NRL: Clubs baulk at fat fee for Eastwood

Greg Eastwood playing for the Kiwis. Photo / APN

NRL clubs, including the Warriors, are baulking at forking out a £100,000 ($216,000) fee for Greg Eastwood.

The unsettled Kiwis international forward has been transfer-listed by Leeds Rhinos after requesting a release from the final two years of his contract so he can return to the NRL.

Eastwood's former club the Bulldogs are favourites to secure his signature, but chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out paying a hefty fee.

Such payments are rare in the free agency era, although South Sydney are believed to have parted with a significant sum to prise Sam Burgess from struggling Bradford a year early.

Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell didn't entirely rule out making a play for Eastwood but said the fee would be prohibitive. "Who's got that money, let's be honest," Bell said.

A surplus of back-rowers would also make Eastwood a less attractive proposition for the Warriors, who are still chasing a centre and prop for next season.

"He's the type of player who can turn games so we'd definitely have some interest but it is yet to be decided if we'd go for him," Bell said.

Meanwhile, Bell confirmed the club had informed Manly centre Steve Matai it needed an answer on its contract offer sooner rather than later.

Matai, who has an offer to stay at Manly and is also being chased by the Sharks, is believed to be reluctant to move to Auckland as his partner is expecting a baby in September.

"Steve is our priority at the moment given what is on the market. But when a player is at a good club it is always hard to get them away from places like that. We should know in a few days."