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With the North Queensland Cowboys<\/a> locking up Jaxon Purdue<\/a> until the end of the decade, many have speculated that Drinkwater’s time as the club’s first-choice fullback is closing.<\/p>\n Along with the Cowboys allowing him to speak with rival teams, premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend<\/a> has thrown in a surprise landing spot for the 28-year-old.<\/p>\n When appearing on SEN’s\u00a0Saturday League Kick-Off, Townsend suggested Drinkwater would be an ideal fit in the Cronulla Sharks<\/a> system.\u00a0<\/p>\n With constant noise surrounding Will Kennedy’s future, who is off-contract at year’s end, it could be a legitimate option for the Shire-based club to sign Drinkwater.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think he could fit in the Sharks, to be honest,\u201d Townsend said on SEN’s\u00a0Saturday League Kick-Off.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, rumours is circling arethe Dragons (and) that they’re going after him pretty hard.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of whoever gets him, you’re going to get a guy who’s just played his 150th game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s a mature footballer now, playing probably some of the best football of his career.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he’d be a great fit at the Sharkies.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Brisbane Broncos<\/a> winger, Denan Kemp<\/a>, leaned towards another region of Sydney and highlighted the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs as an option for Drinkwater’s talents, strengthening their young spine to mould them into premiership heavyweights.\u00a0<\/p>\n With Drinkwater’s elite ability to conjure up points, something the Bulldogs have lacked in recent times, he would be a genuine game-breaker for the blue and white.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt depends (on) what happens with the Dogs and how much salary cap they’ve got,\u201d Kemp added.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s one of the few fullbacks who has that consistently over a four- or five-year period.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at the Dally Ms over the last five years; he’s always in the top 10.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, if you’re the Dogs, you’re sitting there going, \u2018OK, what’s our Achilles heel?’<\/p>\n \u201cOur defence is good; we can keep teams usually below that 14 (point) mark.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we add 12 points onto that (in attack), all of a sudden, we’re a premiership threat.\u201d<\/p>\n From all reports, it seems the St George Illawarra Dragons<\/a> are the frontrunners to land Drinkwater, who has been identified at the Red V as a successor to Clint Gutherson’s fullback jersey.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gutherson himself has advocated for Drinkwater to move to Wollongong to strengthen the side, saying\u00a0“100 per cent. He’s a high-quality player, and you need those types of players,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.<\/p>\n The Central Coast-raised star has been in red-hot form for the Cowboys and is making a serious case for himself towards a new contract, as he is putting in elite performances over the Cowboys’ recent outings.<\/p>\n Although they come up against a resurgent Manly Sea Eagles<\/a> outfit this Thursday, who are undefeated since the sacking of Anthony Seibold<\/a> and the appointment of club legend Kieran Foran<\/a> as interim coach.<\/p>\n