A STUNNED St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust admitted last night the Dragons were powerless to stop Test and Origin centre Mark Gasnier walking out on the club just two seasons into a five-year deal to pursue a union career in France.

Gasnier said he had been "confronted with a situation" that might lead to his invoking a get-out clause, which gives him a one-month chance to explore other options in each year.

It is looming as Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett's first crisis five months out from taking over at the Dragons.

"I've explored options there, yeah," Gasnier said. "[But] don't put it as [though] I'm trying to get out of my contract. I've been confronted with a situation that I've had to react to, and I'm doing it in my best interests."

The 26-year-old, the Dragons skipper and highest-profile player, would not elaborate on the reasons, although he denied there was ill-feeling between him and the club.

"I can only be vague, because I'm not one to pinpoint names, things, whatever it is, but it's definitely not ill feeling between the club and I, and I want the fans to know that, too," he said. "I love the club, and I'm fortunate enough to be captain, but unfortunately something's happened … and I've gone and looked."

Gasnier, who has a French fiancee, said he hoped to confirm his future as soon as possible because he hoped to avoid a repeat of the "circus" that accompanied his courting by union before he signed a long-term deal with the Dragons.

"I don't think it's fair on the club," Gasnier said. "I don't think it's fair on everyone."

Doust, admitting there was a clause in Gasnier's deal allowing him to leave, said he was sympathetic to Gasnier's reasons for looking elsewhere.

"Gaz and I have always got on well together and we'll always understand each other," he said. "I'm just happy to work through it with him, as he would want us to.

"Gaz is contracted until 2011, and I'll be doing the best I can to get him to fulfil that contract. In saying that, there is a clause in his contract which enables him to make decisions on a yearly basis about the subsequent terms of his contract, and that's there for a reason I'm not prepared to comment on."

Doust said the development was "surprising news for me and for the club, but we'll make sure … that we explore it as appropriately and thoroughly on the club's behalf - we want him to be here and we want him to be a Dragons man, as he does as well".

The loss of Gasnier would leave a gaping hole in Bennett's Dragons. The club, which may also lose prop Jason Ryles, is yet to re-sign his centre counterpart Matt Cooper, although any loss of Gasnier might allow the Dragons to throw extra funds his way.

Doust said the club had pulled out of the race for former Dragon Trent Barrett, who has asked English Super League club Wigan for a release.

"We wanted to get some of these issues about where we're going with our roster [finalised] as soon as possible," Doust said. "He wasn't in a position to make a decision that suited what we were trying to do, so we've advised that we're moving on."

Another player previously targeted by the Dragons, Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley, is believed to be moving closer to signing with the Bulldogs. Kimmorley was contracted with the Sharks until the end of next season but has been effectively forced out as they attempt to sign Barrett.

And Gold Coast are today expected to secure forward Anthony Laffranchi on a three-year contract extension.