Market Watch: Knights offer deals to veteran duo as Sharks, Raiders move to lock down young stars

Newcastle supporters started a petition to keep Dane Gagai at the club - and their prayers have been answered. Meanwhile, Cronulla have moved to make a key star a Shark for life.

Newcastle have offered one year deals to Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell as they look to ensure the Knights start next season with some stability and experience.

Both players had options in their contracts for next season which have elapsed, but it is understood Newcastle are keen to retain them on the right terms.

The club has now made its move with extension offers for both players. Gagai and Frizell have both produced consistent seasons in a Newcastle side that has struggled for consistency.

They are also at the back end of their careers but have shown enough this season to suggest there is still some petrol on the tank.

Gagai was among the Knights’s best performers in their weekend loss to Melbourne, having been switched to fullback to cover for the absence of Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe with injury.

A band of Newcastle supporters recently started a petition to keep him at the club.

Frizell has played 16 games this season and held his own despite the move to the front row over the past two months.

Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell have been offered one-year deals to stay with the Knights. Picture: Getty

CRONULLA MOVE TO LOCK DOWN STAR HOOKER

By David Riccio

Cronulla have launched plans to make hooker Blayke Brailey a Shark for life with the prospect of surpassing club legends Andrew Ettingshausen and Wade Graham’s records for most-games for the club.

In career-best form and with calls for the skilful dummy-half to be part of the NSW Blues State of Origin redemption plans team next year, Brailey is off-contract at the Sharks at the end of 2026.

A free-agent from this November 1, the Sharks have already commenced negotiations with the NRL ironman who boasts the current most consecutive games in the game.

Cronulla are working on a four-year deal that will take Brailey off the market and locked-in at the Shire until 2030 - 11 seasons after making his first grade debut as a local junior.

He is already the longest-serving hooker in Sharks history.

The Sharks are preparing a four-year contract extension for hooker Blayke Brailey to keep him at the club until the end of 2030. Picture: Getty Images

Brailey’s stunning performance in combining with Nicho Hynes to beat the Dolphins on Friday night was his 154th NRL game for the Sharks and incredibly, his 120th straight game.

The 26-year-old sits well clear on the list of current active players for most consecutive games, however still shy of former Sharks and Titans prop Luke Douglas’ record of 215 straight games.

Providing he stays healthy, the combination of a new four-year deal and consistent games would provide Brailey with a shot at reeling in club legends David Peachey (232), Wade Graham (255), Andrew Ettingshausen (328) and possibly into the future, running down Paul Gallen (348) as the club’s all-time record-holder for most games.

RAIDERS MOVE TO SECURE YOUNG GUN LONG-TERM

By Brent Read and Michael Carayannis

Canberra’s superb season is set to continue with one of the game’s most improved players in Kaeo Weekes set to ink a long-term deal to remain at the Raiders.

The Raiders will lock down the 23-year-old despite his contract not expiring until the end of 2027.

It is understood that he will recommit to the club for a further two years keeping him contracted at Canberra for the next four seasons.

Canberra’s decision to fast-track a new deal will stop the potential threat of the NRL’s two new expansion clubs in Perth and PNG from attempting to steal Weekes.

Kaeo Weekes. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

It will be Weekes’ second contract extension in less than 12 months after only inking an upgraded and longer deal just last September.

Weekes has been a revelation since joining the Raiders from Manly on a two-year deal last season.

He agreed to a two-year extension last year after impressing when he made the fullback spot his own, playing in 17 games after starting the season in reserve grade.

Weekes’ re-signing follows that of Zac Hosking and Savelio Tamale with the pair also recently recommitting to the club.

Meanwhile, Pasami Saulo has been released from the final year of his contract to join Newcastle next year.

Originally published as Market Watch: Knights offer deals to veteran duo as Sharks, Raiders move to lock down young stars