NRL: I'd prefer to stay with Warriors - Fien

Nathan Fien would like to stay in Auckland but he has his family's future to think about. Photo / Getty Images

Nathan Fien's deadline for deciding his future and that of the Warriors in determining their halves combination for this year do not coincide.

There is the distinct possibility the club will lose his services.

Fien is off-contract at the end of this season and has a three-year offer on the table from Super League club Huddersfield, while the Warriors are waiting until May to see how their new buys go before deciding whether to offer him a contract extension.

"We're going through the details of it now. If we're happy with the Huddersfield deal, it will be signed before then [May] and the Warriors know that."

He has also been approached lately by another NRL club, so the financial future for Fien, wife Belinda and their three young children is secure.

Fien would like to stay in Auckland. "We love it here. I've always made it plain I want to stay but that's the nature of the game," he said. "I've been negotiating with Huddersfield for a long time so I want to do what's right by them, too."

Aged 29 and in his ninth year in the NRL, Fien reached peak form last season when given a chance to revert from hooker, where he played most of his games for the Auckland club, to halfback where he started his career.

"I've always preferred the halves but I'll play anywhere they want me to."

He's a team man. There is no animosity towards Stacey Jones who is now coming off the bench, pushing Fien from half to hooker to relieve Ian Henderson in the dummy-half role. "It's not about me or Stacey Jones, it's about what is best for the team. If I'm asked to do another role I'll do it as best I can."

The hooking job is a lot more physical, with more focus on defence. But then the big boppers from all teams love to run at halfbacks too. Last week against Manly Fien made 24 tackles, Jones 17.

Fien doesn't change much in his game when he makes the shift.

"There's not as much organising or kicking, which I think are strong parts of my game, but you just get on with it. I guess the versatility helps my game."

He can't put a finger on exactly what drew out his best last year, a season in which he secured the Warriors' halfback spot then went on to guide the Kiwis around the park in the World Cup.

He has had no serious injury through his career and so has returned a consistency in performance, and that's the aim again.

"This year is big for us," Fien said. "With what we did at the World Cup and now the good start for the Warriors - we had people to meet us at the airport after we beat Manly and on Wednesday when we were doing autographs at SkyCity the line just went on and on.

"Rugby league here is going from strength to strength. For us, it's about keeping it in perspective. It's a long season, there will be injuries and suspensions that affect teams."

The big difference at the club this year is the competition for spots, Fien says. "The young guys that are coming in are really stepping up. The pressure is good, it means everyone has to keep trying to improve."

His body is in perfect condition, he says, and he'll keep playing rugby league while he can earn a good living for the family - three seasons on offer in the north of England.

Then he'd like to get into media work, where his use of the phrase "we'd like to get over there and cause a major boil-up" in relation to last year's World Cup is oft-repeated before his weekly appearance on Radio Sport, as proof he's a Kiwi.

If there's one thing Fien doesn't like to be reminded of, it's the 2006 Tri-Nations where the NZRL registered him because of New Zealand ancestry and he was subsequently banned because that turned out to be a grandmother rather than his mother.

He still harbours a strong desire to extend his international career in black and white, whatever the outcome of his club negotiations.

He has a real estate licence and he's had some experience with building development. He'd like to get into coaching. "I could see myself doing any of those things."

Whatever he does, he's likely to be doing it in New Zealand, such is his love for his adopted country.

As always, Fien winds up the interview with his catch-cry. "Too easy."

* Born: 1/8/79 Mt Isa, Queensland
Educated: Charters Towers
Height and weight: 172cm, 86kg
Position: Halfback/five-eighth/hooker
NRL debut: For the North Queensland Cowboys R1 2000, 91 games for 12 tries, 2 field goals
Warriors: 2005-2009, 98 games, 15 tries
State of Origin: 1 game for Queensland 2001
Tests: 8 for the Kiwis 2006-2008