Cronulla may not be able to create salary cap room for Jesse Ramien as rival clubs circle
Jesse Ramien’s return to Cronulla is in doubt with the Sharks struggling to create room in their salary cap for the up and coming centre.
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Jesse Ramien’s return to Cronulla is in doubt with Sharks officials needing to move on more players to secure the flyer on a four-year deal, opening the door for clubs like Canterbury to pounce.
Ramien was set to sign a $2 million contract earlier this month but the Sharks have struggled to free up space to cater for his reunion.
Cronulla are paying half their salary cap for next season to just six players in Shaun Johnson, Andrew Fifita, Aaron Woods, Wade Graham, Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan.
Back-rower Kurt Capewell is set to sign with the New Zealand Warriors but the club needs to part ways with more players.
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This is proving challenging for Cronulla given most of their cap is tied up in players with multiple years remaining on their contracts.
As a result, the Sharks have told a number of senior players that they are free to look at their options in a bid to sign Ramien.
Cronulla can’t force the likes of Woods, Moylan or Dugan to depart given they are contracted until the end of the 2021 season.
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However, they have contacted managers to give any player the consent to pick up a deal with another NRL or English Super League club.
This process has been difficult for Cronulla officials, which threatens to cost the club Ramien’s signature.
Sharks officials have reached out to the 22-year-old to reinforce their salary cap position.
At this point, Ramien is happy to be patient and wait for Cronulla to resolve its salary cap crisis.
However, he is also desperate to revive his career after walking out on Newcastle with one year remaining on his contract due to frustration over a lack of ball.
The speedster’s agent Gavin Orr told The Daily Telegraph that the Dubbo-born back’s first preference is to play at Cronulla.
Orr also confirmed Canterbury is on the radar for Ramien’s services.
“We’ve already had discussions with the Bulldogs but at the moment we are just waiting to see where the Cronulla are at first,” Orr said.
Ramien played 22 games for the Sharks in 2017 and 2018, including an impressive 12 tries.
CRONULLA’S CONTRACTED PLAYERS
Off-contract 2020:
Josh Morris, Jayson Bukuya, Matt Prior, Sione Katoa, Chad Townsend
Off-contract 2021:
Josh Dugan, Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan and Aaron Woods