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Newcastle deny they’re involved in a late third party offer which prompted Cronulla prop Kade Snowden to cancel the announcement of his new NRL deal with the Sharks on Thursday.
The Knights say they pulled out of the running for Snowden’s signature weeks ago, and have no knowledge of prospective owner Nathan Tinkler launching an 11th hour bid for the NSW Origin representative.
Cronulla were set to unveil Snowden’s new two-year extension, which would keep him in the Shire until the end of 2013, before the 24-year-old was contacted directly by a third party.
Snowden was offered a substantial counter offer and dramatically told the club he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to front the media.
Despite Snowden and his manager agreeing to the extension on Wednesday night, the club agreed to give their young bull extra time to consider the recent developments.
To add to the confusion, the club sent out a press release detailing the new deal just after 2.30pm (AEDT) – the time Snowden and coach Shane Flanagan were due to front the media.
But the conference never went ahead.
Flanagan earlier explained in an interview that the Newcastle junior had rejected a massive offer from the Knights to remain in the Shire.
However, the club later issued another statement to explain that “confidential discussions are ongoing” and that the announcement has been “postponed”.
The Knights say salary cap pressures forced them to withdraw their offer to Snowden on February 9.
Chief executive Steve Burraston declared in a statement that the club do not entice players to break contracts under any circumstances.
Newcastle recruitment manager Keith Onslow said the Knights weren’t involved in the complication.
“We withdrew our offer for Kade some weeks ago,” said Onslow, who believed Snowden had committed to the Sharks.
Earlier in the afternoon, Sharks coach Flanagan told AAP how important it was that his club had managed to hold onto Snowden, despite Newcastle’s interests.
“He’s only 24 years old and just made his State of Origin debut last year … if we were to lose him, 12-18 months down the line people would be going `what the hell is going on there? You have an Origin prop just about to start his career at 24 and you lose him’, so we just had to keep him,” Flanagan said.
“Newcastle made him a massive offer, way more than what we could have paid him.
“For us it’s great news and it’s really good that Snowy’s got a bit of belief in our club that he’s where he wants to be.”
In Cronulla’s initial release, Snowden was quoted saying he was delighted to have extended his deal. But it remains to be seen whether his enthusiasm remains.
“I’m really happy to have re-signed with the Sharks,” Snowden said.
“I basically started my career here, all the boys are my best mates and I love playing for the Sharks.
“Pre-season has gone really well to date, we’re all very keen to get out on the field and play some footy.
“Shane went really well when he took over at the end of last season and this pre-season things are really falling into shape.
“I’m very happy things have worked out.”
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