NZ Warriors star Reece Walsh has squashed rumours of his impending exit to join expansion club Redcliffe Dolphins next season.
The Dolphins have been extremely active in signing big-name players for their inaugural campaign in 2023 and have reportedly been sniffing around the team already playing home games at their ground.
Walsh, 19, was believed to be high on the shopping list, sending shock waves through the Warriors club and fans, after the youngster's rapid progress to State of Origin selection during his rookie season.
But Walsh has told Fox Sports he has every intention of moving to Auckland, when the team returns from its COVID-19 exile across the Tasman next season.
"My manager and I haven't even discussed other options, because we've always known that is the case," he said. "When I first signed with the Warriors, it was really before COVID hit, so I thought I was going to New Zealand straight away.
"It's only because of COVID that we stayed in Australia for so long.
"Going to New Zealand is always going to be a challenge and I'm looking at it like that. It's a growth opportunity for sure."
Walsh was born on the Gold Coast to an Australian Indigenous father and Māori mother. He has represented Queensland at age-group level and was languishing down the depth chart at Brisbane Broncos, when the Warriors offered him his first chance in NRL first grade.
He was rumoured to be considering a Dolphins offer to stay close to family.
"At first, I sort of laughed about it and would ask the boys, 'Where do you think they get this information from, because it definitely isn’t coming from me or my management or my family'," he told Fox Sport. "After a while, it became too much, there were questions from my teammates.
"It's got to the point where it's worth addressing, because it's spiralling out of control. It's not fair on my teammates or the club that they think I am wanting to go elsewhere.
"It's not the case - we haven’t spoken to any other clubs, I have a contract in place, which means I am 100 percent going to New Zealand next year."
Walsh has a player option in his contract that would allow him to test the market in 2024.
Join us at 6pm Sunday for live updates of the Warriors v Cronulla Sharks NRL clash
