Latest news with #BlaykeBrailey
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sharks 'error' that could see Blayke Brailey join QLD Origin players at rival club
The Cronulla Sharks have been called out over a 'grave error' around Blayke Brailey that could see the star hooker join the Perth Bears as one of the club's first marquee signings. Queensland Origin stars Cameron Munster and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui have also emerged as the main targets for Mal Meninga's Bears in what could be a massive coup for the NRL's newest franchise when they enter the competition in 2027. Brailey still has one more year left on his current deal with the Sharks but will be free to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1 if he doesn't agree an extension with Cronulla before then. However, it's understood contract talks between Brailey and the Sharks have hit an impasse, with the player's representatives wanting a five-year extension and Cronulla reportedly only offering him three years on top of his current deal. The situation has left the door open for Perth to pounce on Brailey, who has emerged as the NRL's most in-form hooker and a future NSW Origin star. The Sharks No.9 is outperforming Origin hookers Harry Grant and Reece Robson, and Fox League's James Hooper says Cronulla's delay in agreeing an extension could cost them. 'The black, white and blue have made a grave error. They've just been a little slow out of the gates, and I'd even go as far to say they have probably lowballed him,' Hooper told NRL 360 on Wednesday night. 'If he's available come November 1, I'd suspect many clubs, possibly someone like the Perth Bears, would pay up to $1 million to try and land his signature. Because you can build a club around him.' League journalist Michael Caryannis described Brailey as 'the most in-form player of the competition' and said the Sharks will be desperate to tie him down to the club as soon as possible. "He's a Shire boy, he's a (club) junior, he wants to stay and I think they'll get the deal done," he told SEN radio on Thursday. "But they (Cronulla) have just got to be careful that if it gets to November 1, another club will offer him $1 million and the Sharks won't get to that." Hooper says he doesn't think Cronulla's offer for Brailey is 'anywhere near where it needs to be', considering he would almost certainly command a seven-figure sum if he hit the open market. 'I'd say it's around $650,000, something like that. I don't think it's anywhere near where it needs to be,' Hooper said. RELATED: Kevvie vows to act as three stars consider walking away from Kangaroos Madge spills family detail that has Walsh and Broncos primed for finals Panthers fans divided after Ivan Cleary forced to axe grand final hero Maroons stars emerge as marquee targets for Perth Bears Titans skipper Fa'asuamaleaui has links to Meninga, who signed him at the Gold Coast and coached him at the Kangaroos. Tino is on a long-term deal at Gold Coast worth around $1.2 million per year but has clauses in his contract that enable him to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1, which works in favour of Meninga's Bears. The Maroons star is settled with his family in Queensland though, but has asked the Titans to outline their vision for the future after the club's well-publicised struggles in 2025 that look set to cost Des Hasler his coaching job. Perth would probably have to offer Tino a massive deal worth upwards of $1.4 per season to prise him away from the Gold Coast, but it would be a huge coup if Meninga could pull off the marquee signing. The Perth coach is also said to have Queensland skipper Munster firmly in his sights, but a move for the Maroons Origin hero is slightly more complicated. The Melbourne five-eighth still two years remaining on his Storm contract after this season, and would need to be granted an early release if he wanted to join Perth. Munster is also settled in Melbourne and it would take a similarly massive offer to entice him to join the Bears.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brailey can only see himself running in Sharks colours
In-form hooker Blayke Brailey says can't imagine leaving Cronulla with the Sharks opening talks to lock down the dummy-half on a long-term deal. The best running hooker in the NRL over the past two months, Brailey has become one of the most important cogs in Cronulla's title hopes. Off contract at the end of the season, the 26-year-old would likely become a target for several clubs if a deal is not done before November 1. But the Sharks have begun negotiations, with Brailey also keen to remain with the club he debuted for in 2019. "I have never thought about (playing against Cronulla)," Brailey said. "I love this club, I love this area. I grew up here. I was there when Gal lifted the trophy in 2016 and I want to be back there. "I played on the family hill here at Shark Park. To me this place is home and hopefully the club sees that too. This is definitely home for me." Back in the top eight after Friday's win over the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla can take another step towards finals on Saturday against a struggling South Sydney. Brailey's running game out of dummy-half has become one of the most obvious talking points about the Sharks this season. It was a well-worn statistic last season that the Sharks won 87 per cent of games in which Brailey ran 30 metres or more, compared to 27 per cent when he ran less. In the past five games, he has averaged 67 metres, getting Cronulla on the front foot and setting up two tries in each of the Sharks' last two wins. An incredible run from Blayke Brailey! 🔥 — NRL (@NRL) July 18, 2025 "I have put a lot more pressure on myself to run, it is a non-negotiable for me now," Brailey said. "It is obviously working well for us when I do run we get on the front foot and it does make our side flow a bit better." Brailey said the change in mindset had left him in a purple patch, where it also became more obvious for him to spot the best times to take off. "It does slow down at times. I can see it unfolding and I can see myself running before it even happens," he said. "That's what's happening at the moment ... I am seeing the game a lot more clearly."
