League: Warriors deny reports of club's sale

Warriors chairman and minority shareholder Jim Doyle has denied reports that a deal has been finalised to sell the club to a US-Tongan consortium headed by CEO and Hawaiian politician Richard Fale.

A Fairfax report today declared the NRL franchise has been sold with Fale's group beating out the Auckland Rugby League's rival bid to buy the Warriors from current owner Eric Watson.

Fale's group have been engaged in talks to buy the club for weeks with Watson reportedly seeking $24 million for the club he first purchased back in 2000.

The ARL last week submitted their own proposal to Watson's representatives and are understood to have made a cash offer for $20 million, but were still working through details around their sale and purchase agreement.

Doyle – who has a 10 per cent stake in the club – denied the sale had been finalised and it is understood both prospective buyers remain in discussions with Watson's representatives.

Richard Fale says club owners can't be pushovers. Photo / Greg Bowker

"The potential sale of the club remains private and confidential but no deal has been finalised at this point," Doyle said.

Calls to Fale, who is in the US, have so far gone unanswered, while ARL chairman Cameron McGregor was surprised by the reported sale and doubts that a deal had been finalised with Fale's group.

While the ARL's offer is smaller than what Fale's consortium is prepared to pay, it's understood the straight-forward nature of their bid has kept them in the race.

"That's news to me," McGregor said.

"No (I don't believe it). I would be surprised if it is done for a number of reasons.

"We always thought they would keep in touch with us and if that was going to happen we would know about it.

"I would be surprised if a deal is done and I don't think they are any further ahead than where we are at with them."