Connor Watson's future at the Newcastle Knights could hinge on a meeting with club officials in Brisbane next week with CEO Phil Gardner warning he has been offered a "take it or leave it" deal that won't be on the table forever.
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Recruitment boss Clint Zammet will sit down with the Knights utility star in a bid to escalate negotiations, with Watson told several weeks ago to test his worth on the open market after Newcastle's offer fell short of his expectations.
Initially, he was personally ringing rival coaches because he doesn't have a manager but it's understood he is now being assisted by an agent.
At this stage, it's unclear is Watson has attracted interest elsewhere and has any firm offers from rival clubs.
One of the most popular players among teammates and Knights fans, Walson also has an ally in coach Adam O'Brien, who wants him to remain at the club.
Watson has openly stated he is very keen to stay but it's now clear he will have to accept less than he believes he is worth to do so.
Knights CEO Phil Gardner didn't mince words when we asked about the Watson negotiations.
"We've only got so much money and we have made him the best offer we can so it's a simple situation for him - he either takes it or he leaves it," Gardner said.
"The thing that I've also said to Connor is he needs to be careful as well. The longer he leaves it, there is always the possibility that same offer won't still be there if someone else comes along we may be interested in."
Gardner shot down suggestions of a fan backlash if Watson was to depart.
"I don't respond to petitions," he said. "I know the fans love Connor and so do we but there is a number and that's the number and that is it. There's a salary cap we to have to work to."
Gags' paycut
The Knights virtually pulled out of negotiations with Dane Gagai a few weeks ago with the club's offer falling well short of the Souths and Maroons' centre's expectations.
But we're told his preference was always a return to Newcastle and when he lowered his appetite and the Knights agreed to sweeten their two-year deal by adding a further year, they reached an agreement.
Gagai is a quality signing with the only query being whether the third year comes back to bite the club.
Scott free
What Dane Gagai's signing will do is end any speculation about the club's interest in Canberra Raiders bad boy Curtis Scott.
Scott had been offered to the Knights, who were weighing up the pros and cons behind the scenes of giving him an opportunity when the Gagai talks stalled. He's now off the radar.
Move on Brailey
With the two Saifiti brothers now under lock and key long term and Hymel Hunt and Kurt Mann re-signed for a couple more years on modest contracts, the Knights have turned their attention to extending the contract of highly impressive co-captain Jayden Brailey.
Brailey is already signed for next season but we are expecting the tenacious hooker to extend his stay until at least the end of the 2024 season after negotiations kicked off earlier this week.
Brailey, our guest on this week's Toohey's News podcast, is very keen to stay so expect an announcement to that effect within the next couple of weeks.
Roughing it
Knights players and coaching staff used to being looked after at home by wives, partners and mums and dads are finding out that home duties are no walk in the park at the Twin Waters resort on the Sunshine Coast.
With no hotel staff to help due to the quarantine, everyone is forced to make their own beds, change sheets and do all their own washing. David Klemmer admitted to us he's never had to do his own washing before.
Washing machines are scarce too. We're told Knights coach Adam O'Brien has even resorted to washing gear in the spar-bath in his room, Crocodile Dundee-style.
Knights' women in limbo
It's been a tough little period for the Knights new NRL Women's squad with their competition still in limbo and now likely to be put back until September/October due to Covid.
Around 80 percent of the Knights squad is from New Zealand and Queensland with some of the recruits from north of the border returning home before the borders shut this week.
The bulk of the girls are being put up and looked after by the club at the Quest Apartments in Newcastle as they wait for the NRL to make a decision on what this season's competition will look like. A zoom hook-up yesterday failed to reach an outcome.
Brails closes on DSaf
Knights co-captain Jayden Brailey has jumped out of the pack and taken advantage of leader Daniel Saifiti missing the big loss to the Melbourne Storm to narrow the gap at the top of our player of the year leader board after round 18 to three points.
Knights v Storm [Rd 18]: 3 Jayden Brailey 2 Josh King 1 Mitch Barnett.
Leader board after Rd 18: 18- Daniel Saifiti. 15- Jayden Brailey. 13- Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson, Mitch Barnett. 10- Jacob Saifiti. 5- Tyson Frizell, Bradman Best. 4- Brodie Jones. 3- Kurt Mann, Jake Clifford, Josh King. 1- David Klemmer, Jesse Sue, Phoenix Crossland.
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