Sharks veteran faces retirement amid cap squeeze; rival eyes Tigers’ $900k star — Transfer Whispers

Sharks veteran Cameron McInnes is facing retirement with the club unable to make him an offer.

Currently on the comeback trail from an ACL injury, McInnes is off-contract in 2026 and at 32 it remains to be seen how he will return to the field.

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WWOS’ The Mole reported McInnes may be let go by the Sharks at the end of the season and is facing retirement.

“They (Cronulla) can’t make an offer now and not sure what it would look like,” McInnes said on the Chiming In podcast, hosted by player manager Steve Gillis.

McInnes has scored 27 tries in 226 NRL games for the Rabbitohs, Dragons and Sharks since his debut in 2014 and has played one Origin for the Blues.

The Sharks have 14 players coming off-contract and can’t keep them all with McInnes likely to be forced out due to his age and history of concussions.

The Perth Bears could be an option for McInnes, but it remains to be seen if they are keen on the ageing lock.

DRAGONS JOIN RACE FOR TIGERS STAR

The St George Illawarra Dragons are preparing to make a huge play to sign a rival team’s fullback as they prepare for life without veteran Clint Gutherson.

Ever since debuting in 2023, Jahream Bula has been one of the highlights at the Wests Tigers and has easily been one of the club’s best performers which has seen him score 23 tries in 57 matches.

However, he has constantly been linked with an exit from the Concord-based side for more than the last six months.

Already linked to the Canterbury Bulldogs, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the St George Illawarra Dragons are now keeping a close eye on Bula and will make him their “priority target” if he enters the open market.

As it stands, the Wests Tigers have until May to exercise the mutual option in his contract, which would see him stay at the club for at least another season on a salary of $900,000.

Bula can also take up a player option, which will see him earn $800,000, but needs to be agreed upon before the following month (June).

If neither is done, he will enter the open market and can speak and negotiate with rival clubs immediately.

“I do think your words are wise there around it being a unique situation,” Tigers CEO Shaun Mielekamp told SEN 1170 Breakfast in December.

“But we do have a player who wants to stay. We’ve got a club who wants him to stay. We’ve got a coach who wants him to stay. So, you start there and you go, ‘right, things are gonna be okay’.

“It’s really just a matter of just working really closely with his agent and getting through what is the best model to make sure that we unlock this moving forward.

“It’s still a little early to actually definitively say how it’ll play out, but I’m very, very confident speaking to Jahream himself directly, and feeling really positive that everyone wants this to work.

“We just need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s and that’ll take care of itself before the season kicks off.“

SHARKS CENTRE MEETS WITH RIVALS

In-demand Cronulla Sharks centre Jesse Ramien has reportedly been spotted meeting with another NRL team’s head coach as he enters the final few months of his current contract.

One of multiple players at the Sharks who are uncontracted beyond the conclusion of this season, Ramien has been on the lookout for a new deal for some time and he may have found his future club.

According to Wide World of Sports, Ramien was caught having coffee with North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten and the club’s recruitment boss Clint Zammit on Thursday at Brighton.

The Cowboys had shown an interest in the past but ruled out making a formal play for his signature due to his asking for a salary of $600,000 per season.

However, it looks like they may have changed their mind.

The Gold Coast Titans, Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm have also been linked to Ramien in the past.

PERTH TARGET COWS GUN AS TEAMMATE SPEAKS ON FUTURE

One of the most sought-after players on the open market, North Queensland Cowboys youngster Jaxon Purdue has attracted the interest of another club.

Already linked to the Melbourne Storm over the past few months, Code Sports reports that the Perth Bears have now entered the race in an attempt to secure his services.

However, it is understood that he is likely to remain in Townsville after the Cowboys tabled him a long-term contract at the end of last year

Meanwhile, Purdue’s teammate Scott Drinkwater admitted that he hopes to remain in Townsville beyond the conclusion of the 2027 season.

“I would like to stay in the north. I do like it up here, and my wife has a good bunch of friends up here and close with everyone,” Drinkwater said on SENQ Breakfast.

“But first and foremost, I (would) like to stay here. I know they’ve got Ethan King; they’ve signed him. Mason Barber (is) a good talent. Jaxon Purdue showed some good things at fullback.

“The club has a decision as well, but I think I need to play some good footy and the rest sorts itself out.”

A member of the 2015 Australian Schoolboys side, Drinkwater has been linked with an exit from the club due to the emergence of youngsters Ethan King and Mason Barber.

He admitted that he is also open to a move to the PNG Chiefs for 2028.

KUMULS STAR KNOCKS BACK BEARS

One of the best young playmakers who has yet to play a single minute of first-grade football has decided to knock back interest from the Perth Bears as he eyes a future with another club.

A two-time international for Papua New Guinea, Gairo Voro has exploded onto the rugby league scene over the past couple of years and has attracted interest from a multitude of sides.

Two of these teams are the Bears and the PNG Chiefs.

Likened to Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai due to his hair and playing ability, Code Sports reports that he has decided to shun interest from the Bears with a view to becoming one of the inaugural signings made by the PNG Chiefs.

Previous reports indicated that he could have spent the 2027 season with the Bears before switching to the Chiefs.

“Gairo has serious talent, he can really play,” Voro’s current London Broncos head coach Jason Demetriou told Code Sports in February.

“One of the reasons I brought him over to England was to help his development because he has all the natural talent to make it in the NRL.

“He has already fitted in really well over here and I would love to see him playing for PNG in the NRL.

“Gairo is precisely the type of kid that can benefit from a PNG team in the NRL.”

SHARKS FORWARD TO EXTEND

The Cronulla Sharks are set to confirm the retention of an extremely valuable member of their forward pack as they prepare for the future.

After recruiting Owen Trout from the Super League, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that back-rower Billy Burns is now set to extend with the Sharks for a couple more seasons until the end of 2028.

One of 13 player at the club who are off-contract at the end of the season, the publication understands that he has rejected interest from the Perth Bears, who are still building their inaugural squad.

Another five clubs had also shown an interest in recruiting him before he extended with the Sharks in July for this season.

“They took a chance on me a couple of years ago when I didn’t really have anything going,” Burns told foxsports.com.au in the past.

“Now I’ve landed on my two feet here and I’m pretty excited. I love it here, and I love the boys, the coaches, and it’s a good feeling around the club.

“I really wanted the opportunity to learn from Fitzy (Craig Fitzgibbon), with him being a back-rower, and heard plenty of good things.

“The team was always in good form, always in the semi’s, so I knew that he had plenty to offer.

“If I was going to climb my way back into the NRL, I think it was going to be one of my best opportunities to do so under him - that was definitely a major drawing card.

The 27-year-old has played 22 matches for the Sharks since joining them in 2022 and has also racked up 41 appearances for the Panthers and Dragons.

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