League: Asotasi targeted by rich Rabbitohs

Roy Asotasi looks set to join the South Sydney revolution, with the Kiwis prop expected to sign a lucrative deal with the Rabbitohs this week.

Souths have been spending up large of late following the purchase of the club by Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court.

The NRL foundation club has already recruited Nigel Vagana, David Kidwell and Dean Widders.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph yesterday reported that Asotasi was poised to sign a staggering A$2.2 million ($2.7 million) five-year deal. That amount would make him one of the highest paid forwards in rugby league.

The Bulldogs admitted they couldn't afford to hang on to the 24-year-old, although the Wests Tigers and the Roosters are also understood to be circling.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens told the paper that: "We've got money to spend and we're looking for a marquee forward."

Crowe and Holmes a Court want to re-establish Souths as one of the NRL's top clubs.

Souths remain the most successful club with 20 premierships since the competition started in 1908 - but the most recent was in 1971.

Life has been more difficult of late and the Rabbitohs are well behind the rest of the NRL field, with just one win before this weekend's games.

Fellow Kiwi Jake Webster became the 17th player to join the Gold Coast Titans, when he signed a three-year deal to join the new NRL outfit.

* The Warriors have not heard from Leeds about a possible request to release Clinton Toopi early from his existing contract.

Toopi recently signed with the UK Super League club and there was some speculation in England that Leeds were hoping to secure the 26-year-old, who has had little recent game time, for the rest of their season.

"I've had no contact with Leeds and no request from his agent," said Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said.

"If they did, it would be purely a football decision because we still have a lot of the season to go."