Manly hooker Apisai Koroisau has been given permission to negotiate with other clubs despite having more than two years remaining on his contract, sparking a merry-go-round in the dummy-half ranks.

The Warriors, almost certain to part company with Issac Luke at the end of the season, are one of three clubs that have already expressed interest in Koroisau. Canterbury is another, although they are also in negotiations with Newcastle’s Danny Levi, another contracted player on the outer.

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire won a premiership with Koroisau at South Sydney and would love to reunite with him, but the joint-venture outfit isn’t in a position to recruit a No.9 of his quality until they move on contracted players. The Tigers are keen to add to their hooking stocks in the expectation veteran Robbie Farah will retire at the end of the season. They have re-signed Jacob Liddle and also secured promising Broncos youngster Jake Simpkin, but require further depth in the position.

In Canterbury’s case, they could be making a double play for Newcastle talent. As well as eyeing off Levi, the Bulldogs are keen on another contracted Knight, Herman Ese’ese. The blue and whites have the luxury of having some salary cap space to manoeuvre, although they may need the Knights to pay some of the freight to take the duo off their books. Newcastle are close to securing Jayden Brailey from Cronulla, but are seeking to first shift Levi.