The Warriors have made a surprising announcement regarding their captain Mitch Barnett, who has been released from the final year of his contract to return to Australia for personal reasons.
After recovering from an ACL injury that sidelined him for most of last year, Barnett was originally signed to play until 2027. However, he will now return to Australia at the conclusion of the 2026 season, marking the end of his time with the Warriors.
The likely destinations for Barnett include the Knights and the Titans, as both clubs are in proximity to his family.
Barnett shared with Code Sports that the need for medical care for his child, along with the desire for family support, influenced his decision to leave New Zealand earlier than planned.
"It's extremely hard coming to this decision," Barnett expressed to Code Sports.
"The decision I've made is the one that's best for my family. This is based purely on the child's medical needs and the need to be back around family going forward."