The Canberra Raiders are set to retain centre Matthew Timoko beyond the end of 2026, but the future remains clouded for Sebastian Kris.
Timoko was earlier this year viewed as a likely candidate to leave the nation's capital, but that has taken a turn, with a fresh News Corp report revealing he is likely to have a club option taken up.
The contract for Timoko includes a club option through to the end of 2028, which could lock him into the nation's capital for another 24 months.
Timoko was in and out of Ricky Stuart's side early in the year as the veteran head coach grappled with exactly what his best 17 looked like.
The form of Simi Sasagi made him simply undroppable, and Timoko was forced to fight Sebastian Kris for the other centre spot, but has since won it on a more permanent basis.
While the Raiders have a host of young guns in the outside backs, it's clear with the form of Samoan representative Sasagi there is likely only room for one of Kris and Timoko.
Timoko now appears to have won that race, with Kris exploring options around his own future.
Kris is still contracted in Canberra for next season and would need to force a move away from the club, but it's understood they won't stand in his way if another club are willing to pay full freight.
The report suggests the Gold Coast Titans are monitoring the situation and Kris' form although he has only started once at NRL level since Round 16, while he was also previously linked to the New Zealand Warriors.
The Warriors move was a hard one to get a read on given the number of outside backs they have signed, while the Titans are in need of players all over the park and are yet to replace the departing Phillip Sami, who joins the St George Illawarra Dragons major rebuild in 2027.
