Warriors CEO Cameron George has revealed he expects compensation from whichever club signs Mitch Barnett, who was released from the final year of his deal on compassionate grounds.
Barnett was allowed to cut short his stay at the Warriors at the end of the 2026 season to return to Australia for family and medical support to help his young daughter.
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However, the Warriors won’t rubberstamp Barnett’s next contract unless they are compensated in the form of a transfer fee or player swap or potentially both.
The Warriors released Addin Fonua-Blake in similar circumstances to return to Australia and play for the Sharks, but the club did get a suitable replacement in premiership winning prop James Fisher-Harris from the Panthers.
Speaking on The League Lounge podcast, Warriors legend Shaun Johnson questioned if the Warriors will be able to replace a player of Barnett’s calibre by the start of the 2027 season.
“The idea around trying to replace Barnett, which I don’t think that’s achievable just through the calibre of player that he is,” Johnson said.
“But it’s been pretty well publicised you do expect something in return. Has that always been a part of the plan?
“Is that how you start moving the pieces in the background when something like this falls on your lap?”
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George revealed the Warriors are prepared to be patient in their bid to ensure that the club gets an adequate replacement or compensation for Barnett’s services.
“I think patience is the best thing here,” George said.
“Unless someone is offered up to us in terms of a trade or a transaction player, we might just sit on the fence and look at the market and how it unfolds because we all know it can change quite rapidly and quick.
“We learnt that through the Addin Fonua-Blake situation. We went hard, we went fast, we went like this, we’re not moving, we’re doing this and doing that.
“The day we let Addin go and we ended up with James Fisher-Harris three months later.”
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George revealed that Barnett’s release was contingent on the Warriors getting compensation and the club will hold firm on that to protect their interests, while he stressed the importance of bringing the right player to the club to fill the void.
“With Barnett, it’s been absolutely clear to him and his agent from the outset that wherever you go, we expect compensation,” George said.
“And what that looks like and who that is, we don’t know yet. We’ve had a few clubs contact us, but again, it’s playing that patient game.
“Whoever we’re bringing to this club’s got to add value, not problems, and they’ve got to connect with coach Andrew Webster. That’s just how it works.”
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Johnson is adamant the Warriors have the right leaders in place in Webster and George to ensure that the club will bounce back from losing Barnett and get a suitable replacement in time.
“I do want to give you as a wrap, because this can be a real rarity in high-performing departments and clubs,” Johnson said.
“I’m glad you touched on it and how we handled my exit at the club. It takes two to tango for sure, but I just think that transparency is such a crucial part.
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“And when people ask me about the club and how we’re going to go this year, the way I look at it, results aside, an extra year, more time underneath guys like Cameron George and Andrew Webster, we are in a better position than what we were previously.
“So let’s hold on to that, and just I really appreciate your honesty and your vulnerability around that, boss man.”
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