Sanctions dating back to the 2013 season have put Cronulla in a tight position, and with $350,000 to shed from this year and next year's cap... Kurt Capewell is sceptical of remaining at the Sharks.
Capewell's labelled his clear intentions to "stay at the club" but understands the pressures the Sharks are under.
"They're in a bit of a tough position with the cap and trying to keep the cap sorted out," Capewell told The Daily Telegraph.
"The main thing for me is to keep playing good footy and winning the competition with the Sharks."
Capewell is out of contract at the conclusion of this season and his replacement of Wade Graham on the left edge has been instrumental for the Sharks as they sit a game outside the top four. His form has deserved an Origin call up which he received last week as a reserve and moving him due to cap squeezes would be a tough pill to swallow for Cronulla.
The Sharks have multiple options around the cap with hooker Blayke Brailey and halfback Kyle Flanagan also potential players to ease cap struggles. But ultimately it could almost be too costly to keep the 25-year-old back rower at the shire club with his Origin form, age and contribution to the team increasing his value substantially.
Capewell has enjoyed a nice spell at the club with a 66% win ratio at the club and three trips to the finals (despite not playing in all games) stemming from the 2016 Premiership.
The club will try to keep him but keep an eye on the cap... as Capewell could be lining up against the Sharks in 2020.
Why not try get rid of someone on a bigger pay check like Dugan. Your best 13 has Moylan at fullback, Morris and Xerri in the centres. Itโs not like Dugan has been playing extremely well and you need him. Backs come and go, asking as they can tackles and have some speed youโll be fine. Kurt Capewell is worth keeping. He wants to stay at the club, heโs been willing to either start in the back row or centre or play a bench role. Heโs just a good team players and someone who wouldnโt let you.
+1 why keep a player who is more expensive and in worse form? Plus to add you have Aaron Gray and Sione Katoa in your backs reserve and it seems like the logical choice.
Hearing this news continues to confirm that most nrl clubs/coaches are blindly picking players based on there name and not the talent they are showing which has always plagued Australian rugby (both codes) which is why teams like storm are always on top and teams like Titans are always down the bottom.
Agreed bro, Australia rugby is a joke. Players emerge then leave off to Europe or Japan to earn the money cause there isnโt no system for success and no pride in the international jersey. Itโs made even more of a joke because if you play 60 caps at international level your allow to leave overseas and still get picked to play for your country. What makes NZ rugby so good is every team thinks they can win the Comp and they promote inform players over players with a reputation. For example Luke Romanoโs decline and the emergence or Tom Robinson. Plus there is pride in the Black jersey and players chose to stay here.
Agreed so many stupid little things that have completely destroyed Australian rugby union to the point of if you donโt consider it dead already then itโs definitely looking like itโs on his last legs.
your point shows why the all blacks have continued to stay great even after all the greats have retired the all blacks have shown that picking the same team from an experience stand point is not the way to go in the modern game. It gives even the 1st year players a hope that if they string a few strong games together they could wear that jersey and wonโt have to worry about the players currently occupying it.
I think this is where the problem lies in nrl to many teams are so stuck up on experience they donโt see the superstars and with this way of thinking a lot of young players donโt have that hope therefore affecting there confidence to go out there and do the job
Nah man, havenโt you heard? Dugan is awesome, he just told Freddie he should be in the next origin side hahahaha. I think he needs to drug tested. Best value for money ever.
Problem with getting rid of Dugan is he is on too much cash and no club will take him so sharks will be stuck with paying s big chunk.
Where as capewell would be able to leave without sharks paying anything and a club will pick him up for sure
100% about Dugan. He left Saints because he wanted fullback money when Saints saw him only as a centre. So he goes to Cronulla and how often has he played FB? Not often if ever. Worse, this week heโs been picked on the wing.
Yeah agree he’s ordinary but he’ll be playing finals footy and probably on the wing. If he stayed in the ‘gong he certainly wouldn’t have to be too concerned about that. Could be the only call the mergers recruitment and retention people got anywhere near right since the Grandpa Bennett days. Remember them? I know it was almost a decade ago.
Yeah nice try dumb ar$e but youโre still paying the loser nearly 800k to play poorly on the wing. Enjoy that
Touche brain surgeon. That compares quite favorably to a 9 playing in a 7 jumper for $ 1.2 mil doesn’t it?
That’ll calculate out to be about $ 100K per dropped kick off by seasons end. Handy coin for such an ordinary “marquee player”
PS. Thanks for the gift 2 points a couple of weeks ago. Always a pleasure beating the mergers.
Why not just ignore it, they have done that before !
Or is it only Melbourne we think of as cheats ?
Penrith should make Capewell an offer.
It’s good that the younger forwards such as Martin, Kenny have come through from the lower grades. However, Capewell would offer some more experience & is a good running forward.
Another good running back rower to go with Kikau, Martin & probably the promotion of Saun Blore next season. The forwards would be looking pretty good. Kenny looks a good player at hooker or in the back row/ lock.
Then just another centre maybe from within the club? Such as McGradie?
Things may be looking brighter there next season.