League: Wanted man Webb left in limbo

Brent webb's Warriors future is in doubt with the club seemingly unwilling to stump up the cash needed to hang on to the Kiwis fullback.

The 25-year-old is off contract at the end of the year and, while the Warriors have had informal discussions with the player and his agent, he has not been offered a new deal. A host of NRL and Super League clubs, as well as two Super 14 franchises, have all expressed interest in Webb, which has served to push his price up.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said they were not prepared to break the bank for any player.

"One thing we are not going to be doing, because we have made huge errors in the past, is pay unreasonably over for a player so that it affects the overall balance of the squad," Scurrah said. "We don't feel we have a balanced squad throughout critical positions. We get not too far down the list of 25 and find a huge gap of inexperienced players, and that comes down to money already spent on a top-heavy basis. The priority for next year is to get more balance in the squad."

Sources in Sydney have said Eels fullback Wade McKinnon is on top of the Warriors' hitlist if a deal for Webb can't be reached. It's understood the 25-year-old McKinnon, who has played more than 60 NRL games, would be offered a three-year deal.

"We are aware he's [McKinnon] coming off contract but there are probably three or four other NRL fullbacks coming off contract," Scurrah said. "We are looking at all fullback options and options in other positions."

The club have obtained a list from the NRL of all players coming off contract at the end of the season and are not ruling out bringing in two or three Australian-based players to plug the gaps. Although they can't negotiate deals with players before the June 30 anti-tampering deadline, they can express interest to a player's agent.

As well as McKinnon, Melbourne's Steve Turner and the Dragons' Clint Greenshields head a list of affordable fullbacks coming on to the market. Below that, Scurrah said they were also looking at a second-tier fullback who is not necessarily the No 1 at his club.

Webb's agent, Jim Banaghan, is bemused the Warriors had not yet tabled an offer but said he had received interest from five Super League clubs, two Super 14 franchises and a swagger of NRL clubs, which he'd look into after the June 30 anti-tampering deadline.

"I'm heading to the UK for the next couple of weeks and will speak with a number of clubs over there because the Warriors have shown no interest whatsoever in keeping him," Banaghan said. "In fact, the Warriors seems like the only club not interested in him.

"Brent is disappointed they haven't made him an offer but that's their right. If they're going to take a commercial stance, he's going to do the same and look elsewhere for his future. But he's still making himself available if they want to talk because he'd like to stay."

Webb isn't the only Warrior coming off contract. An announcement on Clinton Toopi's future is expected this week, with Leeds the most likely destination, while Awen Guttenbeil has been given permission to approach other clubs. The future of Epalahame Lauaki is also uncertain.