League: Rival clubs in Sydney eye off-contract Luke

The Warriors face a battle to retain off-contract hooker Issac Luke with two rival Sydney NRL clubs keen to sign him for next season.

Salary cap restrictions mean the Warriors have little money to spend and Luke may have to settle for a heavily reduced contract if he is to remain in Auckland.

But the Herald understands two Sydney clubs have expressed interest in securing his signature and entered initial discussions with Luke's agent.

Luke was reluctant to discuss the matter yesterday and made it clear his immediate focus remains on helping the Warriors in their quest to make the finals.

Following captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's lead, Luke explained he was concentrating on his own game with the Warriors needing him at his best for tomorrow night's crucial clash against Penrith.

"I'm not focused on it," Luke said of his contract situation.

"It's a bit like what Roger said a couple of weeks ago, he needed to focus on his own performance and that's what I'm doing."

Intrigue surrounds which clubs may be courting the former South Sydney premiership winner but the Rabbitohs are not in the race to re-sign Luke with the Redfern club set to extend and upgrade New South Wales State of Origin hooker Damien Cook's deal.

The Roosters (Jake Friend), Dragons (Cameron McInnes), Sea Eagles (Api Koroisau), and Wests Tigers (Robbie Farah) all have established hookers on their books, and the Sharks appear well off with James Segeyaro and Jayden Brailey.

That leaves Parramatta, Canterbury and Penrith on the shortlist of potential suitors.

The ball remains in the Kiwi international's court with the Warriors waiting for him to agree to terms or signal his intent to move on.

Luke is happy at the Warriors but with wife Mickayela recently giving birth to their fifth child, the 31-year-old must do what is best for his family.

The cash-strapped Warriors are unable to match any big offers and money could be the determining factor in where he plays next year.

Coach Stephen Kearney was unsure whether the matter will be resolved before the end of the regular season.

"It's something we can't do a great deal about because that's where we are in terms of the cap so we just have to let it play out," he said.

"If it happens, it happens so we've just got to let it unfold. It is where it is."