NRL 2024: Sharks enter race for Ronald Volkman, Briton Nikora set to join Braydon Trindall in re-signing with Cronulla
A third club has joined the hunt for the signature of young playmaker Ronald Volkman as he edges closer to securing an NRL lifeline for 2025. See the latest contract and transfer news.
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A third club has entered the race for Ronald Volkman, as the young playmaker edges closer to securing an NRL lifeline for 2025.
It’s understood Cronulla has expressed interest in Volkman, who is expected to make a decision about his playing future in the coming days.
Volkman is hoping to secure a top-30 deal in a bid to revive his NRL career after the injury contract saga with St George Illawarra left him without a club for 2024.
The 22-year-old and his manager Mario Tartak have already met with two other Sydney clubs, Parramatta and Manly, looking to add depth in the halves stocks.
Volkman found himself in NRL limbo earlier this year when the Dragons walked away from an agreement to sign him after learning he requires season-ending shoulder surgery. At the time, Volkman had already been released by the Warriors to join the Dragons.
The NRL whacked the Dragons with a $40,000 over their handling of the situation, having announced Volkman as a Dragons player and allowing him to train before his contract was registered.
The Sharks could also be looking to replenish playmaking stocks if Daniel Atkinson is lured away from Cronulla by a cashed-up club - making Volkman an attractive proposition.
Atkinson has been holidaying in Thailand but will meet with his management this week to explore his options.
The Sunshine Coast product can start fielding offers from rivals and is expected to generate plenty of interest on the open market after officially becoming a free agent from last Friday.
Atkinson was a revelation in the halves for Cronulla, stepping for Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall during the season.
But the 23-year-old could be limited to a utility role if he remains at the Sharks after Trindall agreed to a three-year extension to remain at Cronulla until the end of 2028.
With one year still left on his deal at the Sharks, Atkinson is unlikely to rush a decision about his future.
While Atkinson has expressed a desire to remain at Cronulla long-term, the opportunity to start in the halves could be too hard to refuse.
The Dragons are searching for a replacement for Ben Hunt, after he was granted an immediate release from the final year of his deal with the Red V, putting Atkinson on the club’s radar.
Clubs like Brisbane and the Gold Coast are making succession plans for life after Adam Reynolds and Kieran Foran, respectively.
SHARKS LOCK DOWN ANOTHER STAR
The Sharks are on the verge of snaring a second major recruitment scalp with Test backrower Briton Nikora poised to extend his future at the club.
Off-contract at the end of 2025, Nikora has agreed to terms on a new two-year deal at Cronulla that will keep the Kiwi International in the Shire until the end of 2027.
Nikora’s impending re-signing emerged just 24-hours after this masthead revealed Braydon Trindall had committed his future to the club (see below).
Nikora’s retention at the Sharks will have significant ramifications on the open market where he was considered one the most-prized backrow signatures from a list of 2025 off-contract edge-forwards which includes Kenny Bromwich, Bryce Cartwright, Tallis Duncan, Felise Kaufusi, Connelly Lemuelu, Trent Loiero, Kai Pearce-Paul and Teig Wilton
The Sharks 2024 Player of the Year nominee is one of 12 players from Cronulla whose contracts expire at the end of 2025.
The outstanding edge-forward had the option of testing his worth on the open market, but has virtually ignored the opportunity of playing elsewhere to remain loyal to the club he made his NRL debut with in 2019.
The fact that Nikora invited a large contingent of his teammates, plus head coach Craig Fitzgibbon and chairman Steve Mace, to his wedding in Bali last month, is an indication of the 26-year-old’s connection to the club.
It’s anticipated Nikora will officially put pen to paper once he returns to Australia this week from his honeymoon.
A mainstay of the Sharks pack, Nikora is one of the most durable and consistent forwards in the game with the powerful hole-runner averaging 22-games each season since his debut.
A try-scoring threat, Nikora scored 10-tries in 2024 - the most of any Sharks forward.
Nikora’s re-signing is a major win for the Sharks, with the club facing a major challenge to retain a huge contingent of off-contract stars.
The Sharks have Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Kade Dykes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazelton, Tuku Hau Tapuha and William Kennedy off-contract at the end of 2025.
Rising prop Oregon Kaufusi has also committed to the Sharks for the 2025 season.
Cronulla are hopeful that Kaufusi, 25, can form a formidable combination with high-profile prop recruit Addin Fonua-Blake in 2025 and choose to extend his future beyond next season.
The Samoan International and former Eels prop missed just one match in Cronulla’s 2024 preliminary final season.
HALVES MARKET SHAKE-UP AS TRINDALL MAKES CALL ON FUTURE
Trindall says the lure of winning a grand final and repaying the Sharks for their loyalty was behind his decision to re-sign with the club.
In a massive coup, Cronulla have thwarted rival clubs from luring the talented halfback away from the Shire club on the opening day of the November 1 transfer market.
The 25-year-old’s re-signing will also impact the open market for halfbacks, forcing rival clubs to search elsewhere for their future playmaker.
Over a Chinese meal at Cronulla’s Golden Bay restaurant, Trindall signed a new three-year deal on Friday that will keep him at the Sharks until the end of 2028.
The rising star said he never wanted to leave the Sharks despite being linked to the Knights, Dragons, Broncos and Dolphins.
“I’m obviously very excited,’’ Trindall said.
“I didn’t want to go anywhere else. The club has put a lot of trust in me over the years, so I’m looking forward to repaying them and all the fans.
“I just love this place.
“I love the club, I love the people here and love the whole organisation.
“I didn’t see myself anywhere else.
“It means the world to me. I came here when I was 18 and have done a lot of growing and still have a lot of growing to do.
“I want to make it to the grand final and hopefully win a premiership with the lads here.’’
The Sharks board and management were unwilling to discuss the terms of the new deal when contacted by this masthead.
However, it’s understood the Sharks have Trindall locked down for the next four seasons at an average of $675,000 per-season.
While some may view the figure as a gamble given Trindall’s infancy as a halfback and just 71 NRL appearances, coupled with off-field issues when he went DUI earlier this season, it is a salary which is far removed from the $900,000 figure that had been bandied around by commentators following his breakthrough semi final match against the Cowboys last September.
“If he was on the open market now, he could name his own price,’’ League Immortal Andrew Johns said in the wake of Trindall’s semi final performance.
“I have watched him closely and he has built his game every year. I was blown away by his performance the other night.
“Hypothetically, he would be up around $900,000 for sure – there is no one around.”
What can’t be disputed is that Trindall’s re-signing is crucial for Cronulla as they attempt to lockdown 12 players that are currently free-agents including the likes of Cam McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Briton Nikora, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Teig Wilton, Will Kennedy and Tom Hazelton.
Sharks chairman Steve Mace, CEO Dino Mezzatesta, coach Craig Fitzgibbon and GM of football Darren Mooney were always confident that Trindall would remain at the Sharks given the loyalty they showed the 25-year-old earlier this season and the belief in his ability by promoting him into the dominant halves role alongside Nicho Hynes in 2024.
The retention of Trindall is important for the Sharks with negotiations to re-sign Atkinson, Nikora and McInnes also underway.
Originally published as NRL 2024: Sharks enter race for Ronald Volkman, Briton Nikora set to join Braydon Trindall in re-signing with Cronulla
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