NRL: Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei expected to be available for Broncos clash

Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei is expected to be available for NRL selection following this week's bye round. Photo/Getty.

Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei is expected to be available to make his long awaited playing return in next week's NRL match against the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium.

Warriors managing director Jim Doyle denied reports Vatuvei, who is contracted through until the end of 2018, has been shopped around to English Super League clubs and Japanese rugby sides and expects he will be available for NRL selection following this week's bye round.

"No, we are not shopping him around," said Doyle.

"His recovery is on the right track." He had a personal family issue that set him back but he was heading in the right direction.

"I would think he would be good to play and available for selection following the bye."

Vatuvei has not played for three weeks after he was dropped to reserve grade and stood down from Kiwis test selection for his involvement in the prescription pills and energy drinks scandal following the Warriors embarrassing 42-0 Anzac Day defeat to Melbourne Storm.

The 30-year-old 11-year NRL veteran served his penance in the second-tier Intrust Super Premiership match against the Canterbury Bulldogs on May 1, but the following day was granted a week's medical leave to deal with personal issues after reacting angrily to criticism via social media.

He returned to Warriors training on May 9 but was not available for selection for the round 10 defeat to Penrith in Christchurch as he continued to work through his recovery.

Coach Andrew McFadden last week said Vatuvei was close to making a playing comeback but ongoing personal issues including a family bereavement ruled him out of contention for Saturday's 38-12 thrashing against Canberra.

Vatuvei's manager Peter Brown also denied his client was looking to leave the Warriors and insisted reports to the contrary were false.

"I can categorically deny that we are shopping him around," said Brown.

"He's had a difficult few weeks and has just been dealing with that stuff and trying to get himself right to play."

When asked if he expected Vatuvei to play for the Warriors again, Brown said: "Of course. One hundred per cent."