Warriors start 2021 roster overhaul for incoming coach

The Warriors have begun a significant roster overhaul that will go ahead regardless of who takes over as coach, starting with veterans Blake Green and Gerard Beale being told they will not be offered new contracts.

The Kiwi franchise has the best part of a dozen players off-contract this year and owner Mark Robinson has been blunt about the need for a revamp.

In the wake of Stephen Kearney's sacking three weeks ago, Robinson revealed in an interview with New Zealand's 1NEWS that Green and Beale have been told to look elsewhere in 2021.

Green's departure will free up around $500,000 in salary cap space for the Warriors, while fellow veteran Adam Blair is yet to make a call on his own lucrative option in his favour for next season.

The club is expected to finalise a coaching shortlist in coming days.

Tongan enforcer Ben Murdoch-Masila is already on his way for 2021 while the Warriors remain confident of Cronulla's Toby Rudolf honouring a three-year deal agreed to during the NRL's COVID-19 hiatus.

Former Raider Jack Murchie was also handed a new two-year deal on Friday while another loan player is close to being secured after Leivaha Pulu returned to New Zealand on compassionate grounds.

Kiwi internationals Peta Hiku and Isaiah Papali'i are the biggest names remaining off-contract to date, with the likes of Pulu, Patrick Herbert, Taane Milne, Jackson Frei, Lachlan Burr, Adam Keighran and Nathaniel Roache also without deals for next season.

Robinson raised eyebrows by revealing he had approached Craig Bellamy's management, and been told the Warriors had "no chance" of landing the Storm mentor.

He also said personality reasons played a part in Kearney's dismissal, lauding his work ethic but saying the sacked coach "had the wrong personality for the people that we have, the club that we’ve got and where I want to go."

Robinson joined the Warriors' camp in Terrigal this week and said he would do all he could to support players as they battle being away from home, a slew of injuries and poor results.

"To his credit, it would have been a hard thing to come here," star playmaker Kodi Nikorima said of Robinson's arrival in camp.

"I think he's spending the next month with us.

"He gets to come into camp and see what we’ve been through the last couple of weeks.

"He spoke to the group on the Monday and he wanted to address the group as we hadn't spoken to anyone since Mooks [Kearney] got relieved of his duties.

"[Robinson] is pretty easy going. It's not like this is new, he has spent some time with the playing group.

"And the way I see it is he's obviously a very passionate man and he loves the club just as much as we do, so he's made that decision.

"Obviously it's going to take some time for some players to get over what's happened and what's currently going on. But the sooner we can get over that the better off we'll be."

With salary cap room to move next season, whoever lands the Warriors top gig will not have to wait long to shape their own roster.

Highly-rated young half Chanel Harris-Tavita remains the club's preferred longterm playmaking option, while Nikorima has another two years to run on his contract.

Adding a strike centre for 2021 is believed to be a priority given the likes of Paul Turner and Rocco Berry's development has been hampered by injury and no second-tier competition this year.

Nikorima conceded pressure is mounting on interim coach Todd Payten's side ahead of Saturday's clash with fellow stragglers Brisbane.

"There's always pressure whenever you're losing," he said.

"And obviously the sacking of Stephen Kearney, it puts everyone on notice I believe.

"It's a results game, so when you're not winning games the media and people are pointing the finger somewhere. It's usually aimed at the halves too or the coach so it's something that I've learnt to deal with."