The Cronulla Sharks are set to make a bold play to secure the long-term future of hooker Blayke Brailey, launching plans to extend his contract and keep him in the Shire until at least the end of 2030.
Already the longest-serving hooker in Sharks history, Brailey is currently off contract with Cronulla at the end of the 2026 NRL season and will be eligible to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 this year.
In a bid to retain the local junior, News Corp reports the club is preparing to offer a four-year extension that would see Brailey remain at the Sharks through to the twilight of his career.
Currently in career-best form and with growing calls for his inclusion in next year’s NSW Blues State of Origin squad, the contract extension would see the Sharks hooker locked in at the Shire until 2030 — 11 seasons after making his first-grade debut as a local junior.
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With 154 NRL games under his belt, the 26-year-old played his 120th consecutive match last Friday during the Sharks’ 24-12 triumph over the Dolphins.
The new deal would put Brailey on track to challenge some of the club’s most iconic appearance records, setting him in pursuit of legends like Andrew Ettingshausen (328 games), Wade Graham (255), David Peachey (232), and, if he maintains his durability and form, the staggering 348 games held by Paul Gallen.
However, Brailey’s contract talks come amid growing salary cap pressures for the Sharks. The club has handed out several lucrative upgrades recently, including big-dollar deals for stars Addin Fonua-Blake and Nicho Hynes, pushing the salary cap close to its limits.
This financial strain could put the futures of key players in jeopardy, with fullback William Kennedy and promising winger Sam Stonestreet yet to extend their contracts beyond this season.