For the first time, New Zealand Warriors coach Andrew Webster has addressed rumours that the club had tabled a contract to secure an overseas forward from the Super League competition.

As reported byย News Corp, theย New Zealand Warriors had tabled a three-year contract to Leeds Rhinosย forward Morgan Gannon which would see him start at the club in 2026 and last until the end of 2028.

The interest in the talented overseas player comes as he has impressed in limited matches this year since missing the entire 2024 season to recover from concussions.

Off-contract at the end of 2025, Gannon has appeared in over 50ย Super Leagueย matches and has made one appearance for theย Englandย Knights - a development team of emerging talent who will one day compete for a place inย England's national team.

Primarily playing in the back row or at lock, the 21-year-old's father, Jim Gannon, played 22 matches for the Balmain Tigers (1998-99) before having a successful career overseas for several teams, including theย Huddersfield Giantsย andย Hull Kingston Rovers.

For the first time since reports emerged that the Warriors had tabled Gannon a contract from next season onwards, coach Andrew Webster has commented on the rumours, but neither confirmed nor denied the validity of the claims.

"I always laugh when someone comes up with the most unbelievably wrong rumour about a player coming to our club," Webster said viaย RNZย when asked if Gannon is on their radar.

"I've received a lot of phone calls about players rumoured to be coming here, but my comment is we don't talk about recruitment, until it happens.

"When it does, we like to let everyone know and celebrate."

Formerย Parramatta Eelsย and currentย Leeds Rhinosย head coachย Brad Arthurย addressed the reports but believes that Gannon will remain overseas and will sign an extension with the club for 2026.

โ€œHe's contracted this year, and Bleasy is working with his management to extend his deal,โ€ Leeds coachย Brad Arthurย has since said.

โ€œI know he loves the club and he appreciates what the club have done for him, all the indicators are he wants to continue to play here.โ€

โ€œI'm pretty comfortable with where he's at. I'd expect him to be playing forย Leeds next year, but until it's sorted, the decision is yet to be made.

โ€œHe probably does have aspirations to play in theย NRLย some day. But that might be further down the track.

โ€œI'd expect him to be excited by that interest, but he's a pretty level-headed kid, and he knows that in his development he's still a long way off where he could get to in the future.โ€