Tom Starling is going nowhere. The Canberra Raiders hooker is contracted to the Green Machine for next season, with the club looking to extend him for another two years beyond that.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
There's been reports Starling has an exit clause in his contract, which has attracted the interest of St George Illawarra, Brisbane and Parramatta, but that's not the case.
There is a clause allowing for renegotiation if he's played 50 per cent of games.
That negotiation's currently underway with the Raiders looking to upgrade and extend his current deal.
Other clubs can sign the 23-year-old from November 1, when he begins the final year of his contract.
But Starling told Fox Sports he's happy in Canberra and wants to repay the faith the Raiders showed in signing him in the first place - when the Newcastle Knights didn't want him.
Starling's season could be over after he had surgery on his broken jaw, ruling him out for 4-6 weeks.
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
The Raiders need to make the finals for him to have the chance to play again this year.
His spark off the bench was sorely missed in Canberra's 19-18 loss to Manly on Friday night.
Raiders recruitment boss Peter Mulholland wanted to put to bed the reports of an exit clause.
"There's no get-out clause in his contract ... he's free to negotiate with clubs after November 1," he said.
"We're in different stages of working through a contract with him.
"I spoke to Tommy earlier in the week and we'll get there."
Canberra has been on a re-signing spree with all their young players, with the latest instalment the extension of Harley Smith-Shields' and Trey Mooney's contracts.
They're also close to re-signing hooker Adrian Trevilyan on a full-time training contract.
The Far North Queenslander's been training at Raiders HQ since the Green Machine relocated to the Gold Coast and was set to finish the year playing Canberra Raiders Cup for Goulburn until the competition was paused due to Canberra's lockdown.
NRL ROUND 24
Friday: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders at Mackay, 6pm.
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