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Non-negotiable for me': The crazy numbers that have Blayke Brailey eyeing off contract extension with the Sharks
Blayke Brailey isn't focusing on a contract extension because he fears it could affect his scorching form, but the Sharks hooker can't see himself elsewhere with the dynamic runner playing better than he ever has. Cronulla's fortunes have often been linked to his running game, and it's no surprise to see them back in the top eight and winning games with Brailey setting up four tries in his past two matches. The man who never misses games has won the club's player of the year award in each of the past two seasons and would be high up on the leaderboard again in 2025. The local junior still has another year to run on his contract but must be a top priority for the Sharks given other clubs would break the bank for a player with his speed, durability and toughness in the middle. 'When contracts come up, you can get a bit sidetracked and your form can dip,' he said, revealing he's left it up to his manager to sort out. 'I'm just trying not to worry about it. I know that if my footy does the talking, that's all I'm worried about. I'm more focused on winning the next few games and cementing our spot in the top eight. 'I love this club, I grew up here and I was there when Gal (club legend Paul Gallen) lifted the trophy in 2016. 'I've never even given any thought (to playing for another club). I grew up in the area and played footy on the hill here at Shark Park, so this place is home. Hopefully, the club sees that as well.' Brailey ran for 78m in the win over the Dolphins and backed it up with a season-high 93m against the Roosters on Friday night to go with 45 tackles. He'd only run for 40m in one of his first 13 games of the season, but he's done it in each of his past five matches to go with five line breaks. 'I feel like I'm in a really good space at the minute with my defence and my running game, which is probably been the one thing that's everyone's noticed,' he said. 'I'm seeing the game really clearly and it makes the game a lot more enjoyable when I'm not just tackling the whole game. 'It's been a really good period for me and hopefully I can continue that going forward.' Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon was glad that other people were noticing how good Brailey is, while skipper Cam McInnes – who used to be a hooker before he moved to lock – spoke highly of what Brailey has brought to the club. 'If I played hooker and he plays hooker, then I didn't play hooker,' he said. 'I'm nowhere near that level of capability, so we're lucky to have him.' An incredible run from Blayke Brailey! ðŸ'¥ — NRL (@NRL) July 18, 2025 Brailey's running game is only possible if the forwards are winning the ruck, and it's vital for him to run amok to take pressure off the halves who have the time and space to finish off the attacking raids. There used to be a weekly obsession over his running numbers given Cronulla's winning percentage was linked to his darts from dummy-half, with Brailey declaring it a 'non-negotiable' for him to run, run and run again. 'It does slow down at times and I can see it unfolding and see myself running before it even happens. That's what's happening at the moment,' he said. 'I'm pretty happy with the patch I'm in, and hopefully I can run more, attack more and give the team whatever it needs to win. 'Fitzy always encourages me to run, and I'm at the point now in my game where if I don't run, I'm not happy. 'It's working out well for us that when I do run, we get on the front foot and it makes our side flow a lot better. 'I've put a lot of pressure on myself to run and it's a non-negotiable for me. I know if I don't run that I'll be pretty cranky and upset for the week.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'End of story': Daley urged to pick Cronulla player as long-term option for NSW
Blayke Brailey has established himself as the in-form hooker in the NRL, with many calling for the Cronulla Sharks player to be given more State of Origin consideration in 2026. Brailey starred again on Friday night as the Sharks beat the Roosters 31-18, setting up two tries with a line-break and line-break assist. Over the last five games since being told by coach Craig Fitzgibbon to run the ball more, the 26-year-old has a try, five try assists, four line-breaks and three line-break assists. He also regularly tops the tackle count and averages over 45 per game. Speaking after Friday night's win, Fiztgibbon said Brailey deserves more recognition. "I hope people are saying (he's the form hooker of the NRL), it feels like it," the Sharks coach said in his press conference. "He has been our player of the year the last two years, we feel like he is consistent. But it's a nice he's getting some acknowledgement. The most important thing about it is what he is doing for our halves. The spine are starting to organise and get that better. "I just think he's underestimated, or has been, and now people are onto it. We have been playing far stronger footy in the past few years and no-one has noticed him. He's obviously stepped up and has added to his game. I think that's a nice compliment for a kid who has busted his backside for 120 games straight." Blake Brailey could be NSW Origin hooker in 2026 Brailey has previously been selected in emerging player squads for NSW in State of Origin, but never picked to take the next step into the representative arena. He was invited to a meeting with Blues coach Michael Maguire before the 2024 series, but missed out on the No.9 jersey to Reece Robson. Maguire preferred Robson due to his defence, and it proved the right call as the Blues won that series. But the Cowboys hooker failed to fire in 2025, and made a number of costly mistakes in NSW's loss in the Game 3 decider. With Robson's spot anything but secure for the 2026 series, many are calling for Brailey to get the nod. The Sharks hooker has one of the best running games of all No.9s in the competition, and has improved in defence in the last two seasons. RELATED: 'Unfair' family detail as Andrew Johns makes unexpected career call Ivan Cleary's genius laid bare after call to axe Panthers Test player Latrell Mitchell spotted in sad post-match moment amid Souths low One person wrote on social media on Friday night: "Blayke Brailey would be excellent as the NSW #9. Plays 80 minutes and don't need to waste a bench spot to replace him." Another added: "Blayke Brailey should be the NSW 9 next season, end of story." Others have suggested he should be picked in the Kangaroos squad for the end-of-season Ashes tour in England. "How Brailey wasn't in Origin is beyond me. Should go on the Kangaroo tour," one person wrote. While another commented: "It's a crime Brailey wasn't in the NSW squad for game 3."
ABC News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Blayke Brailey: The Coach tells me I'm a slow learner!
Cronulla picked up a much needed win to re-ignite their charge to the NRL Finals. Hooker Blayke Brailey (28.09) had an impressive game particularly with the ball in hand- something his coach has been urging him to do more of for a while. he told Andrew Moore and the team how they focused on stopping Isaiya Katoa, and the heroics of Toby Rudolph. He also discussed the many ailments of Cam McInnes. Plus Moorey, Matthew Elliott and Michael Carayannis discuss the under pressure coaches in the competition (40.30).
