The Canberra Raiders are in a competitive bid to retain halfback Jamal Fogarty, who is also being pursued by the Manly Sea Eagles. Fogarty faces a significant decision, given that Manly has offered him a more lucrative deal. His existing contract has a clause allowing for a new agreement worth approximately $650,000, which the Raiders could activate by round six. Fogarty clarified during a discussion on SEN that he initially had until round 20 to finalise his decision, stating, “If they deny it by round six, I still have until round 20 later in the year to consider my options.”
The Sea Eagles’ interest has prompted the Raiders to propose a two-year contract valued at up to $1 million, whereas Manly’s offer surpasses that by an additional $200,000. Canberra’s coach, Ricky Stuart, has expressed a strong desire to keep Fogarty while also highlighting the club’s intention to nurture younger talent. Ethan Sanders, a recent acquisition from the Eels, is seen as a potential future replacement for Fogarty.
This situation places Fogarty in a challenging position as he weighs his options between financial incentives offered by Manly and his current club’s commitment to his future. The outcome of this decision could significantly impact both his career trajectory and the Raiders’ plans for the coming seasons.