Cameron Ciraldo has denied Jacob Preston is considering leaving the Bulldogs, claiming the second rower was “shocked” when he was linked with a potential move away from the club.

Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Preston, who is currently sidelined with an arm injury, will have the chance to earn a big pay day when he hits the open market on November 1.

A report from Code Sports earlier this month suggested Preston was keen to test his value, and that he would not have a shortage of interested suitors.

The report also claimed Preston and the Bulldogs were “miles apart” on the asking price for his new contract, with the 24-year-old said to currently be on around $500,000.

But speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of the Bulldogs’ Round 16 clash with Manly, Ciraldo told reporters Preston “doesn’t want to go anywhere”.

“He loves being a Bulldog and being in our environment and he’s clear he wants to be a Bulldog a lot longer,” Ciraldo said.

“I don’t want to talk about Mal because that’s just footy and it’s a bit of a grey area.

“I was with Presto when the last story came out about him possibly leaving and he was as shocked as I was.

“He made it very clear that he didn’t know how it got in the paper and it didn’t come from him.

“He reiterated to me that he loves being at the Bulldogs, he loves this club and doesn’t want to go anywhere.”

Ciraldo also said Preston is a “50-50” prospect for next week’s game against the Titans, while adding that fellow injured second rower Viliame Kikau is more likely to return in Round 20 from his pectoral injury.

Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

Benji: “Got $30k for no minutes” | 01:20

STORM GUN ON THE OUTER?

Elsewhere, it has been a tough year for the Storm by their lofty standards and one of their regular first graders could be on the move.

News Corp reports that centre Jack Howarth may be on the outer as he enters the final year of his current deal at the Storm.

While Howarth is contracted until the end of 2027, there is talk the Storm is willing to let the versatile 23-year-old leave at the end of this year.

That is provided they are able to find a deal that works for both Howarth and the club.

Howarth had been floated as a potential State of Origin bolter this season, with Billy Slater telling media last year he believed the Storm had centre had the “X-factor” to press his claims for a Maroons call-up.

“Jack’s a wonderful player and a good person,” Slater said on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.

“He’s always had that X-factor that would suit representative football.

“He’s a big lad, he can play back-row or in the centres. He is doing a wonderful job and I thought he had a breakout season last year in that run to the grand final.

“He’s still learning a lot about the game, but playing outside Cameron Munster certainly helps – both with the footy and defensively.

“It’s certainly not beyond him (to play Origin) in the future, but at the moment he’s continuing his development at the Melbourne Storm and he’s doing a wonderful job.”