Sharks could now lose breakout Brailey as extension talks stall

The Cronulla Sharks are rushing to put together another, upgraded extension offer after the original deal they tabled for star hooker Blayke Brailey was knocked back over relatively large value disagreements.

While he’s been in the NRL for a while and has 155 games under his belt already, Brailey has hit another level in 2025 and has become a must-sign hooker should he hit the open market.

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There’s every possibility interested NRL clubs will get a chance to woo the 26-year-old rake come November 1 too, with Brailey’s manager David Riolo telling The Mole at the Wide World of Sports that Cronulla’s lowball offer had been knocked back over an estimation that Brailey could now be earning a whole lot more through to his late 20s.

“I put a counteroffer, and they are considering it. We are kind of in limbo at the moment,” Riolo admitted.

“The clock is ticking. If it can’t get sorted before November 1, he will go to the open market.”

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Brailey has been in the Cronulla system since the late 2010s and came through the club’s feeder team, the Newtown Jets, before he cracked into first grade in 2019. Since his debut, he’s become a staple part of the Sharks’ star-studded spine.

Several NRL teams are very interested in grabbing Brailey should he become available, including the Knights.

It’s a little ironic they want him, considering they’re shipping his old brother Jayden to the Raiders.

The Sporting Base understands Brailey’s preference is still to stay with the Sharks — he wants to be a one-club player for his NRL career — but at the same time, he knows he has to strike while the iron’s hot form-wise. Right now, he’s earning $550,000-a-season and will be in Cronulla colours through to the end of the 2026 season no matter what happens.

The ball is still in Cronulla’s court; another offer should come soon, though it’s likely Brailey and the Sharks will both temporarily shelve conversations should Cronulla look to go deep in the postseason this year.