In-demand prop Keaon Koloamatangi is expected to finalise a decision on his future in the coming days after South Sydney tabled a four-year extension they believe is competitive with the big money on offer from NRL rivals.
The 27-year-old Kangaroos star has a massive call in the midst of a three-way race for his signature.
He’s considering monster deals from Parramatta, St George Illawarra and also Souths after the club met with Koloamatangi and his management last week to table their best and final offer.
The Rabbitohs are desperate to keep the homegrown Mascot Jets junior and are quietly confident they can compete with the massive dollars on offer from the Eels and Dragons, with both clubs believed to have offered him around $1 million a season.
It’s just a matter of where he sees himself in the prime of his career.
In terms of contract length, Souths’ offer of a four-year extension from 2027 matches the Eels’ big bid, which is believed to be the front-runner, but falls short of the audacious five-year deal put forward by the Dragons.
Souths have been willing to be patient as their star prop tests his value on the market but believe they have money-can’t buy value on offer.
The added enticement of stable coaching under Wayne Bennett, who is expected to extend his time at the club through to the end of 2028, and the chance to be a one-club player with his junior club are other considerations on the table.
However, the lure of a change of scenery, new coach, bigger challenge or the potential for a bigger payday elsewhere could draw him away from South Sydney for the first time since he made his first grade debut with the club back in 2020.
His decision is expected to be the last major NRL market play of 2025 and comes at the best possible time in the peak of his career.
After making a switch from the edge to the middle this season under the advisement of Bennett, Koloamatangi’s form hit new heights with the Rabbitohs and he emerged as one of the form forwards in the competition in a difficult year of injuries and disruptions for the club.
So good was his form he did enough to earn a long-awaited Australian debut, which has come two years after he played one game of State of Origin in 2023 in Brad Fittler’s final series as coach of NSW.
In 2025 Koloamatangi played 20 games and scored four tries with Souths, which caught the eye of Kangaroos selectors and he joined the side on the history making Ashes Tour of England at the end of the season.
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By the look of it, his heart says Souths, his head says Parramatta, i don't think he's interested in Saints. I don't think Bennett has the aura of years gone by, his last premiership was 16yrs ago, he's currently living off his reputation. There is the consideration of who's coming through at Souths to give KK confidence that they are well prepared for life without Walker after '26, and Possibly Wighton the year after. Souths are not a team on the rise, we definitely are, like I said, if he goes with his heart, he will stay at Souths, if he goes with his head, we will get him, and then there's Russell Crowe.
*11 Years ago
He lost that coaching brisbane against cowboys. 2010 was his last win
"Don't think he is interested in Saints" Lol nobody is.
In terms of Bennett, he has always been known as a terrific man manager, no matter how old you get that will never leave you. He can still manage his players very well.
As for Souths are not a team on the rise, a lot of media outlets have them as being the biggest risers, all outlets do. Hell i saw Zero Tackle having Newcastle as a big riser and us not included and fell off my chair laughing. But the Bennett factor will always have that sense of something can happen. Again no matter how old he is, he is still worth 3-4 wins alone off his coaching no matter the squad.
Yet the powers that be at Parra exposed themselves wanting the very man who you think has lost the mentioned aura.
Parra are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to recruiting in the upper echelon.If the mentioned aren't attracted by JR the clubs screwed as it seems no one is coming for the club or the money.
Instead of sucking his dik, give him a deadline.
He ain't worth a mil.
Gotta say I'm not keen on him taking his sweet time to decide if we are good enough for him.
I think we are just being used by him and manager to get as much out of the Bunnies before he says he's staying put . He doesn't want come fair enough . We should be used to this crap as happens all the time . Just my humble opinion
this is exactly what is happening.
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