Roosters forward Dylan Napa is a recruit target for almost half of the clubs in the NRL

ROOSTERS forward Dylan Napa is one of the game’s most highly-rated hitmen and his signature is being chased by almost half the clubs in the NRL.

Dylan Napa has sparked the interest of almost half the clubs in the NRL.

HE is one of the game’s most highly-rated hitmen who is being targeted by almost half the clubs in the NRL.

But it appears prising Dylan Napa out of the Sydney Roosters will be easier said than done.

Heavyweight Queensland clubs Brisbane and North Queensland are understood to be desperate to beef up their forward packs by bringing Napa back to his home state in 2018 while the Newcastle Knights have made no secret of the fact they see him as the player to potentially lead their young pack over the next decade.

Several other clubs have also expressed an interest but are struggling to even get to first base with the 24 year old prop, who is keen to explore all avenues at his current club before looking elsewhere.

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Dylan Napa in action for the Roosters.

Brisbane and the Knights are among the clubs to have issued an invitation to Napa and his management to have a first-hand look at their facilities.

At this stage, he is yet to take up either offer.

“He obviously has plenty of interest from a lot of clubs which is not surprising because he is one of the leading young props in the game,” Knights coach Nathan Brown said.

“He’s got the Cowboys and the Broncos chasing him so he’ll probably end up at one of those clubs if he leaves the Roosters but he is someone we are keen to bring to Newcastle for a chat and a look around if he is genuinely interested.”

The Roosters though remain favourite to re-sign him.

“It is fair to say his first preference is to remain at the Roosters,” Napa’s manager Clinton Schifcofske said.

“He’s in demand. There has been enormous interest in him as you’d expect and plenty of rumours about where he might be headed in 2018.

Dylan Napa during Roosters training.

“But at this stage, we are only talking to the Roosters to see if we can get something over the line. We haven’t done anything with anyone else because the Roosters is his focus.

“If that changes, then we’ll obviously look at all potential options out there.”

Among the most destructive props in the game, Napa will command as much as $700,000 a season on the open market with it considered only a matter of time before he breaks into the Queensland State of Origin squad.

He was banned from this year’s series and a potential debut for the Maroons after being one of eight players from the Emerging Maroons squad to be sanctioned by coach Kevin Walters and the QRL after breaking curfew during a camp in Brisbane back in February.

Originally published as Roosters forward Dylan Napa is a recruit target for almost half of the clubs in the NRL