Barnett to depart Warriors at end of 2026 for personal reasons

The club announced this will be the co-captain's last year in Auckland.

Warriors co-captain Mitchell Barnett will return to Australia at the end of the season for personal reasons.

Warriors CEO Cameron George today announced the 31-year-old Kangaroos and New South Wales front rower will be released from the final year of his contract.

“We’re very sad to see this happen but Mitch and his family need to be back home,” he said.

“He has become such a big part of our club. We love having him here and we know how much he loves it, too, but it’s important he, Clare and their boys are back around their family support network.”

After debuting for Canberra in 2015, the Taree product spent seven seasons with Newcastle then joined the Warriors in 2023 - playing an integral role in the club’s surge to a top-four finish and a preliminary final that year.

Barnett became the first Warrior to debut for NSW from the club in 2024 and only the second to debut for Australia later that season. Installed as co-captain with James Fisher-Harris in 2025, he was struck down by an ACL injury midway through the campaign.

After recovering from knee surgery in 2025, Barnett has two career milestones in sight as he eyes the 2026 season. His first game of the campaign will be his 50th for the Warriors while he’s 23 games away from his 200th career appearance.