Powerhouse forward Siosifa Talakai was as shocked as anyone when he read a report suggesting he wouldn’t be at the Sharks next year, but the cult hero remains confident he’ll see out his contract in the Shire.

Talakai still has another year to run on his deal but was blindsided back in July when it was reported that he and teammate Braden Hamlin-Uele would be squeezed out due to salary cap pressures.

The powerful forward reached out to coach Craig Fitzgibbon and football manager Darren Mooney, who assured him he wasn’t going anywhere, with Talakai’s ability to play in the middle, the back row or in the centres a huge asset for the club.

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“Well, I’ve signed for next so it was a bit of a shock to me when that speculation came out during the year,” Talakai told the NewsWire.

“I messaged my manager and then my manager rang ‘Fitzy’. Fitzy and Darren Mooney reached out and reassured me that nothing was going on, so as far as I’m concerned, I’m here for another year.

“It was just a bit of a shock and I was a bit worried. I was talking to my partner about it and said ‘I didn’t think this would ever happen’.

“I never look too far ahead and I just make sure that I do my job to the best of my ability. It was a bit of a shock, but it is what it is.

“There is a bit of truth behind it because our club is facing a bit of salary cap pressure. All I can do is play my best brand of footy and do all I can to make sure we secure a win.”

While Talakai looks set to stay, fullback Will Kennedy’s future is far more uncertain with the club unable to match his asking price.

The reliable fullback is off contract at the end of the season and may be forced out even though his preference is to stay.

“Nothing has changed from last week. Whatever happens will happen, but I’m just focused on my footy,” he said.

“I’m used to the questions because I’ve been asked about it the past few weeks, so I’m not too fazed.

“No one wants to leave this club. I’ve been here since the under-18s, so this club is a special place for me.

“I just have to look forward and try to secure what’s best for me and my family. Right now I’m just focused on footy.”

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The contract chat hasn’t been a distraction for the Sharks who are a win away from a spot in the grand final after wins over the Roosters and Raiders.

Talakai has been strong coming off the bench in the middle of the field after filling in at left centre throughout his six seasons in the Shire, and he says confidence has never been higher in the playing group ahead of their trip to Melbourne.

“A lot of us have played together for the last few years so we know each other’s games,” he said.

“We know that when we’re on, there’s no one that can match us.

“Knowing our worth and all the work we’ve done over the years, we just know what we can bring. We’re still yet to hit our peak and there’s a lot of potential that we haven’t tapped in to.

“We know our worth and this is where we belong.”