The Warriors are still clear favourites to sign Kiwi playmaker Kieran Foran, despite late interest from the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Channel Seven Australia's rugby league reporter, Josh Massoud, believes the Bulldogs' interest is a panic move as a result of their limp elimination form NRL contention last weekend, and despite Foran's close relationship with Bulldogs coach Des Hasler, the Warriors will win the race for his signature.
"I'd still have the Warriors definitely on the top line of betting, and quite clear favourites for Kieran Foran return to Rugby league in 2017," Massoud told Brendon Telfar on RadioLIVE"There has been some 11th-hour interest form the Canterbury Bulldogs, which is quite perplexing, given that a month or two ago the mail from Canterbury was that they didn't want to go anywhere near him."
Massoud said Foran's biggest challenge in getting back on the field will be convincing the NRL he has recovered from personal issues that saw him walk out of the Parramatta Eels earlier this year.
"Will the NRL give him [Foran] the nod and the green light to come back into the game given the personal dramas that have besieged his life this season?"
Foran's name has come up regarding speculation of match-fixing centred around Sydney-based gambling figure Eddie Hayson, who is a close confidante of the one- time Kiwi captain.
Massoud believes Foran will need to prove his relationship with Hayson won't bring his next club, or the NRL, into disrepute.
"The NRL are going to want to be satisfied that he is not associating with figures who have the ability to corrupt the game and its image, and that is I think more Kieran Foran's issue when he does sit down with the NRL to become a registered player."
However, at this stage, Massoud said, all of this is speculation and Foran hasn't been mentioned by name in police investigations into NRL match-fixing, and the league can't penalise him for a crime he may have nothing to do with.
"The big one though is innocent until proven guilty, and he hasn't been charged with anything, and the police haven't even mentioned his name in an official capacity. So to suggest at this stage if a contract was put before the NRL tomorrow that he shouldn't be registered is a little bit rich."
The Warriors told Newshub earlier in the week that although discussions with Foran are ongoing, no contract has been formally presented to the player or his management team.
Newshub.
