Warriors prop Bunty Afoa has been told he’s free to talk to other clubs while outside back Patrick Herbert will be playing for a new contract over the remainder of the NRL season.
The 23-year-old Afoa hasn’t played this season because of torn ACL, but sources in Australia have revealed to Stuff that he’s being shopped around other NRL clubs after being told he doesn’t feature in the Warriors’ plans.
Afoa is contracted to the club for 2021, but if it’s looking like he won’t get much game time, it’s a better option for him to make the move soon, rather than spend a year in the reserves and then look for a new club.
As for Herbert, who is also 23, his contract finishes at the end of the current campaign and Stuff understands the club hasn’t yet decided on whether to offer him a new deal.
Herbert will miss Sunday’s game against the Bulldogs as he recovers rom a hamstring injury picked up in training on Tuesday.
If he is able to recover quickly, it will mean he’ll have just five games to convince the Warriors he’s worth offering a new contract to.
Herbert has been impressive the past two weeks, where he’s scored three tries, but over the season he’s made a number of handling errors and has been caught on defence at times.
Once back on the field, Herbert will need to show he can consistently play to the level he was against the Sea Eagles and Panthers and isn’t just lifting his game when playing for a new contract.
Peta Hiku has been offered a contract for next year, although for less money than his current one, so Herbert’s future could also be dependent on what Hiku does.
The Warriors have signed Euan Aitken next year from the Dragons to take one of the centre spots, but the club are no longer interested in England centre Oliver Gildart, who plays for Wigan and was part of the Great Britain team that toured New Zealand last year.
Once Aitken was signed, there was less need for the Warriors to get the 24-year-old Gildart, as the club believe Aitken can be that strike centre which interim coach Todd Payten has said the club needs.
While the Warriors liked Gildart, what complicated signing him or any player from England is the uncertainty of where the team will be based next season, whether he’d be allowed into New Zealand, because of the current border restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Warriors reached agreement with the Sharks lock Toby Rudolf a few months ago to join the club next season.
But soon after this, Rudolf decided he wanted to remain in Australia on compassionate grounds.
While there hasn’t been much progress made on where Rudolf will end up next season, the Warriors still hope to provide possible solutions which would allow the 24-year-old to join the club.
Stuff revealed on Monday that hooker Nathaniel Roache is leaving the club at the end of the season, while prop Lachlan Burr confirmed on Tuesday that he’s also moving on.
So the squad for next year is taking shape Ben Murdoch-Masila and Kane Evans will add a lot to the Warriors’ forward stocks and more signings are expected to be announced.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...-bunty-afoa-patrick-herberts-future-uncertain
