NRL: Heart at Mt Smart but future uncertain

Manu Vatuvei says he would re-sign with the Warriors for less money than he could get elsewhere because he's happy at the club. Whether that's enough to keep him at Mt Smart Stadium is uncertain.

Vatuvei isn't off contract until the end of next season but the Warriors opened negotiations on a new deal at the start of this season. They hoped to ward off interest from rival clubs and codes like rugby union.

These talks have dragged on and, while there's a hope they will be concluded soon, it's not clear if Vatuvei will stay at Mt Smart Stadium. The 24-year-old is in demand and was even linked with a move to American football.

He was non-committal this week: "My heart is here [with the Warriors] but I have to think of what's good for my family."

It seems over the past few months he has realised his full value. He is one of the world's most devastating rugby league players, let alone wingers, and has fashioned an incredible record that has seen him score 72 tries in just 108 NRL matches since his debut in 2004. What is even more staggering is the fact he has scored 43 of those in the last 50 games.

It's safe to assume the Warriors will be trying to tempt him to stay with a salary in excess of $400,000 on top of third-party agreements. Not bad for a boy from the hood (Otara) but Vatuvei's value extends beyond what he does on a rugby league field.

He is by far the most popular Warriors player and is mobbed at public functions. He receives the biggest cheer when the team lineups are read out. Fans like him not just because of what he can do with a football but for the way he overcame his total meltdown against Parramatta in 2007. Lesser people might have curled up in that hole he found himself in and not come out.

"We are conscious of his value both on and off the field," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah says. "He's a leading player in the NRL now and features in a lot of our promotional material. He's critical to our future and we want him to stay with us."

Ruben Wiki hopes the club offer him what he's worth. The former Warriors front rower and Kiwis captain has been something of a mentor to Vatuvei since they met in 2005. They share a similar background plus a love of big hair and kava.

"Hopefully the Warriors give him the sort of money he deserves," Wiki says. "They would be mad not to do everything to keep someone of his ability and status. He is a marquee player.

"He could become the next Stacey Jones and play more than 200 games for the Warriors. He could play more than 300 games for them."

That is actually one of the biggest things Vatuvei needs to weigh up. He is becoming such an iconic figure in this country it would provide opportunities beyond his playing career if he stayed at the Warriors and became a one-club man. His brand would diminish if he played overseas and affect his earning potential after retirement. Put simply, it comes down to a question of short- or long-term gain.

Vatuvei said he would stay with the Warriors for less money than he could earn elsewhere because he loves the club.

"I will stay here for not that much because I am really happy here," he says. "I would sign for less here.

"I think I will be here [long-term]. It's just a matter of going over everything with my manager [Peter Brown]. I want to sort something out as soon as possible. As soon as I meet Peter again, I think I will decide then."

That could be in the next two or three weeks. Vatuvei could be a hit if he switched to rugby union and he could also expect to earn more than double what he does in the NRL. Big, quick and powerful wingers who score bucketloads of tries are in hot demand in any code.

"I don't know about rugby," he says. "Maybe. I don't want to go to rugby and not be happy. It would mean having to start all over again. I will have to talk with my wife and manager."

One thing in the Warriors' favour is the fact Vatuvei is close to his family and it would clearly be a wrench to move away. He is comfortable in Auckland and it reflects in his form.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has urged the club to hang on to his giant winger: "He's very valuable to us," Cleary says, "and we have made our feelings known about how much we value Manu not only on the football field but off it.

"He's not only a great player but a great character.

"I think everyone admires him for what he's been through over the years. The level he's got himself to now, it's a great story. I hope there's much more to come. I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be."