Up and coming New Zealand Warriors player Sonny Fai is missing, presumed drowned, at a west Auckland beach.

His agent Frank Endacott said on Monday he believed 20-year-old Fai had just completed a training run on Bethell's Beach and had gone to cool off in the surf with three others on Sunday evening when they hit trouble in a rip, Stuff reported.

The alarm was raised about 8pm (1800 AEDT) and two inflatable boats and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were scrambled to the scene.

Three of the men were rescued, but Fai remained missing when the search was called off about 10pm.

Family members and surf life savers continued the search until 1am and the helicopter resumed the search on Monday morning.

Fai has played 15 games for the New Zealand Warriors and made his National Rugby League debut in March last year.

He was named Warriors 2007 under-20 player of the year, and was a Junior Kiwis player from 2004-07.

Team management addressed the team on Monday, when pre-season training officially got under way in Auckland.

Warriors management Don Mann and John Hart went to visit the Fai family earlier on Monday morning.

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