New Zealand Warriors hooker Issac Luke wants to remain a Warrior for the 2019 season, although the 31-year-old may need to take a pay cut to stay around.
Luke has been a strong performer for the Warriors all season long, and recently told NRL.com he wants to continue playing in Auckland next season.
However, with the Warriors close to full capacity in their salary cap for next season, it may mean Luke will have to play on a reduced salary in 2019.
"I have spoken to Mooks (coach Stephen Kearney) about it. I want to stay," Luke told NRL.com.
"Obviously it is about what is best for the club and they have a lot of depth in my area at the moment.
"At the moment I am just trying to help those boys grow. I have to let my footy do the talking. I want a contract."
There's no secret the Warriors want Luke to remain at the club to further help develop young hookers, Nathaniel Roache, Sam Cook and Karl Lawton, although the Warriors understand if Luke leaves for a better offer.
"If what it takes to get Issac to stay next season is within our reach we will do everything we can to keep him," Warriors general manager of football Brian Smith told nzherald.co.nz.
"He's keen to stay and we just need to make sure that we can afford him and we've got to comply with the salary cap so it's going to be a bit of a juggling act.
"Issac's management are setting out to find out what his market value is and we've let him and his management know that that's more than fair and reasonable that he does that.
"He's got the opportunity to find out what his market value is and if we can work something out at the back end of the year it would be great."
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