Manly Sea Eagles have ended their pursuit of returning NZ Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, after seeking a replacement for injured fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Tuivasa-Sheck, 30, is currently stuck in limbo in the 15-man code, after missing out on the All Blacks' 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship.
The 2018 Dally M medal winner will return to the NRL with the Warriors in 2024, signing a three-year deal with the Kiwi club.
However, missing All Blacks selection will likely see Tuivasa-Sheck finish his time in rugby union playing for Auckland in the NPC, unless an injury crisis leads to a return for this year's World Cup in France.
As Trbojevic faces the rest of 2023 on the sidelines after a pectoral injury suffered in State of Origin last week, Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold put Tuivasa-Sheck's name forwards as a potential replacement signing.
Under NRL regulations, a club can apply for salary-cap exemption, should a player in its top 30 contracted spots be ruled out for the season for at least 12 weeks playing representative football.
Clubs can claim up to $350,000 as salary cap relief to sign another player.
However, speaking after Manly's 24-6 defeat to Melbourne Storm, Seibold ruled out Tuivasa-Sheck making an early return to the NRL, saying "he's not available" when quizzed on the potential signing.
Instead, Seibold backed Reuben Garrick to fill the No.1 jersey for the rest of Manly's season.
Tuivasa-Sheck has also been linked to a return to Sydney Roosters by Australian media, the club with whom he made his NRL debut for in 2012, winning the premiership in 2013.
