Toutai Kefu's manager Anthony Picone has criticised the Australian Rugby Union for implying his client was a money grabber after presenting the body with a list of demands for a new contract.

The blockbusting No.8 has given the ARU a Friday deadline to reply or he will seriously consider massive club offers from Japan believed to be worth $2 million. The Wallabies are keen to keep the Queenslander, who will play a major role in their World Cup defence in 2003.

New of the demand list were detailed through the media at the weekend and the ARU has since expressed hope that the negotiations would be concluded, "without having a gun held to our head via the media".

Picone said Kefu was giving the ARU first option on his services but added other offers he had on the table had to be acted upon sooner or later.

"I think it would be very unfair if the ARU now painted out he was holding a gun to their head," Picone said. "All he wants is an answer so he can decide his future.

"Toutai genuinely wants to play for the Wallabies in the World Cup and is prepared to pay the price and forego the money (from Japan). But you can only be prepared to forego so much. Toutai is now one of the best players in the country and he's always been reasonable with the ARU.

"All he is saying is, `look, my time has arrived, you've paid other players well and I am entitled to a fair share of the pie'."

ARU General Manager of High Performance Jeff Miller said the ARU always wanted a quick conclusion to the negotiations.

"We have been acting in good faith throughout, so it is a little disappointing that things have been planted in the media which don't accurately represent our position," Miller said. "Far from being reluctant to conclude this deal, we have been anxiously awaiting this list of demands.

"It's not a style of negotiation we are particularly comfortable with, but hopefully we can successfully conclude this without having a gun held to our head via the media.

"We prefer to simply be up front and get the matter concluded in the best interests of the player and Australia."