Warriors rocked by potential shock exit

The Warriors could struggle to keep one of their emerging talents, with competition for spots and salary cap pressure putting his future at the club in doubt.

Rival clubs reportedly have permission to speak with him, raising the prospect of a move when his current contract expires. The Warriors intend to keep him for 2027, but retaining him beyond that could prove difficult.

The player under the spotlight is hooker Sam Healey.

The 24-year-old is contracted until the end of next season, leaving his longer-term future unresolved.

According to The Daily Telegraph, salary cap pressure could squeeze Healey out for 2028. The report says talks with first-choice hooker Wayde Egan are progressing, while promising youngster Makaia Tafua is contracted until the end of 2028.

That leaves Healey facing a difficult question: how long does he wait for a bigger role?

He made his first start of the 2026 season in the final regular-season game when Egan sat out against Manly. Otherwise, his opportunities largely came from the bench.

For a developing hooker, the chance to compete for a starting jersey elsewhere could be a strong drawcard.

Healey already has a solid foundation. He helped Newtown win the 2024 NSW Cup premiership before joining the Warriors and now has 29 NRL appearances to his name.

No destination has been confirmed, and a departure is far from certain.

However, the Warriors may need to offer more than another contract to convince him to stay.

A clear pathway to greater responsibility could be just as important as the money when Healey decides his next move.