League: Doyle won't tolerate DCE-style back-flip

Warriors managing director Jim Doyle. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors would seek a please explain and consider the possibility of legal action if a signed player was to leave the door ajar to make a Daly Cherry-Evans-style back-flip, says managing director Jim Doyle.

Doyle admitted he would be concerned if either of the club's 2016 recruits, current Sydney Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke, were heard publicly expressing any uncertainty about following through with their Warriors contracts.

The fact Manly's Cherry-Evans refused to hose down speculation that he would not honour his contract with the Gold Coast Titans was unacceptable to Doyle, who said he would be seeking clarification from the player and his management regarding their intentions.

"If that had been me and Roger, for example, and I'd heard Roger in an interview saying: "I'm still thinking, I'm not quite sure...I am going to go to the Warriors but I'm waiting to see what the Roosters offer me," then I'd be having discussions with him," Doyle told Radio Sport today.

"I'd be having constant discussions with him and his manager to say, well if you're not willing to tell the media and tell me it's 100 percent done, then maybe we need to pull the contract and start looking at other players because we've got a future to plan for ourselves."

Unlike Titans CEO Graham Annesley, who felt no need to contact Cherry-Evans for any assurances that he would honour his contract despite rumours saying otherwise, Doyle has been in regular contact with both Tuivasa-Sheck and was adamant the 22-year-old would stay true to his word.

"I've had numerous discussions with him and each of those discussions has been about him continuing to come over here," he said.

"He's been across with his girlfriend, looking at houses and areas to live, so I've been constantly getting just on-going feedback that he's coming.

"He's told me he's not going to change his mind, whereas DCE [Cherry-Evans]...that feedback that he's not sure and it's not locked in until round 13.

"I know I'd be thinking first and foremost about the club and its fans and its members and sponsors. And I'd be thinking, well, if this has got some possibility that it's not going to go ahead then I need to get to know as soon as possible so I can plan accordingly."

Doyle says it would be easier for him to get clarification and a straight answer out of both Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke after having a pre-existing relationship with both players.

"I know them both really well personally. I've been to dinner with them on more than one occasion and will text them during the week. Even when I worked for the NRL we'd communicate with each other.

"So you've built a relationship with people and it would have been much easier for me to get on the phone and talk to any of those two players about what's happened and who is saying what because of got that relationship versus a complete stranger."

Meanwhile, the Warriors look certain to farewell five-eighth Chad Townsend at the end of the season, with reports out of Sydney saying he has signed a two-year deal with his former club Cronulla.

Young fullback prospect Brad Abbey is also tipped to leave the club, with the Warriors in talks with his management about granting the 18-year-old a release, with both Canterbury and Melbourne keen to secure his services.