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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Andrew Auimatagi is a fantastic coach, his influence in the St Thomas' programme has been massive.

Get him a coaching gig at matts!

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Get him a coaching gig at matts!

Is he not already with us? Not sure in what capacity tho.

 

[Dead Man Switch]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

I would be extremely, extremely disappointed

 

[france]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

no thanks

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

Hahaha! Mate we don't need that lump! Salalilo is going to fold him! We are good in the front row!

J F Harris
J Ford
T S Smith
J Salalilo

Right there bro! Add in Vaimauga and Clark for cover. Then there is a possibility of either Copper P Wilson who has been impressive, and R T Vea?

We are sussed and no need to get more props IMO.

We need a NRL ready Fullback as cover.

C Stewart or Perham?

Oh and don't forget E I Toeava! That guy is a middle.

 

[Wah's Up]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

I would take his brother MIKE

 

[Inruin]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

That's a no from me, but I wouldn't be adverse to Spencer Lenui for two seasons at the right price

 

[MurrayTD]

NZ Warriors have officially become associated with a secondary school. Trainspotters will note that this school is not in Auckland but located in the scenic Garden City of Christchurch.
St Thomas College, winners of 2 of the last 3 secondary schools national champs are now part of the NZW players nursery. Hats off to St Thomas and Andrew Aumatangi in locking in this partnership that emphasises education with sporting opportunities.
Exciting times

Amazing really, when I was growing up St Thomas was not on the sporting radar, effectively played in the 2nd division first XV comp and the only real notables I can think of were the Hammett brothers. At the same time Aranui high had just won the NZ secondary schools league competition and seemed to be building a legacy with either a league centre of excellence or academy, obviously not though.
Given the seismic shift in fortunes I hope we also engage with the front office as this does not happen through luck, they obviously have put in place some great people (I went to school with Steve Hart the principal, he was alway smart, driven and a great flanker, but I thought had a pretty staunch union background) systems, pathways ... not sure actually! but hopefully organisation to organisation we are smart enough to enquire how a catholic college in rugby royalty heartland is now the best league school in NZ.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

You know whats funny? Is these players we say no to, Like Barnett (Because he was a bit of loose cannon before coming here) Fonua Blake etc.... Turned out pretty good once Webby got his hands on them.
Royce & Leniu have some fire in them. Aggressive & strong. Fast for big boys. Royce's cardio needs a major tune up. Discipline is an issue for Leniu. And although I am not keen on either. Would be interesting so see what our club culture, coaching & leaders at the club could turn them into.

 

[sup42]

NZ Warriors have officially become associated with a secondary school. Trainspotters will note that this school is not in Auckland but located in the scenic Garden City of Christchurch.
St Thomas College, winners of 2 of the last 3 secondary schools national champs are now part of the NZW players nursery. Hats off to St Thomas and Andrew Aumatangi in locking in this partnership that emphasises education with sporting opportunities.
Exciting times

Commented on this in another thread, I am a huge fan of this schools League set up, and that comes exclusively from watching them play and seeing the stark difference between their teams and other schools.
They play like an Australian school boy side. Especially their defence and the way they keep turning up for each other, they are very fit, and very well drilled.

The club is expanding rapidly. From being an Auckland club to having stronger roots in the regions, and now this formal relationship with an organization in the South Island (albeit a school, but it is symbolic of growth and something of a watershed in this country for the code, may it expand).

This comes off the back of going Trans Tasman, or without too much hyperbole, going international with the City of Logan deal. The Warriors back office is set to expand with the reach of their brand.

Our fans, our own people have no small part to play in this, lets remember they create the buzz that makes other people want to join in.

As I said in another thread, Mt Smart is rapidly becoming too small for the club. They will have to look seriously into a bigger venue if they win the comp and enjoy the kind of success that other top clubs have. Certainly they should plan to have a base on a par with Suncorp for capacity at some point in the long run. A large part of this though, is tied into what length of commitment Andrew Webster is intending to be part of the Warriors, because as we all know, if we don't have one of the very best coaches in the game, that all of this stuff will be putting cart before the horse.

 

[chrisnz]

if Jye Linnane stays fit and strings a few games together he could be the answer at fullback bit of a turbo / ponga hybrid

 

[CWC]

bit of a turbo / ponga hybrid

 

[CWC]

That's a no from me, but I wouldn't be adverse to Spencer Lenui for two seasons at the right price

Leniu is the right body type for the current game too

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Would you take Royce Hunt for a couple of seasons to cover Mitch Barnett leaving?

You know whats funny? Is these players we say no to, Like Barnett (Because he was a bit of loose cannon before coming here) Fonua Blake etc.... Turned out pretty good once Webby got his hands on them.
Royce & Leniu have some fire in them. Aggressive & strong. Fast for big boys. Royce's cardio needs a major tune up. Discipline is an issue for Leniu. And although I am not keen on either. Would be interesting so see what our club culture, coaching & leaders at the club could turn them into.

People are the product of those they spend their time with. Build a good culture and just about everyone will buy in to avoid being ostracised

 

[Five&Last]

Losing the Likes of Marata, Barnett and we're assuming Gannon.. That is 3 experienced forwards in our NRL squad with no signed replacements currently. EIT & Kaylis are already top 30 this season. Even if Salalilo and Tuipulotu-Vea improve massively (I don't think they are there ATM) and earn top 30 contracts, we are still 1 player short of filling the hole. Possibly Neal could get a early promotion to the top squad, but I highly doubt all 3 are deemed playable at NRL round 1 2027.

I think the NSW cup squad has future NRL players there no doubt. But it's clear our clubs development plan is for the young guys to have a large amount of Cup time prior to NRL exposure. That's why I am expecting at least 1 signing to help bridge the experience hole.

Jason Salalilo replaces Mitch Barnett in the top 30 and everyone shifts up 1 in the prop pecking order. More reponsibility and playing time for Vaimauga, TSS, EIT etc.

Sikuvea has been playing prop recently in cup and will be part of the prop depth chart, he will also get more lock opportunities if Gannon misses time. RTV needs a pathway as well and Page-Wilson could surprise with a massive preseason.

We don't need any prop signings imo.

Bishop Neal replaces Marata Niukore in the top 30.

The only question mark is around Capewell. Would be great if he took a 1 year extension but I think he will opt for something longer. In that case, I actually think we can get away with replacing him in the top 30 with Sikuvea given his versatility. I also need to see how Bowden progresses in cup this year, could be a smokey if he impresses in offseason as well. Everyone below Capewell in the depth chart shifts up one. Laban and Halasima become first choice second rowers and Bishop, EIT and Kayliss are receiving more regular opportunities.

Prop is a non-issue to me, but the second row depth could be tested if Capewell leaves and Gannon isn't a reliable option.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

bit of a turbo / ponga hybrid

So in a constant state of head injury?

Don’t we already have one of those?

 

[CWC]

Wonder how berry is really going the centre depth is his if he can play, otherwise I feel Linnane might be a real chance to be that guy otherwise it’s Leka or Cape and their winger will be starved of the ball, if he can read the D the pace of him and AKP or Dallin outside might cover most of the loss of RTS. Give him a couple of months maybe he can get there. The wing depth is a worry a big step down if one of them get hurt

 

[Makasene]

if Jye Linnane stays fit and strings a few games together he could be the answer at fullback bit of a turbo / ponga hybrid

I wasn't aware there was a fullback question.

Linnane being played at left centre in cup suggests he might be looked at in the line

 

[CWC]

I wasn't aware there was a fullback question.

Linnane being played at left centre in cup suggests he might be looked at in the line

Hmm left? Our left centre do lack pace and acceleration