the proverbial ship. To avoid it becoming toxic we would have wanted this situation sorted and dealt with straight away. I’d be shocked if we wanted anyone from the dragons anyway lol their roster stinks

I'll take Drinkwater or Holmes. That would make us a consistent threat to the Pahs.

 

[CWC]

Suspect a compassionate release for Barney in which we have copped a few times in recent years was treated a tad more differently, Barney attitude always impeccable and him staying committed to the cause was never in doubt. Metcalf wanted out and has jumped off the proverbial ship. To avoid it becoming toxic we would have wanted this situation sorted and dealt with straight away. I’d be shocked if we wanted anyone from the dragons anyway lol their roster stinks

Barney showed he was willing to be used as a bargaining chip to set a precedent for a player swap to bolster the club's weaknesses, he's committed for the year and then off to the broncos.

Mets just leaks all the crap out there cuz he doesn't want to play 6 and now he's off to the wooden spooners with a 0:9 record We should just have released him tmr to play uncle ivan's panthers

I know it's pro sport and players should "get over it" when they play but the fact that they have to do the "get over it" part is already creating possible toxins in the environment so I don't know why they haven't released him yet, when he asked for an immediate release it's over, his foot is halfway out the door and we still expect him to guide our team around the park as next man up? People say if you're 5% off you'll get beaten, Mets is probably 50% off mentally alone right now. Maybe they will do it in the next bye round when TMM gets some fitness back, or maybe Webby's gone absolute ruthless beast mode and shoved him on the bench of Cup and be the last back up half in the squad for the rest of the year

 

[CWC]

I'll take Drinkwater or Holmes. That would make us a consistent threat to the Pahs.

Drinkwater to us before he arrives at St George will just cap off the wildest saga of 2026 lol

 

[dylpickle]

Metcalf to the dragons next week- Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga in return. Best outcome for all.

​

 

[Makasene]

David Riccio said that although publicly CHT said 12 months, after the club let Mets leave he was looking to sign a multi-year deal. That made sense to me.

CHT has played it pretty cool

No sulking when he was demoted to the bench

Ambiguous comments (not from him) about a 12 month deal with PNG sniffing around

Now probably best placed to get the best deal of his career with us if he wants it.

Intrigued to see what comes out of it.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I get the feeling that we have a big signing incoming.

My oracle/orifice senses are tingling.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I get the feeling that we have a big signing incoming.

My oracle/orifice senses are tingling.

Nostra-anus

 

[Ref]

I think it’s essential Metcalf stays this year and surely he wanted to.
Realistically it’s his last premiership opportunity.
I’m sure the club has told him to keep his mouth shut through this whole saga and he will be embarrassed and sorry the way the rumours and more particularly uninformed innuendo has spiralled out of control.
He is an injury away from starting 7, 6 and maybe 1 and a lock in for the 6 man bench otherwise.
If he does leave this year he is a fool.

 

[Noitall]

• Wednesday at 12:10 PM

• 
  
• #1,254

Rumour - spoke to a mate of mine who lives over in Auckland and has good relationships with the Wahs players.

Certain senior players are fuming at how Metcalf has handle himself and this is why he hasn't even been named in the squad for magic round. One particular senior player also confronted Metcalf and made it visibly known what he thinks about the whole situation.

Warriors are now considering allowing him to leave before June 30 if he can secure himself a deal in that amount of time










This was Wednesday on the sharks forum from someone and sounds like he may not see out the year?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

• Wednesday at 12:10 PM
• 
  
• #1,254

Rumour - spoke to a mate of mine who lives over in Auckland and has good relationships with the Wahs players.

Certain senior players are fuming at how Metcalf has handle himself and this is why he hasn't even been named in the squad for magic round. One particular senior player also confronted Metcalf and made it visibly known what he thinks about the whole situation.

Warriors are now considering allowing him to leave before June 30 if he can secure himself a deal in that amount of time

This was Wednesday on the sharks forum from someone and sounds like he may not see out the year?

Jeeze any guesses who confronted him? Id shit my pants if it was Fish or Barny haha.

Yeah its hard....if there are several key players upset, we probably need to move him on before June 30 as that shit could linger all year, but at the same time having a top half as back up could be a big advantage in those late rounds if someone goes down....

I trust that Webby will sort it out

 

[Noitall]

Jeeze any guesses who confronted him? Id shit my pants if it was Fish or Barny haha.

Yeah its hard....if there are several key players upset, we probably need to move him on before June 30 as that shit could linger all year, but at the same time having a top half as back up could be a big advantage in those late rounds if someone goes down....

I trust that Webby will sort it out

I think we’re seeing the good form of Boyd because of the preseason he had while Metcalf was still rehabilitating. When Metcalf came back he was behind the 8 ball and is potentially still getting up to speed because of that time he missed? I think they might lean towards TMM as backup because if Metcalf picks up another injury, the dragons could play silly buggers?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

• Wednesday at 12:10 PM

• 
  
• #1,254

Rumour - spoke to a mate of mine who lives over in Auckland and has good relationships with the Wahs players.

Certain senior players are fuming at how Metcalf has handle himself and this is why he hasn't even been named in the squad for magic round. One particular senior player also confronted Metcalf and made it visibly known what he thinks about the whole situation.

Warriors are now considering allowing him to leave before June 30 if he can secure himself a deal in that amount of time










This was Wednesday on the sharks forum from someone and sounds like he may not see out the year?

I have actually heard this as well!

 

[Noitall]

I have actually heard this as well!

My first thought was Capewell would be the type to take displeasure, but Barnett or JFH or anyone could easily have been the one to deliver the message? With a young impressionable squad, the last thing you want is someone making them think this is acceptable to put yourself ahead of the team. Quite unbelievable how far south this has gone

 

[Brightman]

He is an injury away from starting 7, 6 and maybe 1 and a lock in for the 6 man bench otherwise.
If he does leave this year he is a fool.

The $900 Grand and a serious tilt at premiership history that he's discarded well establishes he's a fool..

 

[jonesy101]

I get the feeling that we have a big signing incoming.

My oracle/orifice senses are tingling.

Don't disappoint us if it turns out to be last night's butter chicken.