The New Zealand Warriors are prepared to release star forward Mitch Barnett from the final year of his contract for family reasons, but they won’t be letting him go for free. Any club looking to secure Barnett’s services will need to offer up “a player or two” in compensation, according to Warriors CEO Cameron George.
Barnett is set to return to Australia at the end of the year due to pressing family matters, specifically concerning his child’s medical requirements and the need for greater familial support. While the club is understanding and has granted him a release on compassionate grounds, George was unequivocal about the business aspect of the transaction.
“Mitch and his agent know very clearly that whilst we’ve been completely considerate and understanding of this situation in agreeing to release him, there is a business component to it,” George stated. “And that is we expect to be compensated in the form of a player or two for allowing Mitch to go home, from the club that shows interest. We will work through that process.”
The Warriors are not interested in a cash transfer, as George explained it would offer no salary cap advantage. “It gives you no relief at all,” he said. “We want to be compensated in the form of a player. What that position and who that player is, each club could have a different alternative for us.”
The interest in Barnett, a former NSW Blues representative, has been swift. Reports indicate that both the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta Eels have already lodged initial inquiries just hours after Barnett’s availability became public knowledge. Barnett’s agent, Gavin Orr, confirmed these early discussions.
“You can tell why those clubs are interested,” Orr commented. “Obviously, Payne [Haas] is leaving the Broncos and Parramatta were chasing Keon [Koloamatangi] pretty hard [before he signed with the Dragons] … it’s early days.” Orr elaborated on the process, stating that he would engage with interested clubs to ascertain their offers. “There’s probably only 12 clubs that would fit his bill … There’s no point sitting here and guessing who or what that [compensation is until Gav [Barnett’s agent Gavin Orr] rings us and says ‘Club A is interested in Mitch and this is what they can offer up. Or is there something else you prefer?’ That’s how that conversation starts. Until that happens, you don’t know.”
Barnett himself acknowledged the difficulty of breaking the news to his teammates. He explained that the decision had been developing over time, driven by a need to prioritise his family.
“The decision has come over a period of time, we’re trying to work through a decision that developed a while back,” Barnett told the club’s website. “It’s come to this point in time, it’s not a decision that was made overnight … I had to put my family first.” He expressed gratitude for the Warriors’ understanding. “The Warriors] know what I’m going through, they understand the decision and have been very supportive of it, especially towards me and my family. It doesn’t make it any easier, the decision, but it’s one that needed to be made … I’m a father first, a husband first. People probably think ‘Why now?’. It’s so that it doesn’t impact this season.”
Roosters Unveil New Playmaking Partnership: Cherry-Evans and Walker
Meanwhile, the Sydney Roosters are set to unveil a formidable new playmaking combination, pairing veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans with emerging talent Sam Walker. The move sees Cherry-Evans, who recently celebrated his 37th birthday, take on a new role in the number six jersey, a position he hasn’t regularly occupied in his illustrious career.
Cherry-Evans, now the third-oldest player in the NRL era, made his first on-field appearance alongside Walker in a pre-season trial against the Parramatta Eels. Despite a rain-affected match and an eventual loss, the partnership showed promising signs. Walker, in particular, impressed during his 50-minute stint, showcasing his creativity with a solo try, two assists, and a crucial 40-20 kick. Cherry-Evans, meanwhile, assumed the primary kicking and game management duties.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has high hopes for the dynamic duo. He has previously stated his belief that Walker is “growing into a really dominant half of the game, but he’s also got some creativity that we want him to express.” Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has also drawn parallels between Walker and Cherry-Evans, highlighting their unpredictable nature as halves.
After 15 seasons and 352 NRL games, Cherry-Evans is expected to be a significant influence on the Roosters’ attacking structure. He expressed his eagerness to adapt to his new team and mentor Walker.
“Being in a new club, I’ll naturally adapt to what the team needs,” Cherry-Evans said after his first outing in the Roosters’ colours. “Naturally, I’m going to have that halfback mindset, that older, experienced leadership mentality. If I can have Sam Walker thinking more freely, then that’s definitely part of my job. Let him play the way that he can play … Hopefully [playing five-eighth] adds more to my game. But I’ve been playing for a long time, so there’s a lot of my game that’s going to be very similar when it comes to the way a halfback plays. Yeah, I’m wearing No.6, but there’s a lot of things that I need to do for this team when it comes to leading the team around. That will stay the same for me, but hopefully as the year evolves, we evolve as well. We want to get to a point where we know where the ball’s going, but the opposition doesn’t.”
The Roosters will be looking to leverage this potent playmaking spine to challenge for premiership honours in the upcoming season. The blend of Cherry-Evans’ experience and Walker’s flair could prove to be a significant advantage for the Tricolours.
