Mitchell Barnett, co-captain of the New Zealand Warriors, is set to return to Australia at season's end for personal reasons.
Warriors CEO Cameron George confirmed today that the 31-year-old front rower will be released from his final contract year.
Having recovered from knee surgery in 2025, Barnett aims for two significant career milestones in the upcoming 2026 season.
His first match will mark his 50th appearance for the Warriors, while he is also 23 games away from reaching 200 career appearances.