New Zealand Warriors hooker Issac Luke looks set to agree to a new one-year deal with the club within the next couple of days.
It's understood by the NZ Herald the 31-year-old will accept a heavily reduced offer to stay in Auckland after negotiations with the Knights fell through following the news he requires major shoulder surgery.
The playing future of the hooker has been up in the air for a while now, as negotiations between the Warriors and Luke as well as other clubs took longer than expected to sort out.
Luke was aiming to receive a two or three-year contract in order to lock down his future long-term, but will no be hoping to put in a strong performance next season to inspire the Warriors or rival clubs to sign in for the 2020 season and beyond.
The veteran was instrumental in guiding the Warriors to their first finals campaign in seven years, with his runs out of dummy-half and creativity helping him recapture some of his best form.
Given tabling Luke a renewed one-year contract, the Auckland-based team will be expecting the same amount of form from him in 2019.
The signing comes off the back of the Warriors re-signing Jazz Tevaga, who was named Dally M Interchange Player of the Year, as well as youngsters Karl Lawton and Sam Cook.
The extent of the shoulder injury which plagued Luke throughout the season has yet to be revealed, as its no secret Luke has struggled with shoulder injuries in the past.
When speaking on Radio Sport regarding this potential one-year deal, Warriors CEO Cameron George said the club is willing to help Luke recover from his injury.
"We all understand he's had a couple of injuries this year where he dislocated his shoulder on a few occasions," George said.
"At the end of the day that's something that the player needs to weigh up whether they go in and get it tidied up. The extent of that operation, I'm not a specialist in any way shape or form around MRI scans but his specialist will advise what that is in due course.
"If we need to work with Issac to get that done in order for him to play his best for the club next year, if he is here, we'll work with him for that."
