SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: Sione Katoa of the Sharks and Blayke Brailey of the Sharks react after a tackle during the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on April 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The Cronulla Sharks are reportedly facing a salary cap squeeze in the coming weeks as they try to retain as many members of their explosive backline as possible.
Journalist Brent Read believes the Sharks have got a “huge month or so” coming as they try to secure a number of players who have stuck together through the junior ranks at the club and have been vital to the club’s current success.
Speaking on Triple M‘s Monday Scrum on Tuesday, Read says the next few weeks will be telling, especially with regards to the contract situation of second-rower Talakai.
“I reckon Cronulla have got a huge few weeks coming up, a huge month or so” Read began.
“The Sharks have been talking to (Talakai) for ages about trying to get a new deal done.
“They put the talks off while he was in State of Origin camp, but they’ve ramped them up again.
“If you look at the Cronulla backline, Ronaldo Mulitalo, William Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien and Talakai can all sign with another club from November 1,” Read said.
“They’ve got some challenges in front of them, the Sharks, in terms of keeping that squad together… It’s going to cost a lot of money to keep all those guys.”
The Sharks are also dealing with more pressing contract matters too, with club icon Wade Graham coming off-contract this year, as well as revitalised big man Andrew Fifita.
They’ve already been busy this year, securing the services of a number of players including Blayke Brailey and Briton Nikora on long-term deals.
Source:: ZeroTackle
