Wiki is hot property

Canberra is facing an international tug-of-war for the services of their forward leader Ruben Wiki.

Wiki, off contract at the end of the NRL season and keen to weigh up his options once the anti-tampering deadline expires at midnight on Wednesday, is in the sights of the struggling New Zealand Warriors and English giants Wigan.

The 31-year-old also has a lucrative three-year deal on the table from the Raiders but will reserve his decision until he has had the opportunity to test his worth on the open market.

Wiki's manager Jim Banaghan revealed he had held "fruitful" discussions with Wigan boss Maurice Lindsay - in Australia for the third State of Origin game.

And across the Tasman, the Warriors went public with their interest in the Kiwi test enforcer.

"I have had a long and fruitful discussion with Maurice," Banaghan said.

"Maurice is exceptionally interested in Ruben."

Banaghan said he was also expecting plenty of interest in Wiki's Canberra teammate Joel Monaghan, who is keen to explore his options outside the nation's capital.

"I've put extra paper in my fax machine," Banaghan said.

Wiki is expected to be one of the game's most coveted players when the player market hots up on Thursday.

Despite his age, he remains one of the most feared players in rugby league.

That's prompted the Warriors to table their interest.

"We are interested in a player of the calibre of Ruben Wiki, who can get us going forward," Warriors chief executive Mick Watson said.

The Warriors have also expressed an interest in Cronulla hardman Chris Beattie, who has been given permission to test the market.

Watson also revealed the club was keen on English prop Stuart Fielden, although the Bradford forward has a heavy price tag.

"We have a couple of ideas," Watson said.

"We'll wait and see."

Monaghan has been linked with Manly and the Sydney Roosters, who will be without Queensland centre Justin Hodges next season.

Hodges is set for a return to Brisbane, with the Roosters waiting on a formal request for a release from his manager Banaghan.

The Roosters posted a statement on their website on Tuesday clarifying the Hodges situation.

"Justin's management has not made a formal request for a release," the statement said.

"However, an informal request for release has been made and is for the end of season 2004, releasing him from his contract with the Roosters in season 2005."

Banaghan said a deal was all but done and dusted with with the Broncos.

"It's 95 per cent done," Banaghan said.

Hodges was demoted to the reserves' bench for First Division this weekend for missing Roosters training on Sunday.