As we enter Round 21 of the NRL competition, the Cronulla Sharks currently sit just inside the top eight.
The club managed to snap a recent and worrying trend of losses by recording back-to-back wins over fellow top-eight hopefuls, the Dolphins and the Sydney Roosters.
The Sharks' number nine, Blayke Brailey, was instrumental in both victories.
Undoubtedly best on ground in the victory over the Roosters, he was also, at worst, second-best on ground against the Dolphins. I'll even hear an argument for him being the catalyst for the win on that night, also.
It is no coincidence that when Blayke Brailey is playing well, the Sharks are a far better side.
Over the past fortnight, he has recorded 229 run metres, a line-break, three line-break assists, four try assists and at least 10 Dally M points.
His good form stretches back much further than the past two weekends, but his recent numbers put forward a good argument, at least until last night, that he was the form number nine of the competition.
A quick glance at the official NRL stats shows that Brailey has touched the ball almost 600 more times than anyone else in the competition, whilst completing almost 60 more tackles than the nearest player to him.
He also has 10 more dummy half runs than anyone else in the competition.
Simply put, Blayke Brailey is a massive piece of the Sharks' puzzle right now and moving forward, which is why a wave of panic was sent through the Sharks' social media pages earlier this week when news broke that he had rejected the Sharks' offer for a new contract.
Before I proceed, I want to make it clear that I can't see Blayke Brailey running out in any colours other than the black, white and blue of Cronulla.
Brailey, just this week, was quoted as saying: "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."
He's not even off contract until the end of 2027. I am firmly convinced that the Sharks will finalise the deal well before November 1. They simply have to!
I've long had a love/hate (not really hate, but that's the expression) with Brailey.
Frustration at his lack of willingness, or ability, to run from dummy half has long been a bugbear of mine.
Not so in 2025, though. Brailey has routinely torn teams to shreds all season long. I'd argue he's at short odds to claim a third Paul Gallen medal as the Sharks' player of the year.
Everyone in the entire NRL community could see the potential. They could see the talent. The signs were there that he could be something very special.
The past few weeks and months have made the wait worth it.
For the Sharks to even allow the likes of the cashed-up Bears the opportunity to talk to his management would be a grave error.
Far beyond Brailey's talent are other factors. I have him nailed on as the club's next captain. Once Cameron McInnes retires, Brailey is the man I'd clap the captaincy on.
He's the perfect role model. Humble and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
He's the kind of player you're proud to see represent your club. The player you'd love to see your kids put posters of up on the wall.
He's a big minute player, a big effort player and a Sharks local. He is the Sharks through and through.
Perhaps most importantly of all, though, he's the only player in the Sharks squad that I can't name two replacements for if he were to leave.
Riley Pollard, Michael Gabrael, Samuel McCulloch, Dylan Coutts, Felix Faatili and Taj Ford are all magnificent prospects for the Sharks. All will debut in the next 18 months.
Throw in Sam Stonestreet, Chris Vea'ila and Liam Ison, who have all made their debuts in the NRL already, and you have an incredible crop of future talent.
None of them can play hooker, though.
The way the club have set up their system revolves hugely around Blayke Brailey.
His backup, Jayden Berrell, is 30 years old. The player most likely to challenge for the spot in Sam Healey was allowed to walk to the Warriors.
Any other player in the 1 to 17, no matter how big the star, can be somewhat replaced through the system for the next two years, without any movements at all.
Brailey, though, is the absolute linchpin. If the Sharks do wait too long and Brailey's management catches wind of a million-dollar offer from the Bears, it could all come crumbling down.
Don't get me wrong, they could easily recruit a number nine for 2027, but they'd be resetting the system while seeing a player they invested in so heavily reach his potential at another club.
Brailey is currently 26. It is said that he wants a five-year deal on top of the one year he has remaining.
The Sharks are reportedly willing to offer a three-year deal.
I don't completely trust the monetary figures being thrown around, but anywhere between $650,000 and $800,000 seems about the sweet spot.
The two parties seem to be two years apart on length and a little off on the money.
There should be a happy medium in there somewhere, especially considering everything mentioned above.
There's every chance that Brailey and his management are just doing their due diligence in not accepting the first offer.
There's a really good chance Brailey has no intention of talking to other clubs and is just playing the game, but the Sharks really can't take that risk, to be honest.
Get the deal done and announce it before next Sunday's home game against the Cowboys.
Anything less would be fanning the flames of a huge distraction the club don't need as they look to launch a late finals charge, largely on the back of Brailey's efforts.
