It seems Finucane may be off our radar, or maybe more smoke screens are shielding
Cronulla have told star trio Shaun Johnson, Josh Dugan and Aaron Woods they will not be offered contract extensions at the club as the club's chequebook goes towards a scrum base partner for Nicho Hynes and backline reinforcements.
NRL.com understands that off-contract big earners Johnson, Dugan and Woods were told by club officials on Thursday that their futures lie elsewhere beyond 2021.
The decision continues a roster overhaul under incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon after Hynes was signed to play in the halves next season.
Retention talks are underway with Matt Moylan, who is facing a significantly reduced offer to stay at Cronulla, after Johnson was tabled a one-year deal believed to be worth roughly half his current $800,000 salary.
Johnson's reluctance to entertain that offer, as well as the expected offloading of Dugan and Woods, frees up the best part of $2 million in Cronulla's salary cap.
The season so far: Round 7-12
The season so far: Round 7-12
NRL.com understands Cronulla haven't ruled out securing another playmaker in the market if a deal with Moylan can't be worked out either.
Back up half Brayden Trindall remains a re-signing priority as the club continues talks with the 21-year-old playmaker.
The Sharks are still in the market for outside backs given a raft of injuries exposed their depth out wide this year, while both Cronulla officials and Dale Finucane's agent have dismissed any pursuit of the off-contract Storm skipper.
Cronulla already have Cameron McInnes arriving as a lock next year, and Toby Rudolf's re-signing alongside the likes of Braden Hamlin-Uele, Franklin Pele, Andrew Fifita leaving them well-stocked up front.
For the Storm, Hynes's exit frees up some salary cap space to improve their chances of keeping Finucane, although a utility replacement is also a priority.
Melbourne are understood to have made an offer to Broncos half Tyson Gamble recently, however his priority is to remain at Red Hill as extension talks continue.
The Broncos and Warriors were among rival clubs to table offers for Hynes, with Kevin Walters confirming on Wednesday that
Queensland stars Gagai, Kurt Capewell and Jaydn Su'A remain on his radar.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/03...nulla-call-as-rivals-plot-post-hynes-targets/