Rugby league World Cup champion halfback Nathan Fien will remain with the New Zealand Warriors for this year's NRL competition.

Fien had asked the club for a release from the final season of his contract so he could take up a three-year deal with Huddersfield in the English Super League.

The Giants' offer had arisen after the British High Commission turned down former Canberra halfback Todd Carney's application for a visa, leaving Huddersfield without a playmaker.

But Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Fien, who helped the Kiwis to their historic rugby league World Cup win last November, would not be going anywhere, emphasising he had an important role to play in the 2009 season.

"We've had a meeting with Nathan and it was made clear to him by (coach) Ivan Cleary that he will be an integral player in the Warriors' plans this year," Scurrah said.

"Nathan said he appreciated that and that he'll do everything he can to help the side."

Scurrah said Fien's situation had changed for several reasons over the past few months.

"Earlier last season, he had been told he wouldn't be offered a new contract after his current one ran out at the end of the 2009 season," he said.

"As Nathan has a young family, we thought it only fair to give him plenty of notice so he would have the best chance to secure his long-term future.

"We granted his request to consider other options but he later told us he wouldn't be seeking a release.

"He made it clear to us that he would be fully committed to the Warriors in 2009.

"This coincided with a huge lift in Nathan's form both for the club and then for the Kiwis at the World Cup."

Scurrah said there was a possibility Fien could stay with the Warriors beyond 2009.

"We have told him we have an open mind about the possibility of a new contract to stay with the club," he said.

"That position will be monitored and re-assessed during the season."

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