Fairfax Media understands Merrin's manager Wayne Beavis met Warriors coach Andrew McFadden in Sydney on Wednesday, continuing to explore options for the NSW forward for 2016 and beyond.

The Warriors are believed to be ready to table a lucrative offer to lure Merrin across the ditch, however they are one of more than half a dozen clubs – including Manly and the Sydney Roosters – who have expressed interest in the 25-year-old for next season. The off-contract Merrin rejected an offer from the Dragons before Christmas, and is yet to hear back from the club over a number of conditions.

While the Dragons are at loggerheads trying to squeeze Merrin into the salary cap, Merrin is still hopeful a new deal will be put on the table before the start of the season and will be able to remain at the club.

In the meantime his manager is testing the open market, with plenty of interest in the skilful Dragons workhorse.

The Warriors, who have signed fellow NSW forward Ryan Hoffman for 2015, have expressed a desire to poach Merrin for some time, but the Dragons forward is still hopeful of a resolution that will  allow him to remain in his home town of Wollongong.

Salary cap restraints are likely to dictate where he ends up.  The Dragons are struggling to free up the cash needed to keep Merrin at the club with Josh Dugan, Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop already on big dollars.

Merrin is unlikely to be picked in the Dragons' Auckland Nines squad, where he would have been able to look further into the New Zealand option, instead he will play a trial for the club in Mackay the same weekend before joining the rest of his teammates in the United Kingdom for the World Club series.

The premiership-winning forward has played 10 Origin matches for NSW and represented the Dragons on 107 occasions since making his debut under former coach Wayne Bennett in 2009.