THE man who first tried to lure Mark Gasnier to rugby union believes the St George Illawarra centre will switch codes if the interest shown in him by French club Stade Francais is genuine.

"If Stade Francais want him, he'll go," said John Connolly, the former Wallabies coach who almost enticed Gasnier to rugby union in 2005.

Gasnier is believed to be poised to sign with the club, to be coached by former NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, ending weeks of frenzied debate about his future and proving how significant a threat the European clubs pose to the NRL.

An announcement on the Test and State of Origin star could come within days, with the deadline on Monday for French contracts to be signed.

While there is believed to be another window for players to sign with French rugby union clubs later in the year, Gasnier is desperate to try to limit the impact on the Dragons should he leave, making a decision likely sooner rather than later.

Connolly, who negotiated personally when the Australian Rugby Union courted Gasnier in 2005, believes the centre would be a fine fit in rugby union. Having coached Stade Francais, Connolly believes the NRL faces a "challenge" to keep its stars with the money being offered.

"I was very impressed with him as a bloke, and I think that lifestyle would appeal to him," said Connolly. "I spoke to Mark quite often and he was that keen, he wanted a new challenge that much, he would have played AFL.

"Unfortunately, the process was convoluted because the states had to put in offers and he decided to stay with league.

"It's not a slight on rugby league. I just think he's looking for other challenges in his life. These blokes are professional footballers - lifestyle, money, who's coaching, there are a lot of factors involved.

"Rugby league's got some challenges ahead of them, as has rugby union."

McKenzie has already revealed he has been personally contacted by a number of NRL players and the man who initiated his deal with Stade Francais yesterday confirmed a handful of "stars" were among the fringe first-graders looking to take advantage of a financial windfall.

Greg Willett, who also manages Craig Gower - the first high-profile NRL player to sign with a French rugby union club - believes more players will take advantage of the lifestyle and financial incentives.

"He's had heaps of people ringing him up," Willett said of McKenzie. "His phone's running hot. It's a better life than going to England. Look at Craig - if they [Bayonne] play a weak side, they rest their star players, so he can go and play golf in Morocco.

"While the burnout for an NRL player is around 29, because it's so physical and so tough, you can prolong your career if you're playing rugby union."

The manager of Cronulla winger Luke Covell revealed yesterday that the New Zealand international would consider an approach from a French rugby union side.

"That's something we're looking at," Steve Gillis said. "I've spoken to Luke about it. His preference is obviously to stay but it's a possibility. I've been talking to Cronulla regularly so hopefully something comes up with them sooner rather than later."

While Gillis said he had not been given a "concrete offer" from any French club, he admitted it would "no doubt eclipse" anything the NRL could muster.

And David Riolo, the manager of Brisbane's Test and Queensland star Karmichael Hunt, said the threat from rugby union, on home soil as well as abroad, was greater than that of the AFL.

"Rugby union is a much bigger threat, especially for outside backs," Riolo said. "Look at Krisnan Inu, Karmichael Hunt, Israel Folau, Michael Jennings - they're gifted in rugby league and they're also going to be gifted in rugby union. They're the ones they're going to target."

Hunt is off contract with the Broncos after 2009, and while he has not fielded any interest from rugby union, Riolo admitted it would be hard to ignore.

"K loves the Broncos, but he's only going to be 22 years old," he said. "He's won one grand final, he's represented in Test matches and won Origin series - he's ticked a lot of boxes.

"If someone comes in with ridiculous money, he wouldn't be human if he didn't consider it.

�¡ Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless is out of tonight's clash with South Sydney at ANZ Stadium due to an infected shin.