St George Illawarra have confirmed winger Brett Morris has been offered a higher-paying deal with a rival NRL club, but deny encouraging him to speak to other teams in a bid to test his market value.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Morris had requested an early release from his contract with the Dragons to join brother Josh at Canterbury in 2015.

The deal is believed to be worth around $600,000 a season – considerably more than his current salary of around $450,000.

There were suggestions the Dragons had given the Test and NSW star permission to test the market in the belief his current contract was above market value.

But the club denied the claims in a statement on Tuesday.

“Contrary to media speculation, (we) have not offered Brett Morris to other clubs, nor have they suggested that he test his market value external to the Dragons,” the club said.

The Dragons said it had been in negotiations for a number of months to extend Morris’ contract, which was signed in 2012 and does not expire until the end of 2015.

“(He) is therefore under contract until the end of next season,” the Dragons added.

“The Dragons are aware that another club has offered Brett Morris more money than his contract sum at the Dragons for the 2015 season.

“The club understands that there are no rules that prevent player managers from talking to other clubs about contracted players.”

The 2010 premiers last week appointed Peter Mulholland as director of recruitment and retention to work through the club’s salary cap and roster for next season with head coach Paul McGregor.