The Dolphins have officially confirmed that fan favourite Trai Fuller will remain at the club for at least another season until the end of 2027.

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Targeted by the St George Illawarra Dragons in recent months, Fuller’s new deal comes after he opted to turn down a $1.2 million offer to join the Wakefield Trinity in the Super League.

It is understood that Wakefield had tabled him a three-year deal worth around $567,000 a season, but the 29-year-old decided to reject it to remain in Australia.

Scoring four tries for the Prime Minister’s XIII at the end of last year, he has made 19 appearances for the club since joining them for their inaugural NRL campaign in 2023 on a train-and-trial contract.

The new deal also opens the door for a potential move to the Perth Bears or PNG Chiefs in the coming years who will enter the competition in the 2027 and 2028 NRL seasons.

“There is no doubting that Trai is a real ‘fan favourite’ for the Dolphins,” Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said.

“To have a player of his skill to call on underlines the great depth we have at the club – his value to us this week against the Roosters is a perfect case in point.

“We are very pleased Trai has committed to another season at the club as we see him as a valuable piece of our roster.”

Trai Fuller.Source: Supplied

KENNEDY OPENS UP ON NEW DEAL AND FUTURE

Sharks fullback Will Kennedy is glad he’s sorted his future out for 2027, but he accepts that the same contract circus beyond that will continue next year when he gets hammered with the same questions he’s copped for the past two seasons.

Kennedy inked a one-year extension to remain at Cronulla having also signed a one-year deal last October for the 2026 season.

It’s led to constant questions about his long-term future, but Kennedy is used to it by now and welcomes whatever comes next year.

“It’s good to get it all done and sorted and then just focus on my footy. I can’t thank the club enough for giving me another year,” he told the NewsWire.

“I was used to it (the contract questions) and then had it last year as well, so I think I was getting a bit used to it. It didn’t bother me at all. It’s just good to have it done and then just keep going with footy.”

Will Kennedy has signed a new deal to remain at the Sharks in 2027.Source: Getty Images

The short-term extension will lead to speculation that he could end up at the PNG Chiefs when they enter the competition in 2028, with Kennedy conceding that he will have to consider his family if a longer contract is offered elsewhere.

“I think everyone would want more than one year, especially just having that security for my young family as well,” he said.

“I think it was just the best option for my family. I want to do what’s right off the field as well and then repay it in footy as well.

“I love this club. They took me in when I was a young player and I can’t repay them enough. I’ll always love this club.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s best for your family. I think that one year here again was best for my family and then for me as well because I wanted to be with the boys that I love and care about.”

Kennedy has been a mainstay in the Shire since he made his debut in 2019, with the fullback producing a season-high 215 running metres to go with a try and two assists in Sunday’s comeback win over the Dragons.

He celebrated his try with a spectacular dive into the in-goal, with Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon praising the 29-year-old’s constant improvement.

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There have been questions over whether the club can win a title with Kennedy at the back, but his coach is adamant that he is one of the most valued members at a club that will farewell veterans Cam McInnes, Sione Katoa and Jesse Ramien at the end of the year.

“There’s probably more noise around Will staying or not staying (every year), but that guy just gets better every year,” Fitzgibbon said.

“We’ve thankfully managed to keep Will because he gets better and better. Will is the sort of guy who epitomises our club and team.

“We haven’t been able to keep a lot of the guys that we love and cherish, and it’s been harder than it seems. We love and respect the players that are moving on, but we’re also thankful for a player like Will that we’ve managed to keep.

“It’s not lost on us week to week on how important everyone in our club is, and then Will epitomises what we’re about.”

— Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)