One New Zealand Warriors co-captain Mitchell Barnett will depart the club at the end of the 2026 NRL season after securing an early release from the final year of his contract to return to Australia for personal and family reasons.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said the decision was difficult for the club but acknowledged the importance of Barnett and his family being closer to their support network, describing the experienced front rower as a valued leader who had become deeply embedded within the organisation.
The 31-year-old Kangaroos and New South Wales representative, who returned from knee surgery last year, is set to reach significant career milestones this season, including his 50th appearance for the Warriors and closing in on 200 first-grade games overall.
