The Sydney Morning Herald reported Gray has knocked back a lucrative deal with R360 to remain loyal to the Rabbitohs and the NRL.

Off-contract in 2026, Gray is free to negotiate with NRL rivals from November 1, but looks set to stick with the team that gave him his NRL debut and who he has played 32 games for to date, including 19 last season.

Having weighed up the NRL’s 10 year ban for players in R360, and the offer of a contract extension, sources speaking anonymously due to confidentially have said Gray has decided to stay with Souths.

Gray is set to ink a two-year extension that will keep him at the Redfern club until the end of 2028 and will see him earn $700,000 by the final year of the new deal.

Gray had been offered a deal worth $US600,000 (A$920,000) annually to switch codes, a huge financial incentive given he was on $200,000 for this year at the Rabbitohs.

The R360 deal was all the more enticing given that some or all of the money could be declared tax-free depending on where Gray was based.

However, the threat of a 10-year ban from the NRL for any players in talks with R360 meant Gray wasn’t prepared to risk his NRL future for the chance to make a career in the rebel league.

Gray filled in for Latrell Mitchell at fullback over the last couple of years when he was injured, but is set to be Souths’ full-time No.1 next season.

The pint-sized fullback was leading the Dally M medal race early last season, and capped a great year with selection in the Prime Minister’s XIII side that defeated Papua New Guinea.

MANLY REJECT SET TO SIGN WITH ROOSTERS

Despite rumours Tommy Talau would be heading to the Super League, the free agent flyer is set to sign a deal with the Sydney Roosters.

That’s according to CODE Sports, who are reporting that the Roosters are keen to add Talau to bolster their outside back stocks.

Talau wasn’t re-signed by the Sea Eagles this season and his NRL future was in limbo.

However, the Roosters are set to take a punt on the 25-year-old.

Talau’s partner Jess Sergis is one of the stars of the Roosters’ NRLW team.

Talau only made 13 appearances in first grade this season.

He’s played in 83 NRL games for the Tigers and Sea Eagles since debuting in 2019.

BEARS TARGETING HALFBACK

A former Bulldogs star has been linked to the Perth Bears, with one expert believing the halfback could be the new NRL franchise’s first ever signing.

It’s a crucially important period for the Bears, who are free to negotiate and sign players from midnight tonight.

With a blank roster and just over $12 million to splurge, the Bears can’t afford to not be aggressive.

They’ve signalled their intent, with recruitment manager Dane Campbell hoping the club can sign ten players by Christmas.

Veteran journalist Brent Read says the Bears’ brass convened for “five days of meetings” to sort out their plain of attack.

‘They’re in town. They had five days of meetings last week and plotted their attack plan. devised a plan and they are meeting managers in Sydney and Brisbane this week,” Read said on Triple M.

However, Read outlined who he believes the Bears may look at targeting seriously, including a surprise name who the Bulldogs let walk this season.

‘Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is an obvious one and Jayden Campbell who Mal knows quite well from their time on the Gold Coast is as well,” Read said.

‘Toby Sexton has been linked with them for a while and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s their first signing.

‘Tyran Wishart is another guy who is out there.

“There’s a heap of blokes they can have a go at.”