Why Blayke Brailey rejected Sharks’ contract extension offer
Blayke Brailey is in career-best form and is in the midst of contract talks with the Sharks. Find out why the local product has rejected Cronulla’s deal, and why they rejected his counter.
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Blayke Brailey’s hope of a five-year contract extension has been knocked back by the Sharks but Cronulla are adamant they see the in-form dummy half at the club long term.
Talks between the two parties have kicked-off but have resulted in mutual initial rejections.
It is understood that Brailey has knocked back Cronulla’s new three year offer after asking the club for a long-term five-year contract. The Sharks baulked at the initial request.
Brailey has 12 months left on his contract with both offers on top of next year’s deal. It would mean that Brailey could be a Shark for the next six seasons if the Sharks agreed to the deal.
Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta made it clear they want Brailey at the club long-term.
“We see Blayke as a long-term player at the Sharks,” Mezzatesta said. “We’re not going to shy away from that. If you speak to Blayke he would say he wants to remain at the Sharks long-term.
“He has come through the juniors and our academy system and now he could be the next player who replicates what Andrew Ettingshausen and Paul Gallen have done at the club.
“That’s how we view him at the Sharks.”
Brailey has been the game’s best player in recent weeks and will court a near seven figure salary if he is left on the open market come November 1. Cronulla are confident it won’t come to that.
Perth Bears would make Brailey almost their No.1 target given his form this season and could make Brailey one of their marquee signings. Brailey is on the cusp of representative honours and has been earmarked as a potential Kangaroo at the end of season Ashes series.
On-form he has usurped incumbent NSW rake Reece Robson with Brailey already in the frame for an Origin debut next season.
The Cronulla product signed his last deal in 2021. He turns 27-next month. Brailey is also in the midst of a 121 consecutive game streak. He has played 155 top grade games since making his debut in 2019.
Meanwhile, Canberra veteran Josh Papali’I has indicated to the Raiders that he wants to stay in the NRL next season despite suggestions he was Super League bound.
The Raiders have said they would be willing to keep the Maroons forward for a further 12-months on a significantly reduced deal.
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Originally published as Why Blayke Brailey rejected Sharks’ contract extension offer
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