Cronulla has successfully lured hooker Cameron McInnes from arch-rivals St George Illawarra, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The 26-year-old is reported to have signed a four-year deal at Shark Park starting in 2022, with doubt over his leadership for the upcoming season.
Daily Telegraph reporter David Riccio broke the story, and joined SEN 1170 Mornings to reveal how it happened.
“The Cronulla Sharks have snuck under everyone’s guard … in rugby league, you don’t keep many secrets,” he told Adam Peacock.
The Sharks already have promising 22-year-old hooker Blayke Brailey playing the ball out of dummy half, but Riccio says they plan to pair him with McInnes.
“(Cronulla) understand that Cam has made it clear he wants to come and play lock at the Sharks,” Riccio explained.
He added there was never a suggestion the Sharks would seek to prise McInnes out of his final year at Kogarah.
“I’m not saying it won’t happen or can’t happen, but they certainly haven’t intimated that was on the cards,” he said.
Riccio suggested if the Sharks put a forward on the table, the process could click into gear sooner.
“Knowing the character of McInnes, he is a very loyal and upstanding person, his character is unwavering. I would think he sees it out,” he predicted.
“(However), he has signed for a rival club before a ball has been kicked … if there’s a small window of opportunity to start that process immediately, why not look at it?”
The Dragons captain has played 91 matches in red and white, after making the move from South Sydney at the end of 2016.
McInnes and St George Illawarra won just seven games in 2020 and ended in 13th place, while Cronulla scraped into the top eight.