CANBERRA are so confident of signing Trent Barrett for next season they have withdrawn a three-year offer to retain local product Terry Campese.

Three NRL clubs - Cronulla, Canberra and the Bulldogs - remain in the mix for Barrett's services after St George Illawarra pulled out of the running yesterday morning. The Sharks are the overwhelming favourites to win the race for his signature.

In the Raiders' favour is that Barrett's mother lives in Canberra and his wife's family also live in nearby Temora.

The former St George Illawarra five-eighth is still under contract with Wigan but has sought a release after his wife, Kylie, became homesick.

Campese's manager, Jim Banaghan, was stunned the offer to his client was withdrawn at the last minute.

"One would be amazed if Canberra's next marquee signing was Trent Barrett," Banaghan said. "Why on earth would you go from the fridge to the freezer if you're trying to get warm? If I had a luxury house in Wollongong, I can't see why I'd want to live in an igloo in Canberra.

"They had a Queanbeyan junior who was on the verge of agreeing to a three-year term, but now they are sitting and hoping to see if someone from out of town will take his spot.

"I'd be sorry to see Canberra lose Campese because officials are sitting on their hands and standing on his.

"The kid has only ever wanted to be a Raider all his life and there's not too many kids that tell me that.

"If they miss the marquee [Barrett] they'll still be sitting there waiting under the tent."

Asked about the chances of signing Barrett, chief executive Don Furner said: "We're just having a go. We'll see what happens. I'm waiting to hear from his manager."

Raiders chairman John McIntyre said it would be disappointing to lose a local junior such as Queanbeyan product Campese, although the decision was ultimately up to the coaching staff.

Barrett's manager, Wayne Beavis, said he would meet with Wigan boss Ian Lenegan tomorrow.

Dragons boss Peter Doust confirmed the club would no longer be pursuing the former Test pivot.

"Obviously that was one of the balls in the air we wanted to resolve as soon as possible," Doust said last night.

"It certainly has implications as far as our roster planning and now that's resolved we can move on."