SYDNEY - Speculation mounted yesterday that former world champion boxer Anthony Mundine is planning a return to the NRL with the Warriors following revelations he will attend a bout in Auckland as guest of the club's owners.
The former St George five-eighth will cross the Tasman to support New Zealand
fighter Shane Cameron's bid to take the IBF Australasian heavyweight title from New Zealand-born Australian Colin Wilson tomorrow night.
Mundine, 29, who on Tuesday learned that his May 11 title fight with WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler would be delayed after the Dane injured his back, accepted an invitation from Cameron's management team, Cullen Sports - the owners of the Warriors.
The Warriors and Canberra were the first clubs to pounce after Mundine announced he wanted to sort out his football future in the next fortnight.
"I will sit down with my manager and my dad and try to work out a deal with a club in the next two weeks," Mundine said.
The Raiders quickly signalled their intent to fast-track talks after the latest development. Chief executive Simon Hawkins confirmed the club had approached the former New South Wales star and would make a further attempt to sign him.
"We'll make sure we catch up with him in the near future," Hawkins said. "He's a good player."
However, considering Cullen Sports have a boxing operation - enabling Mundine to follow both his sporting passions - the Warriors could be in a stronger bargaining position.
The Warriors reiterated they retained an interest in recruiting Mundine but Cullen Sports were focusing on Cameron's fight when they announced that Mundine would be ringside at the ASB Stadium.
- NZPA
