The Warriors have moved to shut down talk Brisbane halfback Kodi Nikorima is headed to New Zealand after speculation the Kiwi playmaker may replace Cronulla recruit Shaun Johnson.
Now the coaching merry-go-round has finally stopped, players are bracing for musical chairs with Nikorima already linked to the Warriors and Parramatta's Mitchell Moses with Brisbane.
However, the Warriors have reiterated their priority is to look within to replace former marquee man Johnson in the halves in 2019 with an untested playmaker or utility Peta Hiku a chance to partner pivot Blake Green.
"I'm not ruling anybody out of anything but he's not on our board (of halfback options)," Warriors general manager football Brian Smith told stuff.co.nz.
"He's not someone we've made a target."
Nikorima - contracted at Red Hill until 2020 - has been under pressure to nail down the Broncos No.7 jersey since Ben Hunt's departure to St George Illawarra in 2018.
And the Kiwi international was quickly linked to the Warriors with speculation he is already on the outer with new Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold.
Nikorima appeared a good fit at the Warriors where he is highly regarded by coach Stephen Kearney, a former New Zealand Test mentor and Broncos assistant.
Nikorima and Kearney are also managed by the same agent, Isaac Moses.
Johnson's departure has given the Warriors a million dollar salary cap boost to shop around for a marquee playmaker.
Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan is in Sydney this week to meet with agents and clubs to look at different options.
But Smith baulked at a News Corp Australia report that claimed Nikorima had been shopped to the Warriors, saying they would focus on their own talent to replace Johnson.
North Queensland's Te Maire Martin and Parramatta's Corey Norman have also been linked to the Warriors recently.
Untested halves Chanel Harris-Tavita, Hayze Perham and Penrith recruit Adam Keighran are expected to be considered for the Warriors No.7 jersey as well as Hiku.
Kiwis international Hiku has only played five-eighth occasionally for the Warriors and has been used mostly at centre.
Teenagers Harris-Tavita and Perham plus 21-year-old Keighran are expected to be blooded in the Warriors' pre-season trials against Melbourne and Wests Tigers in February.
It is believed the Warriors will not announce any new signings until at least mid-January.
While Nikorima looks like staying at Brisbane it is believed the Broncos are not interested in Eels star Moses, who has been linked repeatedly to a Red Hill move.
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