The Warriors have confirmed serious interest in acquiring Manly hooker Api Koroisau as they prepare for life without NRL veteran Issac Luke.
Coach Stephen Kearney will take more than a passing interest in Koroisau’s performance when the Kiwi club host the Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday, having confirmed the 26-year-old is in his sights.
Canterbury are reportedly the other team in a two-horse race for the Fijian international, with the Warriors having reportedly dangled a $1.5-million carrot for three seasons in Auckland.
All three specialist Warriors hookers have missed significant game time this season through injury and suspension, culminating this week with lock Jazz Tevaga and rookie five-eighth Adam Keighran having to share the duties against the gun pairing of Koroisau and Manase Fainu.
“Part of us improving our player roster is making sure we’re getting the right player, whether it’s from an ability point of view, a character point of view and obviously what they can contribute to the group,” Kearney said.
“Someone who has experience like Api, of that calibre, is certainly an attraction.”
It is the emergence this season of Fainu that has prompted Manly to allow 100-game first-grader Koroisau to negotiate elsewhere, freeing up salary cap funds. Two seasons remain on his contract.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said he would be surprised if “class act” Koroisau hadn’t already engaged in negotiations.
Kearney wouldn’t completely close the door on 32-year-old Luke, but said the fate of the uncontracted Kiwis international will rest with their success in the market.
The Warriors have cash to spend but have already missed out on some reported key targets for 2020, including Broncos forwards Matt Lodge and Jake Turpin.
There are more immediate concerns for Kearney’s 12th-placed team as they seek to avoid a club-record seventh successive loss at Mt Smart.
Kearney said toppling fifth-placed Manly, who have lost just once in their last seven games, would be a test of his team’s fortitude.
It continues a daunting August schedule that began with last week’s trouncing from Canberra and has them at long odds to reach the finals.
“I think that’s the challenge for us as a footy team to finish off the year,” Kearney said.
“We’ve got to play three teams who are in the top four, one of them is just outside the four, so that’s as good a challenge as what you’re going to get.
“I know I’m super-excited about coming up against the best footy teams in the competition. That’s the way we’ll treat them.”