Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad closes in on massive contract extension

Nicoll-Klokstad has been a revelation since shifting from Auckland to Canberra, cementing the No.1 jersey under the coaching of Ricky Stuart.

Not only is he one of the best buys of the year but, at just $130,000 per annum, is also one of the cheapest.

The 24-year-old is contracted for this year and next, but Canberra officials are keen to retain him before he can field rival offers from November 1.

The parties have made solid progress in negotiations and they are close to agreeing to a three-year extension worth $1.5 million. However, there are some sticking points.

The management of "CNK" is pushing for an upgrade for next season, particularly given he won't receive any additional match payments in 2020.

However, the Green Machine have little wiggle room in their salary cap, particularly if Aidan Sezer remains with the club.

English club Huddersfield is interested in poaching the playmaker, but the Giants are baulking at his asking price.

There is also some contention over whether the final year of the extension - effectively the fourth if an upgrade for 2020 can be negotiated - will be an option in the club's favour.

Given the top fullbacks in the game, such as Roosters star James Tedesco, are on seven-figure annual salaries, no one represents better value for money as a spine player than Nicoll-Klokstad at his current price.

That the Warriors - next weekend's opponents - actually paid him to leave is a further indictment on their systems.

After making just seven first-grade appearances for the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad has played in 22 matches since shifting to the nation's capital, scoring 10 tries.

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He has averaged 171.8 running metres and 4.1 tackle breaks a game, numbers that compare favourably with the game's better custodians.

Having learnt from Billy Slater and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck during his stints at Melbourne and the Warriors, respectively, Nicoll-Klokstad has made the fullback position his own, allowing Jack Wighton to make a successful shift into the halves.

The Raiders can all but cement a top-four spot with a victory over Cronulla at Shark Park on Sunday. They will be without Joey Leilua after the centre copped a two-game suspension for dropping knees in last week's loss to Manly.

Raiders co-captain Josh Hodgson was confident the Green Machine could get back on track to regain momentum before the finals.

"We weren't at the races last week. Defensively we weren't there ... we had a dig but in attack we were just making too many errors," Hodgson said.

"That cost us and that's what happens against good teams in big games. It's no different against Cronulla this week.

"These are the type of games we need going into the semi-finals. It's a really good thing for us, we need that hostile environment where nobody wants us to win. It's going to be a good test for us.

NRL ROUND 24

Sunday: Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders at Shark Park, 2pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (C), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Michael Oldfield, 21. Tom Starling.

Sharks squad: 1. Josh Dugan, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Kurt Capewell, 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. Jayson Bukuya, 18. Billy Magoulias, 19. Blayke Brailey, 20. Kyle Flanagan, 21. Matt Moylan.