Papali’i return ruled out

Warriors chief executive Cameron George has rubbished suggestions that Isaiah Papali’i could rejoin the club next season.

It has been reported in Australia that Papali’i is keen to return to New Zealand for family reasons and a move to the Warriors would get him out of joining Wests Tigers next season.

Although the Parramatta Eels star has signed a contract to play for the joint venture from next season on a three-year deal, he has been non-committal in recent interviews about his future and appears to have got cold feet about the move.

‘‘People ask me about it, just on the street or even family and friends are hitting me up,’’ Papali’i told Nine on Monday. ‘‘That’s for my manager to look after. Even if I don’t stay here or I do go next year, I want to make sure this year has no regrets.’’

Following that interview the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Papali’i is considering requesting a release from his Tigers to rejoin the Warriors.

He would need to get the NRL to approve a release on compassionate grounds and would no doubt mention that his partner Elle Temu plays netball for the Northern Stars and has remained living in New Zealand.

However, George said he’s heard nothing about Papali’i wanting to come back to the club he left in 2020. ‘‘We have had no discussions whatsoever or shown any interest in Isaiah,’’ George said.

‘‘We’re happy with our squad and there has been no dialogue or discussions around Isaiah whatsoever and there hasn’t been an approach either.’’

It has been speculated that the Warriors released Eliesa Katoa to join the Storm next season to make space on the roster and in their salary cap for Papali’i, but George insists that’s not the case.

The Warriors let Katoa go because of the depth the club will have in the back row next season, with Mitch Barnett, Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker joining the club from 2023.