NRL: Inu was offered to clubs before game

Krisnan Inu scores the match-winning try. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors match-winner Krisnan Inu was secretly shopped around to rival NRL clubs at the Dally M Awards - just nine nights before producing a miracle try to put them into the grand final qualifier.

The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney has reported that Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah approached officials from rival clubs looking to offload the enigmatic A$250,000-a-season centre at rugby league's night of nights earlier this month. Inu was one of the Warriors' marquee signings last season but had previously fallen out of favour.

As the former Parramatta flyer scored his 78th-minute try to end Wests Tigers' season on Friday night, Scurrah was inside the NRL's corporate box at the SFS, celebrating the comeback win alongside Inu's agent Isaac Moses. Scurrah denied the club's recent attempts to move Inu on with two years to run on his contract.

"No, I've heard that too, but no. Krisnan is a contracted player for the next two years, his name wasn't mentioned," Scurrah said. "I was there [last Friday night] with his agent and we were all cheering him on. It was great to see him come back and I guess going right back to the Parramatta days he's always been a big-match player.

"He stepped up and it was a great selection by [coach] Ivan [Cleary] - Krisnan didn't let him down. At this stage we're pretty happy where we are. We've got a new coach and everything next year, but we're pretty happy where we are so nothing contemplated at this stage."

However, Telegraph sources were at a table of a rival club when Inu was offered to them.

Since moving to New Zealand last November, Inu has experienced a turbulent 10 months. After a couple of costly errors in a trial match against Manly in March, Cleary axed the high-profile recruit to park football for round one.

The ignominious start followed the theme of Inu's four seasons at Parramatta - flashes of brilliance one minute and then some absolute clangers the next. After scoring a double on the left wing in round 26 against the Cowboys, coach Cleary again opted to drop Inu for Manu Vatuvei.

Ironically, the Warriors centre was axed from the team on the same evening that Scurrah was shopping him around at the Dally M Awards. It was only an injury to centre Joel Moon that led to Inu's recall on Friday night.

The Warriors centre showed he can still cut it by twice slicing the Tigers open with clean line breaks. "I knew I had to prove myself towards the boys rather than anyone else," Inu said. "I knew I had the talent to do it, so I just had to show them."

Inu attempted to play down his inconsistent first season at the Warriors, where he has played 16 out of a possible 26 NRL games.

"You can't argue when the team's got a lot of great depth through the club," he said.

"I would have been happier to obviously play regularly, but I just try to do my job and when my chance comes I play well."

As for the prospect of another club looking to edge him out the door - like what happened at the Eels - Inu said he enjoyed the low-key profile of rugby league in New Zealand.

"Definitely, I'm happy," he said.

"I've been happy with my footy and I haven't been given all the hype I got [in Sydney] and it's good to be away from all of it."