Kodi Nikorima appears destined to fill Shaun Johnson's boots at the Warriors, although whether it's this season or next remains uncertain.
Coach Stephen Kearney confirmed the Auckland club had tabled an offer for the Brisbane half for next season, but said whether the 25-year-old would arrive even sooner was not for him to discuss.
"We've expressed interest in Kodi for a long time, looked at the prospect for 2020 at the back end of last year, so we've left it with him and his management for 2020, and that's that," Kearney said.
"Whatever happens this year, that's in their hands, that's all I need to say about that."
Nikorima has played 13 Tests for the Kiwis, and had worked with Kearney when he was at the Broncos.
Kearney, however, refused to say what Nikorima would bring to the team, should he join.
The Warriors are in a desperate search to find a permanent playmaker to join Blake Green in the halves after star Johnson was released in the offseason.
Young prospects Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tavita have shared time in the role but the Warriors find themselves struggling with offence this season and sit 12th on the NRL ladder with two wins from seven games.
Nikorima has been left out of the squad for this week's clash with South Sydney.
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