COWBOYS IN BATTLE TO KEEP STAR BACK-ROWER
COWBOYS young gun Jeremiah Nanai has become the most soughtafter teenager in rugby league with NRL rivals tabling $4m deals for Australia’s World Cup rookie.
On the eve of Australia’s World Cup final against Samoa on Sunday morning, News Corp can reveal the Cowboys are facing a battle to retain the Kangaroos sensation in the face of massive offers from NRL rivals.
The 19-year-old’s market value increased when he made his Test debut against Fiji last month and he will watch Australia’s quest for World Cup glory against Samoa from the stands at Old Trafford.
The fact Nanai finds himself at the opulent home of world football giants Manchester United underlines his meteoric rise this season – and why a host of NRL clubs are lining up to blow the Cowboys out of the water.
Nanai only signed a one-year deal this season, making him a free agent.
Since November 1, he has fielded several monster offers, with one Sydney-based club tabling a five-year deal worth $800,000 for the first three seasons and $900,000 for the remaining two – a $4.2m package.
If it was solely about money, Nanai would quit the Cowboys.
But North Queensland are confident they will retain the classy backrower in the wake of a fairytale 2022 campaign that saw Todd Payten’s troops shock the league by qualifying for the preliminary final.
North Queensland football boss Micheal Luck says the Cowboys will look to begin extension negotiations with the off-contract Nanai when he returns home from the World Cup.
“We know there will be interest and we would like to think as soon as he comes back home we can begin discussions again about securing him long-term,” Luck said.
“We understand other clubs will come in with big offers, but we would love him to see out his career here.
“We’ll put forward a package that makes Jeremiah and his family comfortable with his future here.
“We’re confident our offer will be competitive regardless of what other clubs are offering and we’d like to think at this stage of Jeremiah’s career he is confident in our club and the direction we’re heading in.”
When Nanai was off-contract earlier this season, new expansion rivals the Dolphins expressed interest, but the Cowboys staved off coach Wayne Bennett and they are backing their systems under Payten to repel fresh poaching bids.
Nanai bought his first home in Townsville in August, suggesting he has no plans to quit the Cowboys.
“I’ve bought a home up here and I would love to stay at the Cowboys,” Nanai said last month.
“I have got everything I need here, my family, my partner and some friendships that have grown at the club. I would love to stay at the Cowboys and I hope another contract comes.”