The Warriors have again been linked to another high-profile Australia-based player coming off-contract, in Sydney Roosters and Kiwis flyer Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
The Roosters are desperate to retain Tuivasa-Sheck and CEO Brian Canavan told the Herald they were aware the Warriors were attempting to lure the 21-year-old former Otahuhu College studentback across the Tasman.
"We're not aware they have made an offer but we are aware of their interest as well as another club as well," Canavan said today.
"We're very keen to retain Roger and we're in discussions now. Whoever else is in there doesn't concern us."
When contacted today, the Warriors would not confirm nor deny their interest. The club has money to spend but in recent months they have failed in various attempts to sign Kieran Foran, Trent Merrin and Jason Taumalolo.
Sydney's Triple M radio are reporting that Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins is looking "to return home or potentially to Australia" due to his partner being homesick.
When asked about the validity of the claims that Tomkins was unsettled, Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle said the England No 1 was frustrated to have missed the round one match against Newcastle through injury and to have again succumbed to a knee injury last week that will keep him out of action for at least the next month.
Triple M suggest the Warriors are keen to pursue Tuivasa-Sheck even if Tomkins remains in Auckland, with an eye to playing him on the flank.
Veteran wing Manu Vatuvei is off-contract at the end of the year and although the Warriors have plenty of depth in the outside backs his departure would leave a large hole that Tuivasa-Sheck could fill.
Earlier this month, Tomkins spoke to the Herald on Sunday about his willingness to extend his contract with the Warriors and his burning desire to achieve success with the club.
"I'd be completely open to [staying longer]," Tomkins said. "It depends where the Warriors were and if they wanted me to stay and if I wanted to at that point.
"But right now I'm concentrating on making this season a successful campaign for me and the team. With this squad, if we can all play to the best of our abilities, there is no reason we can't get right amongst it.
"I didn't travel to the other side of the world to not be in a successful team," he said.
"That's why I came here. I wanted the challenge of a new competition but also to be successful in that, both personally and on a team level. Success is a big thing but this is a club that is striving for it. It's one that has probably been starved of success for a while. I'd love nothing more than to win a premiership with these blokes."
