Kurt Capewell

Trouble at Cronulla with the salary cap squeeze potentially forcing key exit

Kurt Capewell may well be leaving Shark Park.

Published by
Sam Sherlock

Sanctions dating back to the 2013 season have put Cronulla in a tight position, and with $350,000 to shed from this year and next year's cap... Kurt Capewell is sceptical of remaining at the Sharks.

Capewell's labelled his clear intentions to "stay at the club" but understands the pressures the Sharks are under.

"They're in a bit of a tough position with the cap and trying to keep the cap sorted out," Capewell told The Daily Telegraph.

"The main thing for me is to keep playing good footy and winning the competition with the Sharks."

Capewell is out of contract at the conclusion of this season and his replacement of Wade Graham on the left edge has been instrumental for the Sharks as they sit a game outside the top four. His form has deserved an Origin call up which he received last week as a reserve and moving him due to cap squeezes would be a tough pill to swallow for Cronulla.

The Sharks have multiple options around the cap with hooker Blayke Brailey and halfback Kyle Flanagan also potential players to ease cap struggles. But ultimately it could almost be too costly to keep the 25-year-old back rower at the shire club with his Origin form, age and contribution to the team increasing his value substantially.

Capewell has enjoyed a nice spell at the club with a 66% win ratio at the club and three trips to the finals (despite not playing in all games) stemming from the 2016 Premiership.

The club will try to keep him but keep an eye on the cap... as Capewell could be lining up against the Sharks in 2020.

Published by
Sam Sherlock