NRL: Significant signing to replace Brown?

NZ Warriors player Lewis Brown. Photo / Brett Phibbs

With the NRL merry-go-round in full swing Lewis Brown won't be the last high-profile coming or going at the Warriors this season.

The Herald understands the club is in pursuit of a major signing from outside the club, while moves are also under way to retain veteran hands Jerome Ropati and Micheal Luck.

With Kiwis halfback/hooker Thomas Leuluai set to join from Wigan and the club extending the contract of captain Simon Mannering until the end of 2015 - and also agreeing extensions with boom centre Konrad Hurrell (2013) and highly-rated Junior Warriors captain John Palavi (2014) - much of next year's squad is in place. However, there are still three or four spots up for grabs for 2013. Most will be filled by promising juniors, but at least one has been reserved for a major signing.

While they declined to discuss specifics, chief executive Wayne Scurrah and recruitment manager Dean Bell indicated a significant signing may be close.

"Not all of our recruitment issues are going to be solved from within," Bell said. "We've got an obligation to bring the best players into the club to make us better each year."

Scurrah indicated the club's preference would be to retain both Luck and Ropati.

"We have been in pretty regular discussion with both players," Scurrah said. "They are certainly both very much in our minds in terms of the future, but clearly you've got to get the right deal done.

"Now that Jerome is back playing and he has settled into the new coach and the new coach has settled into him he is obviously someone we'll be talking to, and talking to his agent in the coming weeks."

Negotiations with Luck will likely be put on hold until he proves his fitness. The 29-year-old, 220-game veteran is yet to play this season after suffering complications from off-season wrist surgery. He also underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season.

The Warriors yesterday confirmed Brown will leave the club next year to link with former coach Ivan Cleary at Penrith.

After failing to come to terms with the Warriors on a contract extension, Brown inked a three-year deal with the Panthers. The Herald understands Brown was swayed by the three-year offer from Penrith and the likelihood he will start in his favoured back row position, while the Warriors were only prepared to offer a two-year deal and couldn't guarantee Brown a regular place in the starting side.

"The fact that we offered Lewy a good package to stay indicated what we thought of him," Bell said. "He has been a great guy from day one and a very valuable member of the squad. But he made a career decision and that is not something we can control."

Scurrah declined to comment on the specifics on the negotiations with Brown, however he did indicate the Warriors had simply been outbid for the six-test Kiwi's services.

"We get to a point now where we are comfortable saying no and we got to a point where we said we couldn't do any more."

Brown joins Roosters-bound five-eighths James Maloney in confirming he will play elsewhere next season.

"It will be tough leaving," Brown said. "The Warriors gave me my break to play in the NRL and also the chance to represent the Kiwis. I love the club but I had to look after my career and I thought the best option for my future was to accept the contract at Penrith."

Brown made his debut against St George Illawarra in Wollongong in 2009 and has played 64 matches for the club, scoring 15 tries as a back rower, centre and hooker.

He joins a slew of high-profile stars to announce in recent weeks they are switching clubs next season. Giant South Sydney forward Dave Taylor has signed for the financially troubled Titans, while Storm halfback Cooper Cronk has also been linked to the Gold Coast club and is expected to confirm his plans today. Others to announce moves for 2013 include Dragons forward Beau Scott (Dragons to Knights), Gerard Beale (Broncos to Dragons) and Tigers forward Gareth Ellis, who is returning to England to play for Hull.