By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors are chasing Melbourne Storm centre Tony Martin but face stiff competition from at least three other NRL clubs and the London Broncos.
Martin, aged 21, is off contract at the end of the season and has permission to negotiate elsewhere, given the Storm's salary cap allowances that take it well over next year's cap of $A3.25 million ($4.07 million).
The Warriors have given centre Nigel Vagana similar permission to see what he is worth on the market.
Martin, 180cm and 84kg, has 60 NRL games behind him and is regarded as an under-rated part of the Storm's successful premiership backline.
However, his manager, Jim Banaghan, said the Warriors' first offer was "not in the ballpark" compared with others. He confirmed that Canberra and Canterbury were interested, along with other clubs who had asked for anonymity. They are believed to be the Brisbane and London Broncos and the Northern Eagles.
Banaghan said Martin was keen on Auckland, believing the Warriors were a club about to go places.
Former Sydney City and New South Wales Origin coach Phil Gould is due in Auckland soon to help to establish a joint Warriors, Auckland Rugby League and NZRL development programme. This will allow up-and-coming players to be led through a homogenised system as Australians are via the schoolboy Harold Matthews Cup, S. G. Ball under-18s and under-20 Jersey Flegg.
Meanwhile, Panthers' Origin points-scoring recordbreaker Ryan Girdler has been cleared of a bone break and will play against the Warriors at Ericsson today.
This weekend, the Warriors send Jonathon Smith, wing Francis Meli and lock Monty Betham to Brisbane Souths while Awen Guttenbeil and Odell Manuel go to Newtown Jets.
.0Warriors: David Myles, Henry Faafili, Shontayne Hape, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, Jason Bell, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Jerry Seuseu, Logan Swann, Ali Lauiti'iti, Scott Coxon; interchange Cliff Beverley, Tony Tuimavave, Matt Spence, Mark Tookey.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Jody Gall, Scott Sattler, Lee Hopkins.
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