Warriors deny they're chasing Foran

Manly five eighth Kieran Foran is set to pull out of his contract with the Parramatta Eels. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have ruled themselves out as a potential suitor for Kiwis five-eighth Kieran Foran should his contract with the Parramatta Eels fall through.

Foran could be forced to turn his back on his four-year $4.8 million contract to join the Eels after the club attempted to alter the terms of the deal.

The issue stems from the Eels seeking to eliminate a get-out clause that allows the 24-year-old playmaker to claim $1 million in damages if he walks away from the embattled club.

Parramatta are working frantically to resolve the problem and hope to retain Foran's services while a host of rival clubs watch on with interest.

The Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans and Foran's current club, the Manly Sea Eagles, would all be keen on adding Foran to their roster, while Warriors managing director Jim Doyle says the Penrose-based club will not be actively pursuing the 20-test veteran.

"Obviously we'll wait and see how things pan out. I think Parramatta will end up sorting something out and we're not in the running," Doyle said.

"We couldn't fit him under the cap, for what he'd be looking for, I'm sure and there wouldn't be too many clubs that could.

"Any deal that he had to do would have to be really back-end loaded and you don't want to put yourself in that position either."

Doyle explained the purchase of South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke has left the Warriors short on the money required to lure Foran across the Tasman, and doubted they could come up with a competitive offer.

"We're still looking at realigning our roster and letting a couple of players but it's not going to free up anywhere near the amount of money to bring in someone of that level," he said.

"We had one marquee player in us, but obviously Roger comes as a ready replacement for Sam [Tomkins], whereas Issac [was the marquee signing].

"We think we've got the right mix with those two coming in so we're not really in position for Kieran."

Meanwhile, the Warriors still expect current five-eighth Chad Townsend to exit the club at the end of the season to return to his former club Cronulla, but are still waiting on instructions to formalise his release.

"We're still working with him and his management," Doyle explained. "We'd like him to stay here but for personal reasons he wants to get back to Sydney and we believe that will still happen. It's in the player's manager's hands."