Warriors' Lolohea weighing up rival NRL offers

Tuimoala Lolohea. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Tui Lolohea's future - or otherwise - at the Warriors should be decided within the next week.

It's understood that the Warriors' utility has received at least three offers from Australian clubs, all of who want him to cross the Tasman this year.

Lolohea is contracted until the end of the 2018 season to the Auckland club, but has been given permission to talk to other franchises.

As first reported by the Herald, Lolohea met with West Tigers coach Ivan Cleary last week, while in Sydney with the Tongan team.

The Tigers would hold some appeal, as Lolohea has family in Sydney and a familiar teammate in Ben Matulino from next season.

The North Queensland Cowboys and the Canberra Raiders are believed to be the other clubs in the mix, though other teams have also flagged some interest.

Once Lolohea has decided which offer he wants to take up, the next move belongs to the Warriors.

They have to decide if they are willing to grant him an early release, allowing Lolohea to join another club before the June 30 deadline.

The 22-year-old hasn't played first grade since the end of March (against the Dragons) and has clearly fallen down the pecking order at Mt Smart, evidenced by the selection of rookie Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the wing for the win over the Roosters.

Lolohea is behind David Fusitua, Blake Ayshford, Manu Vatuvei. Nicoll-Klokstad and Ken Maumalo for positions on the flank, while Ata Hingano and Mason Lino are seen as the preferred halves option should Kieran Foran or Shaun Johnson be unavailable.

It's for that reason that Lolohea decided last week that his future lay elsewhere. It wasn't an easy decision, but it felt like it was his only option.

But the Warriors will want to make sure they are covered, should something happen to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck or injuries happen among the outside backs, and won't make a decision that will leave them shallow in key positions.

However, the most likely scenario is that Lolohea will leave Mt Smart, and probably sooner rather than later.

"He's been given permission to look around," said Warriors head of recruitment Tony Iro. "We are waiting to hear back from his agent about what he wants to do and then we will discuss things from there. There are a few things to weigh up."