Bradley Abbey should make his NRL debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs rather than the New Zealand Warriors.

The Warriors are likely to release young gun Bradley Abbey to the Bulldogs at the end of the season.

While the club acknowledges Abbey is a player with huge potential, the arrival next year of star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck from the Sydney Roosters means the door is shut for Abbey at fullback for the foreseeable future.

Abbey, 18, is described "as one of the club's brightest prospects" on the Warriors website and is signed with them until the end of next season.

However, the Warriors are likely to give him an early release to allow him to pursue his dream of making it into the NRL with another club.

The Warriors management

believes he is still a year away from being ready to play in first grade, and in Tuimoala Loloheathey have a good backup for Tuivasa-Sheck for 2016.

Abbey went to Australia last week to meet with clubs, including the Mebourne Storm, who are looking at Abbey as their long-term replacement for Billy Slater. But once the Warriors do confirm their release of Abbey, he looks likely to be heading to the Bulldogs.

Abbey impressed Bulldogs coach Des Hasler when the Premiership-winning coach met him last week.

The Warriors announced last week they had signed captain of the under-20s side, Toafofoa Sipley, until 2018, and it's understood the prop will be one of just a few players from the Holden Cup side who will be offered a new contract.