League: Fullback caught in pay web

Brent Webb wants to stay with the Warriors, but money could be a sticking point. Picture / Greg Bowker

Off-field goings-on may distract the Warriors against the Brisbane Broncos tomorrow.

With the speculation surrounding Clinton Toopi now cleared away after he signed with Leeds, focus now turns to fullback Brent Webb and whether he will depart for better money.

The Warriors have not made Webb any offer and are still struggling with the balance of their squad.

The heavyweight deals by previous management to sign Steve Price and Ruben Wiki imposes a filter-down effect on every other contract for players in the top 26.

Webb has been one of the Warriors' better players this season and is consistently good and so probably deserves an upgrade but it appears the club cannot afford to pay it.

His manager Jim Banaghan is in England and there is no doubt he will return with offers the Warriors cannot match.

Coach Ivan Cleary has a big hand in shaping the Warriors for 2007 and beyond and has secured some players long-term, putting his faith in former Roosters halfback Grant Rovelli among others.

Tony Martin recently signed on again and shapes as a fullback option if Webb does go. The only other signed player who lists that as his position is rookie Patrick Ah Van, who will play at one this weekend for the Auckland Lions in Bartercard Cup.

A half or five-eighth able to take control of games is what the Warriors lack most. Wiki and Price have delivered the leadership and consistent ground gain they were bought for, but attacking invention on the back of that remains sporadic.

Cleary admitted this week that he had changed his views on the timing of the June 3 anti-tampering deadline. Previously he saw it as being in players' interests - now he wondered how much it affected teams. "Seeing what I've seen over the last few years, I think it would be far better if it got pushed back and everyone concentrated on what they're doing at the moment and dealt with that later."

He said he "would love" Webb to stay but it was a case of working out what was best for the club. "We're considering our options," he said. "It's a tough period for players, for management. I guess it's a bit of a jig-saw. We're trying to fit it all together."

Tomorrow they have to control the ball well to limit the opportunities for the Broncos' stars, who always play well after State of Origin.

The decision to retain Wairangi Koopu in the centres after he shifted there against the Sharks last weekend when Todd Byrne went off injured was made in the interests of causing least disruption to the team, Cleary said. "I don't see him having any problem handling it."

Koopu said he expected to be into the forwards as soon as Toopi came off the interchange bench.

"I'm a quick forward but not a quick back," he said, noting that he wasn't getting any faster.

The Broncos played a fast-paced game but it was one the Warriors liked to defend against, he said. On attack, he had focused on getting used to having a second-rower inside him and adjusting his running lines accordingly.

The Warriors would have the poor performance against the Sharks on their minds tomorrow, he said.


NZ Warriors v Broncos
Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm tomorrow

NZ Warriors
Brent Webb
Patrick Ah Van
Tony Martin
Simon Mannering
Misi Taulapapa
Jerome Ropati
Grant Rovelli
Ruben Wiki
Nathan Fien
Steve Price (c)
Awen Guttenbeil
Wairangi Koopu
Sione Faumuina
Interchange: George Gatis, Evarn Tuimavave, Louis Anderson.

Brisbane Broncos
Karmichael Hunt
Tame Tupou
Shaun Berrigan
Brent Tate
Darius Boyd
Darren Lockyer (c)
Shane Perry
Brad Thorn
Ian Lacey
P Civoniceva
David Stagg
Corey Parker
Tonie Carroll
Interchange: Ben Hannant, Sam Thaiday, Ian Lacey, Greg Eastwood, Brett Seymour 18th man.

* Souths have told centre Adam MacDougall he will not be signed on again and are chasing Kiwi Nigel Vagana as a five-eighth.

* Former Bronco and Kangaroo Brad Meyers has signed for two years with expansion club the Gold Coast Titans.

* Former Kiwi Matt Rua has left the Waitakere Rangers for the Central Queensland Comets.

* Former Warrior Jeremiah Pai has returned from Parramatta to the North Harbour Bartercard Cup side and will play against the Northern Storm on Monday night.