NRL: With prospective owner Paul Davys out of the picture the Warriors can resume planning for 2018

Kiwis captain and Brisbane Broncos front-rower Adam Blair is in demand. Photo / Getty Images.

With Paul Davys' bid to buy the Warriors dead and buried, the struggling NRL club can now focus their attention on working towards improving their prospects for next season.

After 10 days of drama, uncertainty and intrigue, Auckland businessman Davys yesterday confirmed his offer of $15 million had been rejected by current owner Eric Watson.

Watson is seeking $20 million for the Penrose-based franchise he has owned in part since 2000 and is still in talks with several other parties keen on buying.

But with a sale looking unlikely - at least in the near future - the Warriors will be relieved to have some much-needed clarity as they look to make some key decisions around their recruitment for 2018.

Coach Stephen Kearney admitted the potential sale of the club has hindered their recruitment plans and slowed discussions around any changes they could implement going into next season.

"I think it has stalled the whole recruitment process," Kearney told the Herald.

We're waiting to see (about a couple of signings). Obviously (the potential sale of the club) has stalled things.

"But it's just something we've had to deal with and we move forward now."

The Warriors have been nervously waiting on a decision from Kiwis captain Adam Blair, after tabling a reported $NZ2.6 million four-year offer for the Brisbane Broncos front-rower.

Two weeks ago the club was confident Blair would sign on the dotted line, but uncertainty over the Warriors ownership and ensuing speculation over Kearney's future gave the former Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers enforcer pause for thought.

The delay gave both Newcastle and St George Illawarra a leg-up in their attempts to woo Blair, with the Warriors dropping behind in the race to sign the 31-year-old, who is still weighing up his options.

Should they miss out on Blair, the Warriors are prepared to re-sign 250-game veteran front-rower Jacob Lillyman, but Kearney was unsure if his services would be required.

"I can't give you a definite answer on that," he said. "We have to see how things fall in probably the next week or so.

"What I do know is that Jacob has been a wonderful contributor to the footy club and he's a well-liked team member.

"So in my mind and what I see, is we're looking to make sure that we fill up our roster (with players) that we think will help us moving forward.

"Again it's a matter of how it all plays out over the next week or so."

The Warriors have also been keeping an eye on the Canterbury Bulldogs, who are looking to shed some players to ensure they get under next year's proposed salary cap of $9.4 million.

Canterbury captain James Graham's agent David Riolo made contact with the Warriors last week, after Bulldogs management granted the front-rower permission to talk to rival clubs.

Formal discussions have not begun however, due in part to the cloud of uncertainty hanging over Mt Smart that caused Blair to hold off and consider his options.

In both cases, with Davys now out of the picture, the Warriors can press on and hope to regain some lost ground.