The Sydney Morning Herald reports<\/a> that the young fullback had been offered a deal of roughly $920,000 AUD per year to join R360, a pay increase of over $700,000 per season.<\/p>\n READ MORE: England lodge complaint over ‘dangerous and illegal’ Wallabies<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘Disappointing’ final act confirmed by four-word Healy reply<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Cowboys angling for shock coaching move<\/a><\/p>\n But the announcement of a 10-year ban for any player who defects to R360<\/a> has reportedly played a role in influencing Gray to opt against taking the lucrative deal.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old was among the first players linked to the new rebel league, which is offering big money contracts that could be declared tax-free depending on where the athlete elects to reside.<\/p>\n A breakout 2025 season for the 21-year-old captured the imagination, with his success at fullback in the absence of Latrell Mitchell seeing him lead the Dally M for several weeks.<\/p>\n Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray in action.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n While it looked like South Sydney could have a difficult situation on their hands to keep Gray when Mitchell returns to fullback, it appears that the potential for him to leave has been warded off.<\/p>\n Sources close to the situation told the SMH that Gray has decided to remain a Rabbitoh, even though he is set to hit the market on November 1.<\/p>\n Watch the 2025 Pacific Championships live and free on Nine and 9Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Gray has not yet put pen to paper at South Sydney, it is expected that he will receive and sign a contract extension in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Gray’s decision will be a cruel blow for the newly formed rival competition, given he had made a mark in the 15-man code during his schoolboy career.<\/p>\n At one point, the Queensland Reds had expressed interest in him, but he instead looked to develop his career as a rugby league player.<\/p>\n Jye Gray of the Rabbitohs celebrates with teammates after winning defeating the Parramatta Eels.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n Still, Gray was not the only player on R360’s radar, with Ryan Papenhuyzen<\/a> and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck also floated as potential signings.<\/p>\n![\"Rabbitohs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fb150f69c558de3e3b76f600218f350145275015.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"SYDNEY,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/47441e7ef0420854c517d0dd65281ed94aa53de6.jpeg\")
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