"They came in late with an offer and I was very grateful for that and appreciated that they thought enough of me to make an offer," he said. "It was appealing with the sort of roster they're building.
"I caught up with [managing director] Jim [Doyle]. I had to start to explore those sorts of options and you can see a lot in what the Warriors are doing. They're going in the right direction and it was something I definitely considered being a part of. Unfortunately, we were spotted but it was awesome to go and look around at what they're doing and there's definitely a bright future for the Warriors.
"But you think about your contract in holistic terms and getting to the end of my career. I'd love to be a one-club player, and I think I've given myself an opportunity to do that now. I've agreed to terms and will hopefully sign a contract in the next few days."
The 2010 premiership winner has been in terrific form this season and has no intention of winding things down once his new deal expires.
Eighteen months under coach Paul McGregor has revitalised the joint-venture club after a disappointing 11th-place finish in 2014 and, despite consecutive defeats to the Bulldogs and Roosters, Nightingale says it's top eight or bust for the Dragons - they are presently third.
"We can't be looking too far ahead when you're on the back of two straight losses," he said. "But there is definitely an improved feel around the place and a work ethic and a real desire to be successful so I'm sure we can get our season back on track.
"We'll push towards the finals and anything less than that would be an underachievement."
That expectation of success is also prominent within the Kiwis' set-up nowadays, and Nightingale says New Zealand league will continue reaping the benefits of their recent triumphs after many years of hard work.
"It's been great. To have three consecutive wins over Australia is something we haven't done in a long time and that culture has been building ever since that 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations.
"To be able to assert a bit of dominance in that area is something I've been privileged to be a part of and that dominance can be carried through if the right things are done.
"There's a lot of great young players coming through the New Zealand ranks and, if they aren't swayed by the temptations of Origin, that will be really good for our nation."
