After already missing out on Brisbane Broncos trio Matt Lodge, Tevita Pangai Jr and Jake Turpin, the NZ Warriors have turned their eye to another player from the Queensland-based club.
According to Australian reports, the Warriors are preparing a huge offer for teenage sensation David Fiftia, who is off-contract at the end of 2020, and can begin formal talks with NRL rivals from November 1 this year.
The Parramatta Eels are another team apparently interested in Fifita.
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The Broncos are desperate to keep the 19-year-old forward, but won't be able to match any offer the Warriors or Eels throw at the Queensland State of Origin representative.
The reports say the two clubs are prepared to pay up to $1 million a season.
Having already fended off big-money Warriors offers for Lodge, Pangai and Turpin, the Broncos don't have much salary-cap room left, meaning Fifita will have to accept less, if he wants to stay or Brisbane will have release other players from their books.
The future of former NZ international Alex Glenn at the club is up in the air, with the Titans linked to the 12-test Kiwi.
Last month, News Corp journalist Brent Read told Australian radio station Triple M that the Warriors were trying to force Brisbane's hand.
"They've made the Broncos probably up the ante with those guys, make them pay more than they maybe would have paid for them," he said. "I'm wondering if they're plotting long term, maybe going after someone else at the Broncos.
"They are thinking, if we keep pushing up the price on these other guys, it might actually free up a player down the track we can have a shot at."
Former Queensland representative Billy Moore feels the Broncos will struggle to match the Warriors, who are desperate to add size and energy to their forward pack.
"If the Warriors are prepared to pay $1 million a season, then Brisbane is in real trouble," he told the Daily Telegraph. "They simply couldn't compete with an offer like that and Fifita would have to go.
"Fifita is a future international. I see him being a 10-year Origin player, and I hope it's at the Broncos and not elsewhere, because Brisbane have put in the hard yards."
In the last month, the Warriors have also reportedly offered big money deals to Manly Sea Eagles hooker Apisai Koroisau and Melbourne Storm forward Tino Faasuamaleaui - both deals are understood to be worth $1.5m over three years.
The Storm have made re-signing Fa'asuamaleaui a priority.
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