STEVE Matai’s manager says it’s unlikely the hard-hitting Manly centre will be on the Gold Coast next year unless the Titans can stump up some serious cash.
The Titans have been in negotiations with Gavin Orr about luring the ex-Kiwi Test centre north to add some strike power to their backline.
Matai, 30, is off-contract at the end of the year and expected to leave Manly to chase a big-money deal which could be his final NRL contract.
The Sea Eagles blocked a release request from Matai last year to join the Warriors and the 202-game veteran said he was eyeing off the Gold Coast to be closer to family.
“It’d be a good option, my partner’s family’s from up there, from Byron Bay, so it’s only half an hour away,” Matai told Fairfax media outlets.
My family’s in New Zealand and hers is in Byron Bay. With the kids, it makes it easier having family around.
New Zealand’s always an option, just for family there, and Gold Coast is an option too if each is going to show interest. It’s just good to have family around, which we haven’t had for a long time. Both options I’d be open to.”
However, the Titans aren’t in the ballpark, financially, according to Orr.
“I know the Titans are pretty interested but I don’t know if they’ll be able to come up with the money,” he said.
“They’ve been talking to me for the last few weeks.
“Steve has always stayed for less at Manly. When he comes off this year he’s going to consider all options.
“There’s an opportunity to get a bit closer to family in Byron. It would have to be a good deal to pull him out of Manly. We’ll wait to see what Manly come back with.
“They’ve (Titans) shown some interest but at the moment it’s not where it needs to be for him to consider it.”
The Titans have plenty of room to move in their 2016 salary cap.
Veterans Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello and Luke Bailey departed last year while highly paid halfback Albert Kelly was released to the English Super League.
Coach Neil Henry is going about assembling a squad he is comfortable with and is expected to target some high-profile players.
Orr said that the Titans had registered an interest in the Sea Eagles’ star playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans but it was too early to say what their chances were of poaching him.
“They’ve shown some interest in him but at this stage we haven’t talked any figures,” he said.
The Titans have been in negotiations with Gavin Orr about luring the ex-Kiwi Test centre north to add some strike power to their backline.
Matai, 30, is off-contract at the end of the year and expected to leave Manly to chase a big-money deal which could be his final NRL contract.
The Sea Eagles blocked a release request from Matai last year to join the Warriors and the 202-game veteran said he was eyeing off the Gold Coast to be closer to family.
“It’d be a good option, my partner’s family’s from up there, from Byron Bay, so it’s only half an hour away,” Matai told Fairfax media outlets.
My family’s in New Zealand and hers is in Byron Bay. With the kids, it makes it easier having family around.
New Zealand’s always an option, just for family there, and Gold Coast is an option too if each is going to show interest. It’s just good to have family around, which we haven’t had for a long time. Both options I’d be open to.”
However, the Titans aren’t in the ballpark, financially, according to Orr.
“I know the Titans are pretty interested but I don’t know if they’ll be able to come up with the money,” he said.
“They’ve been talking to me for the last few weeks.
“Steve has always stayed for less at Manly. When he comes off this year he’s going to consider all options.
“There’s an opportunity to get a bit closer to family in Byron. It would have to be a good deal to pull him out of Manly. We’ll wait to see what Manly come back with.
“They’ve (Titans) shown some interest but at the moment it’s not where it needs to be for him to consider it.”
The Titans have plenty of room to move in their 2016 salary cap.
Veterans Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello and Luke Bailey departed last year while highly paid halfback Albert Kelly was released to the English Super League.
Coach Neil Henry is going about assembling a squad he is comfortable with and is expected to target some high-profile players.
Orr said that the Titans had registered an interest in the Sea Eagles’ star playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans but it was too early to say what their chances were of poaching him.
“They’ve shown some interest in him but at this stage we haven’t talked any figures,” he said.
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