A SHOCKED Brett Kimmorley has conceded he has no future at Cronulla and wants to join St George Illawarra next season - a move that may result in Trent Barrett heading to the Sharks.

The former Test halfback, who last year extended his contract with the Sharks until the end of next season, will meet his manager, George Mimis, today to seek answers on his playing future after being offered a release by the club.

Having previously rejected offers to finish his career in England, Kimmorley still prefers to find another NRL club and has nominated the Dragons as his No.1 choice, but he admits his hand may be forced.

"I thought I had two years of football at the club to wind up my career as a player and to continue my media work, and I was really comfortable," Kimmorley told Fox Sports. "For it to blow up so early this season is a shock. It's not devastating, just very hard to understand where I'm going to be next week. England might become a forced option."

The latest development in the player merry-go-round follows Cronulla's signing of Test forward Anthony Tupou on a five-year, $2 million contract last week.

Sharks prop Ben Ross has also been linked with a move to England, while there is speculation Kimmorley could be traded to the Dragons for former Test front-rower Jason Ryles.

But even if Ross were to go, Cronulla would probably have to pay a significant portion of his $400,000 contract - leaving little room to accommodate both Ryles and the club's other target, Barrett.

The former Dragons captain, now playing with Wigan, has been linked to his old club, while the Raiders, who will hold talks today with Barrett's manager, Wayne Beavis, over Country Origin forward Chris Heighington, have also expressed interest.

Beavis said Barrett was yet to ask Wigan for a release from the final year of his contract, while incoming Dragons coach Wayne Bennett and chief executive Peter Doust declined to comment on the possibility of Barrett or Kimmorley wearing the Red V next season.

But Kimmorley said he was keen to play under Bennett after turning down an approach from the six-time premiership-winning mentor to join Brisbane in 2001.

"I'd like to play for him," Kimmorley told Channel Nine. "If that were to eventuate, I would enjoy playing under Wayne. I would still be able to live here [in Sydney], which would be a better outcome."

Meanwhile, Beavis said Heighington had two offers from Super League clubs and was attracting interest in the NRL after his good form for Wests Tigers this season.

But the Central Coast junior, who travelled five hours by train and bus to get to training when he first joined the joint venture club in 2003, made it clear he wanted to stay at the Tigers.

"If I have to move on I would be very disappointed, so hopefully they can fit me in there somewhere," said Heighington, who indicated he was prepared to move to the front row if necessary. "I'll play on the wing if the Tigers wanted me to. I'm just happy to be playing football, and hopefully things will work out."

Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce said he hoped Heighington would become a one-club player in the mould of former long-serving forwards John Skandalis and Mark O'Neill.

Canberra chief executive Don Furner confirmed the Raiders' interest in Heighington after announcing they had lured Penrith back-rower Nathan Smith home on a three-year contract yesterday.

In other contract news, Gold Coast have re-signed lock Josh Graham, and the Dragons said they had retained winger Jason Nightingale for a further three years on the same day he was named in a 19-man New Zealand squad for the May 9 Centenary Test at the SCG.

South Sydney hooker Issac Luke and Sydney Roosters utility Setaimata Sa are the other Test rookies named in a side that also includes Leeds fullback Brent Webb and Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai, despite their clubs saying they would refuse to release them for the match.

■ North Queensland forward Jacob Lillyman was found guilty of a grade-one dangerous throw by the NRL judiciary and banned for two games last night.

Lillyman pleaded not guilty to a lifting tackle on Melbourne forward Michael Crocker but was unable to beat the charge at the judiciary and will miss the Cowboys' clashes with South Sydney and Cronulla.

NEW ZEALAND: Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Brent Webb (Leeds), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Issac Luke (South Sydney).