KEY POINTS:
Standoff Michael Witt claims he has been left out in the cold by the Warriors and it has cost him a contract elsewhere.
Witt has been told he is surplus to requirements in the National Rugby League (NRL) first grade squad and will start the season playing for the Auckland Vulcans.
He says he was told last year he could negotiate with other clubs, but when a new offer surfaced from Hull in England the Warriors decided they wanted to keep him.
Witt says the Warriors felt he would have a chance at the club this year, but when things changed it was too late to go elsewhere.
To make matters worse, Witt has been named to play at fullback, rather than in the halves, for the Vulcans.
Warriors director of football John Hart has refuted Witt's claims that the standoff is on the outer with the NRL club.
He says no one said Witt will never play first grade for the Warriors. Hart says Witt has been told he is not first choice and if he wants to leave they will consider it.
Hart says they never knew anything about an apparent contract offer from Hull for Witt.
- NEWSTALK ZB
