New Zealand Warriors fullback Brent Webb is adamant he won't be squeezed out of the NRL club as it attempts to get under the salary cap.
Warriors officials approached Richard Villasanti about a release, but the one-Test Kangaroo has refused to leave or accept a pay cut to help the club's cap crisis.
Villasanti's refusal turned the spotlight onto Webb and Clinton Toopi, who are both off contract at the end of the year.
Webb has been linked with the Gold Coast and Toopi with Penrith, if they were not picked up by English clubs.
But the Kiwi fullback said he expected to see out the season with the Warriors.
"As far as I'm concerned I'm here for the rest of my contract, till the end of the season," Webb said.
"I can't speak for anyone else, the dealings they've had with the club, but things seem okay.
"At this stage I'm here until the end of the season. As far as I know you can't talk to anyone till June 30."
It's understood that several Warriors players have been approached about deferring payment into 2007 to ensure the club is under the cap when they take the field against Melbourne at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.
Villasanti's manager Allan Gainey has indicated his client refused, while Webb said he had not yet been approached about the issue.
"No, they haven't spoken to me about that at all," he said.
"We haven't had any dramas about it, it's all out of our hands.
"We'll just wait and see."
Villasanti, who was axed for the first grade team to take on the Storm, has expressed his desire to return to Sydney, but most NRL clubs are unable to accommodate him after spending up to their limit for 2006.
There was talk of a possible homecoming to Canberra, but Raiders CEO Simon Hawkins said they didn't have enough money to target Warriors players should they become available.
English club Leeds ruled out making a move for the Australian prop, despite looking for a replacement for sacked forward Danny Ward.
"We are aware of Villasanti's availability but we've not looked at progressing it," said Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.
After their inability to offload Villasanti, other players may be forced to take bigger pay cuts than previously proposed.
The Warriors have until Thursday to contest a $430,000 fine and the docking of four competition points for salary cap breaches of close to $1 million in 2004-5.
Meanwhile, former Sydney Rooster Grant Rovelli's will make his first grade debut after being named on the Warriors bench, while Tony Martin returns on the wing after recovering from neck surgery.
"Grant could easily have played NRL football sooner when he was with the Roosters," said Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
"And Tony has done an outstanding job working his way back to reclaim a first-grade spot after his neck surgery last year."
Warriors officials approached Richard Villasanti about a release, but the one-Test Kangaroo has refused to leave or accept a pay cut to help the club's cap crisis.
Villasanti's refusal turned the spotlight onto Webb and Clinton Toopi, who are both off contract at the end of the year.
Webb has been linked with the Gold Coast and Toopi with Penrith, if they were not picked up by English clubs.
But the Kiwi fullback said he expected to see out the season with the Warriors.
"As far as I'm concerned I'm here for the rest of my contract, till the end of the season," Webb said.
"I can't speak for anyone else, the dealings they've had with the club, but things seem okay.
"At this stage I'm here until the end of the season. As far as I know you can't talk to anyone till June 30."
It's understood that several Warriors players have been approached about deferring payment into 2007 to ensure the club is under the cap when they take the field against Melbourne at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.
Villasanti's manager Allan Gainey has indicated his client refused, while Webb said he had not yet been approached about the issue.
"No, they haven't spoken to me about that at all," he said.
"We haven't had any dramas about it, it's all out of our hands.
"We'll just wait and see."
Villasanti, who was axed for the first grade team to take on the Storm, has expressed his desire to return to Sydney, but most NRL clubs are unable to accommodate him after spending up to their limit for 2006.
There was talk of a possible homecoming to Canberra, but Raiders CEO Simon Hawkins said they didn't have enough money to target Warriors players should they become available.
English club Leeds ruled out making a move for the Australian prop, despite looking for a replacement for sacked forward Danny Ward.
"We are aware of Villasanti's availability but we've not looked at progressing it," said Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.
After their inability to offload Villasanti, other players may be forced to take bigger pay cuts than previously proposed.
The Warriors have until Thursday to contest a $430,000 fine and the docking of four competition points for salary cap breaches of close to $1 million in 2004-5.
Meanwhile, former Sydney Rooster Grant Rovelli's will make his first grade debut after being named on the Warriors bench, while Tony Martin returns on the wing after recovering from neck surgery.
"Grant could easily have played NRL football sooner when he was with the Roosters," said Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
"And Tony has done an outstanding job working his way back to reclaim a first-grade spot after his neck surgery last year."
