Warriors' players show support for Barnett ahead of final season

Warriors’ hooker Sam Healey says the club are all behind co-captain Mitch Barnett after he was granted a release on compassionate grounds.

Barnett has been released from the final year of his contract to return to Australia in 2027 in order to be closer to family due to his child’s medical needs.

Since joining the Warriors, Barnett has elevated his game to make his Origin and Kangaroos debut, becoming one of the game’s leading forwards alongside fellow co-captain James Fisher-Harris.

While rumours will swirl around the identity of Barnett’s next club, and what the Warriors will receive in compensation, Healey says the club is fully behind Barnett in his final year at the club.

He's been massive for me and a lot of the young guys at our club,” Healey revealed on SEN 1170 Drive.

“Having got a guy like him, with such a dominant voice and a guy who's done so much in the game, it's been really good for a lot of us boys.

“It's obviously a really, really big loss, and someone that's irreplaceable in our club, and we're all going to miss him, but he's got reasons why, and we completely respect it and back him for it.

“We're really looking forward to a big year for him, and coming back from his injury, so (I’m) keen to get lace up alongside him.”

The 31-year-old Kangaroos and New South Wales front rower will return from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season in the early rounds of the season.

Barnett’s family is located in Taree, making a move to a New South Wales or Queensland club the most likely outcome for the feared prop.

Chris Orr, Barnett’s manager, revealed the Broncos and Eels have already reached out to him about the Warriors’ forward, while the Dragons have also been floated as an interested party.

Warriors CEO Cameron George confirmed the club would be seeking compensation “in the form of a player or two”, which may limit the teams willing to sign the Origin forward.

Barnett previously played two games for the Raiders in 2015 before making the move to Newcastle where he played a further 126 games whereafter he joined the Warriors.

Speaking on SEN 1170 Drive, Justin Horo believes Barnett’s former club looms as an obvious landing spot for the 177-game veteran.

“The number one (club) has got to be the Newcastle Knights for obvious reasons,” Horo said.

“(He’s) played there before. I know he's still got great relationships with the players there.

“Definitely now that Leo Thompson has moved on, there is a good sort of young emerging pack there.

“He was a back rower when he left, he came back as a front rower, and he feels like a real need for the Newcastle Knights.”

The Warriors open their season at home against the Sydney Roosters on March 6.