NRL | Newcastle Knights close to announcing the re-signing of key forwards Daniel Saifiti and Mitch Barnett and centre Hymel Hunt to extended deals

But CEO Phil Gardner reaffirmed the club's tight salary cap position for next season won't allow for any significant boost to the roster in new coach Adam O'Brien's first year in charge.

The Knights have lost eight players from the 2019 top 30 roster they kicked off with last season. The departed include Nathan Ross [injury retirement], Jesse Ramien, Jamie Buhrer, Slade Griffin, Zac Woolford [released] and Sam Stone [Titans], Shaun Kenny-Dowall [Hull Kingston Rovers] and James Gavet [Huddersfield].

Currently, the club has 26 players signed in their top 30 for 2020 with teenage stars Bradman Best, Starford To'a and Phoenix Crossland all earning promotions. The only new recruit so far from a rival club is former Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey.

Of those 26 players, a total of 14 are currently on contracts that expire at the end of 2020. Among those are Saifiti, Hunt and Barnett, who will all be extended for two more years.

A further nine players, headed by skipper Mitchell Pearce and star fullback Kalyn Ponga, are signed until the end of 2021 while just three - Best and Brailey [2022] and David Klemmer [2023] are on longer term deals.

Despite having four spots left in the roster for next season and the possibility that could stretch to five if unwanted hooker Danny Levi is off-loaded, the club says it won't be rushing into any decisions regarding recruitment. An outside back remains a priority, as does a backrower.

It was reported yesterday the Knights had signed Burleigh Bears halfback and Queensland Cup player of the year Jamal Fogarty but that's been denied by the club.

Gardner admitted next season will be a testing year for players with O'Brien in a position to move on almost half the playing group if they fail to perform.

"We have very little scope for any real change in the roster for 2020 but for 21, there are a host of players who are going to have to prove they are the right person if they want to be a part of the club going forward," Gardner said.

"That will be Adam's call to make at the appropriate time and is something he will work through."

Gardner confirmed he is closing in on a deal to tie up Barnett but is not sure if it will be signed off on before November 1 when rival clubs can legally negotiate with him.

"We are still working through a few of the details but I'm hoping it will be finalised pretty soon," he said.

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