NRL 2021, transfer news: Will Chambers cut by Cronulla Sharks, Dylan Walker new deal, Viliame Kikau contract

Former Test and Origin centre Will Chambers hasn’t given up hope of staying in the NRL despite being cut by the Sharks.

Will Chambers isn’t giving up on continuing his NRL career despite being let go by the Cronulla Sharks.

Chambers returned to the NRL with Cronulla on a cut-price deal in April after 12 months overseas playing Japanese rugby union in 2020.

The former Test and Queensland Origin centre featured in nine games for the Sharks this season.

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The 33-year-old was picked up by Cronulla at a time of mounting injuries to their backline with Chambers providing on and off field experience.

Showing glimpses of his best, Chambers was suggested as a Mr Fix-It for the Maroons after they were embarrassed by the NSW in game one of this year’s State series.

Will Chambers wants to play on in the NRL. Picture: NRL Images

Chambers’ season was ultimately stymied by his forced isolation following a series of unfortunate Covid-19 protocol breaches that the NRL recognised wasn’t deliberate.

Chambers missed five weeks of football due to the setback.

A player who has always polarised fans, Chambers was also at the centre of a round 21 controversy — his last game for the Sharks — after being embroiled in a verbal slanging match with Warriors players.

Chambers was informed by the Sharks football department that there wouldn’t be a contract for him in 2022 with the club looking at Souths centre Braidon Burns as an option.

Chambers’ management company, SFX Sports, told News Corp it would be premature to declare the former Storm premiership-winning centre’s NRL career over ahead of the November 1 negotiation period that could create a roster spot for the 224-game player.

Walker’s new deal worth the wait

— David Riccio

Manly’s X-factor Dylan Walker is going nowhere.

The transformed Sea Eagle is on the verge of signing a new two-year deal that will extend his ties to the club until the end of 2023.

The only reason why Manly officials and Walker have been unable to agree to terms is due to an agreed focus on the Sea Eagles march towards the premiership.

The patient timeline more than suits Walker, with his value only increasing with every game that Manly step closer towards their first grand final since 2011. Walker is chasing a second premiership ring after securing his first title with South Sydney in 2014.

The contract development has emerged as the Wests Tigers put a club-wide freeze on all recruitment until the future of head coach Michael Maguire is determined.

Dylan Walker is set to extend his stay at the Sea Eagles. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Walker, who Maguire previously coached to a title with the Rabbitohs, had been discussed as a possible recruit by the Wests Tigers only last month.

However, the Wests Tigers football department have been instructed by the board to press pause on all recruitment until a post-2021 season review is complete.

An outcome from the findings isn’t expected to go beyond this week.

The clarity over Walker’s future isn’t nearly as clouded with the 26-year-old redefining himself as an impact player from the Manly bench.

A former fullback, centre and five-eighth over the course of his nine-year NRL career, Walker has played 12 of his 18 matches this season from the bench.

Averaging 52 minutes per game and 53 tackle busts this year, Walker’s speed and natural ball-play through the middle of the field has revamped Manly’s attack.

“He played well tonight, playing his 100th game for the club,” Manly coach Des Hasler said after the club’s elimination final win over the Roosters on Friday night.

“He’s adapted really well, he’s just a real footballer, Dylan. He plays a lot of positions, he plays in the middle, he gives us that real good middle service and he’s got great experience.”

Hasler was asked whether he plans to keep the former NSW Origin and Test player in the No.14 role next year. “He’s been playing it for the last six or seven weeks... he will be playing it moving forward,” Hasler said. “He’s got that utility value about him.”

With Walker’s contract extension all but assured, Manly’s roster is in a position of stability ahead of their preliminary final clash with South Sydney next weekend.

Extended squad members Morgan Boyle, Tevita Funa, Jack Gosiewski and Jorge Taufua are the only other players without a contract for 2022.

Kikau names staggering asking price

—Peter Badel

The Panthers are facing a $1 million battle to retain Viliame Kikau with his management revealing salary-cap pressures could force the blockbusting back-rower out of Penrith.

On the eve of the Panthers-Eels sudden-death finals blockbuster in Mackay on Saturday night, Kikau’s agent George Christodoulou admits the Fijian sensation could be a casualty of Penrith’s rise as a premiership contender.

Breaking his silence on the Kikau contract saga, Christodoulou says the back-row wrecking ball’s preference is to stay at Penrith — and he hopes to get a deal done — but isn’t sure if the Panthers can meet the Fijian’s $800,000 price tag.

Kikau is off-contract at the end of next season, meaning he can field formal offers from November 1.

The Cowboys have already made informal inquiries to lure Kikau back to Townsville and Christodoulou says there is a possibility the Panthers strike weapon could attract David Fifita-style offers of $1 million a season.

Penrith back-rower Viliame Kikau could test his value on the open market in November.

The Panthers have pushed their salary cap to the limit upgrading rising stars Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton and could suffer the same fate as the Broncos, who were rocked by the Titans’ $1.2 million poaching raid on Fifita last year.

The Panthers are desperate to extend Kikau and are banking on the 119kg hulk’s power on the fringes to end Parramatta’s season in the western derby and keep Penrith’s premiership dream alive.

“The reality of the situation is ‘Kiks’ would like to stay but if a deal can’t be done, it can’t be done,” said Christodoulou, the agent who brought Kikau’s fellow Fijian Semi Radradra to the NRL.

“Depending on the salary cap situation (at the Panthers), someone might have to be a casualty.

“Kiks is happy at Penrith and he would like to stay. His preference is to do a deal with Penrith, but if they wave the red flag and say we’re out of the contest, then we’ll go to market.

“When you get a unique athlete like Viliame, he is a genuine gamebreaker, so the market will determine what he’s worth.

“For me, I’m saying it has to be upwards of $800,000, but his price could go to $1 million.

Penrith’s upgrades for stars such as Jarome Luai (top) has put pressure on their salary cap.

“If the Titans paid seven figures for David Fifita, someone might fall in love with Kiks and pay that too. He is 26. If someone wants to throw bucketloads, you have to take it. It’s so cutthroat in the NRL these days.

“Penrith are keen to re-sign him, but whether it’s enough to get him done or not remains to be seen.”

Kikau is on $700,000 this season and his salary will increase to $750,000 in 2022.

The NRL’s salary cap laws make it almost impossible for grand-final teams to keep their squad intact and Penrith face an ever-present threat from rugby union, the sport Kikau played growing up in Fiji.

“It’s an option to explore rugby union,” Christodoulou said. “That’s his pedigree, he was a Fijian schoolboy in rugby, he played rugby all his life growing up.

“Right now, he is happy in the NRL, but the reality of being a professional athlete in rugby league, you have a 10-year window at best to set yourself up for life and we can’t bury our heads in the sand.”

Penrith have suspended contract negotiations with Kikau and will resume talks after the grand final. The Panthers have 12 players off-contract next season, including NSW Origin hooker Api Koroisau.

“Penrith will have a month’s headstart,” Christodoulou said.

“As it stands, we have put things on hold. I’ve spoken to Penrith and I want Kiks to win this competition without distractions.

“We have a good understanding with the club and are honest with each other.

“There’s been a couple of expressions of interest but it’s been pretty vague sort of stuff.

“If things can’t get done with Penrith, then we’ll put him to market come November, see what’s out there and make a decision.”

Originally published as NRL 2021, transfer news: Will Chambers cut by Cronulla Sharks, Dylan Walker new deal, Viliame Kikau contract