Canberra Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad re-signs on eve of NRL finals

Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has signed an extension which will keep him in lime green until the end of 2023.

The Raiders have secured their place in the top four and Nicoll-Klokstad has been a major factor in the club's resurgence this season.

Now he wants his teammates to put pen to paper with Nicoll-Klokstad and Joe Tapine the only players signed until the end of the 2023 season.

Raiders officials have begun to ramp up contract negotiations with Stuart with the club on the cusp of a return to the finals.

Stuart's contract expires at the end of 2020 but long-term certainty about his place at the helm will aid the club's bid to secure key players that have long backed his vision for the Green Machine.

But the impending arrival of English halfback George Williams will put the squeeze on the club's salary cap as they make a move on key pieces that are building "something special".

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

"There was a lot more to weigh up than just the money and the terms," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"It was a matter of 'who do you want to be around? Where do you want to stay? Where are you going to be happy?' Canberra ticked all of those boxes for me.

"These boys are crazy, I love being around them every day.

"I've already spoken to some of the other guys and said 'how good would it be to keep us together for a few years and really do something special here'."

The Canberra Times revealed in July the Raiders were keen to extend his time in the capital after signing him as an unknown this year.

Nicoll-Klokstad played seven games for the New Zealand Warriors in his debut season in 2017, but was a forgotten man before arriving in the capital.

He has starred throughout 23 games to help Canberra into the top four for the second time in 16 years.

The Raiders announced his upgraded contract on Tuesday in the lead up to a clash against the Warriors in Canberra on Saturday.

But Nicoll-Klokstad will be watching from afar with Stuart opting a rest a host of key players in his first-choice fullback, Rapana, Sia Soliola and John Bateman.

Bailey Simonsson will start at fullback with Michael Oldfield and Seb Kris to play on the wing. Dunamis Lui will start in place of Soliola, Hudson Young will shift into the back-row with Emre Guler on the bench.

Stuart is keen to have his squad firing for week one of the finals - a stage far removed from where Nicoll-Klokstad expected to be before taking a $130,000 deal to ignite his career.

Nicoll-Klokstad has been rewarded with a deal reportedly worth $1.5 million - but if you told him he'd be doing that a few months back he "would have laughed" you out of the room.

"I'm laughing now, it's crazy man. I used to use a few boys as examples, like Joseph Manu and Latrell Mitchell, how 12 to 18 months can change their lives," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"I'm still relatively early in that process and it has changed dramatically.

"There was a time when Latrell went back to reserve grade and even Joseph Manu was in the same boat. They got given a good crack the year after and went onto win a premiership, play for their country, Latrell played State of Origin.

"It's pretty special what 12 to 18 months can do when you're giving someone an opportunity."