Snowden to announce he's walking out on Sharks
CRONULLA'S Test prop Kade Snowden is poised to finally end speculation over his future this week by agreeing to a four-year deal with the Newcastle Knights.
Snowden will turn his back on a rumoured $400,000 a season offer from the Sharks to accept a much less lucrative deal with the Knights.
It's understood his desire to return to his home town and the lure of playing under incoming coach Wayne Bennett are the reasons behind his decision.
Knights officials are saying nothing about the deal as Snowden is yet to sign a contract.
But sources have told The Sunday Telegraph Knights owner Nathan Tinkler is about to get his man. It was Tinkler who talked Snowden out of re-signing with the Sharks several weeks ago, only hours before he was set to front a press conference to settle his future.
Since then, there has been a question mark over whether Tinkler would be able to make good on his pledge to bring Snowden home because of the club's precarious salary cap position.
The doubt only intensified when Bennett was named as coach because of his edict of not paying front-rowers more than $300,000 a season.
But it is clear a resolution has been reached - and he may not be the only former Knight set to re-join the club in 2012.
In a surprise move, the club is also in talks with former captain Danny Buderus, currently in England and signed to Leeds until the end of 2012, to bring him back home for a swansong season.
It is understood Bennett is behind the Buderus move, believing his leadership qualities both on and off the field would be a huge asset to the club in his first season at the helm.
If his return is to eventuate, Buderus would first need to negotiate a release from Leeds.
