Manly has tabled an eyewatering $5.6 million deal in an attempt to retain damaging backrower Haumole Olakau'atu until the end of 2030, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Sea Eagles and Olakau'atu's management have been in discussions for several months regarding an upgrade, which last week resulted in a five-year extension offer averaging about $800,000 per year.
Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Eels playmaker Dylan Brown could remain at their clubs until 2033 and 2031 respectively due to clauses in their contracts, but they are the only NRL players with longer-team deals than the one presented to Olakau'atu.
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Manly is also believed to be targeting Wests Tigers prop Alex Twal and could land the Lebanese forward through a swap deal, which Phil Gould reported on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast on Wednesday.
The other player involved in that reported swap deal is Manly front-rower Sean Keppie, according to the SMH.
"I think Manly and the Tigers are discussing perhaps a trade, or a swap, with Alex," Gould said.
"We'll know more next week what his intentions are, and we've got to decide whether that's right for us as well.
"Alex has to decide whether that's right for him."
Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles announced on Thursday that playmaker Jake Arthur, the son of Eels coach Brad Arthur, had re-signed until the end of 2025.
The 20-year-old moved from Parramatta to Manly in May and has played six NRL games for the Sea Eagles.
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"We have been very impressed with how Jake has immersed himself into our club with his work ethic and attitude to getting better," said Manly head coach Anthony Seibold.
"Jake shows the 'Manly mentality' every day he comes into the building.
"He finished the season very strongly in first grade in the No.6 jersey.
"He has the ability to play in the halves at NRL level and gives us depth and competition for spots in that position, but we also feel he has some versatility in his game that would enable him to play in the forwards as a ball-playing utility."
Manly finished in 12th place on the ladder this season, which was Seibold's first as head coach of the Sea Eagles.
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