Changes to the Warriors' playing group and off-field staff are expected once the club completes their end-of-season review process.
Players and staff from the football and operational departments are included in the annual review as the Warriors search to uncover the reasons behind their failed 2014 campaign.
Warriors general manager of football Dean Bell insists back-rower Feleti Mateo and centre Dane Nielsen remain part of the club's plans for 2015 but would not rule out the possibility that either or both players could be let go.
"They're under contract to us and at the moment nothing has changed. If something comes up we'd have a look at it but at the moment they're under contract," he said.
When asked if the club would be willing to allow the pair to explore offers from other clubs, Bell said any decision would involve the input of coach Andrew McFadden. "That's a conversation that I'd have to have with the head coach, and me and Cappy [McFadden] would have to decide what the best course of action was.
But again it's very hard to pre-empt what's going to happen."
Bolstering the squad with quality personnel remains a priority with numerous positions throughout the backline and forward pack warranting close attention.
Bell conceded the acquisition of an experienced midfielder like Manly centre Steve Matai could not be discounted, if he were to be granted a release from the Sea Eagles. Matai has repeatedly sought a release from the final year [2015] of his Manly contract and, although unsuccessful, recently knocked back a two-year extension offer for 2016-17 and declared his playing future remains up in the air.
"It's something we would look at. If he did [come on the market], it's a thought, but he's under contract and there's not much we can do about it," Bell said.
"As far as we're concerned we've been told that's the end of it and we've left it at that. But if he did, that would be a different matter I suppose. We'd have to explore that if it happened."
After blowing a golden opportunity to claim a top four spot and then missing the final eight altogether for a third straight year, changes are predicted to come in the wake of the review's findings.
"The players are in Wednesday right through until Friday going through a review process. That's with the coaching staff, our strength and conditioning staff, and our operational staff. We've just got to find the reasons why [missing the finals], and we'll have an extensive review over the next few weeks and we're expecting changes on and off the field as part of that process."
- NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11322249
