League: Options running out for undecided Mundine

Anthony Mundine

It seems nobody knows boxer Anthony Mundine's rugby league comeback plans -- not even The Man himself.

Mundine's manager Khoder Nasser has poured water over his charge's latest claim that he would only return to the NRL this year.

Mundine first indicated he wanted to juggle an NRL career with boxing after his WBA super middleweight world title bout with Denmark's Mikkel Kessler.

But confusion surrounded his rugby league future after the fight was postponed for "four to eight weeks" by a back injury to Kessler.

The uncertainty didn't change with Nasser admitting Mundine was "under pressure" and could change his mind about returning to the NRL only in 2005.

Nasser said Mundine made the latest comments under the strain of his father Tony's calls for him to stick with boxing.

"I wouldn't read too much into that comment," Nasser said.

"He's said a lot of things. There's a lot of pressure at the moment, if you saw the report on television the other night with (Mundine's father) Tony going off.

"There's a lot of pressure on him from the boxing side and the way his Dad's viewing things."

Mundine senior said he would talk to his son after the postponed bout with Kessler, "to see if he wants to go my way or his way".

But some NRL clubs have baulked over Mundine's indecision, with Canberra and North Queensland today saying the former St George Illawarra pivot didn't fit into their 2005 plans.

New Zealand Warriors appeared to have the inside running after Mundine was invited by the club's owners Cullen Sports to attend Kiwi friend Shane Cameron's IBF Australasian heavyweight title fight tonight in Auckland.

But club spokesman Richard Becht said there was still a question mark over whether they would pursue Mundine, despite the club's close links to boxing.

"Who knows really. We are not second guessing anything," Becht said.

"We are not entering any further discussions with the rugby league aspect on Mundine's future.

"We are not talking about it in any shape or form. We are just leaving it where it is for the moment."

Becht said the club had expressed its interest but no formal talks had been organised with Mundine this weekend.

"I imagine he may end up at the game but there is no knowing, certainly nothing else is set," he said.

Nasser, who will be with Mundine and his father in New Zealand, said his first priority was organising a new date for the Kessler bout, which was postponed from the original date of May 11 after the Dane suffered a back injury.

"At the moment there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing," Nasser said.

"They're getting a physio's report, they've got a doctors report already.

"I'm just dying to get an answer to be honest.

"They're telling me that they'll definitely have one by the end of the week.

"My mind's focus has always been the fight.

"When I prioritise things I like to think that should come first."

The Dragons, and Sydney Roosters are also said to be interested in Mundine.

- AAP