NRL: Warriors offer leaves Friend looking elsewhere

Nathan Friend.

Veteran hooker Nathan Friend is resigned to leaving the Warriors at the end of the season despite the club having offered him a one-year extension for 2016.

Friend has spoken previously about his desire to run around with the Warriors for another year but admits he will explore his options with rival clubs after the club offered him a one-year extension that would restrict him largely to an interchange role.

"I dare say it at this stage," Friend said of his likely departure. "The club have put forward an offer but at this stage I don't think I will take it up.

"For sure [playing for another club is an option]. It wasn't ideal, there were a few things."
When asked if there was any wiggle-room to re-negotiate with the Warriors following their initial offer, Friend was not optimistic, saying: "Probably not. That's all good though."

With Kiwis and South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke set to join the Warriors at the end of the season, fringe first grader Siliva Havili and versatile NYC player Nathaniel Roache - who has won a two-year contract extension - loom as the likely back-up options at this stage.

Injured hooker Thomas Leuluai will also be in the frame but Chad Townsend's confirmed departure at the end of the season to return to Sydney on compassionate grounds could see him used back in the No6 jersey.

"With the impending arrival of Issac Luke, obviously places within our squad for the hooking position is limited to more of a back-up role, and I understand Nathan's got higher ambitions," explained coach Andrew McFadden.

"So we had a discussion about what his role would be at the club if he was to stay and I understand that he's probably got bigger ambitions than that."

McFadden hinted the dummy-half support roles were yet to be confirmed and admitted more additions were likely to be made to the Warriors 2016 roster.

"At this stage Siliva is obviously still contracted to us," said McFadden.

"There is some stuff going on in the background but at this stage he is still with us for next year.

"You can probably expect some signings. I don't know about any major signings, it's more about depth and filling our squad up with the numbers we need to compete in an NRL season.

"But certainly there's a few little things we've got to tidy up. But the core of the squad along with the signings we've already made will make a significant impact for us next year."