The NRL and RLPA are on the cusp of striking a deal that will finally see a salary cap figure put in place for next season and trigger a series of signings.

Meanwhile, Sharks star Siosifa Talakai has reportedly agreed to an extension and Blake Ferguson’s recent release could suggest his rugby league career is over.

TALAKAI TO EXTEND

Sharks beast Siosifa Talakai has reportedly agreed to a three-year extension with the club, according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler.

Talakai was due to come off contract at the end of 2023, meaning he was free to negotiate with rivals for 2024 and beyond.

It puts to bed fears over whether the Sharks, who have been trying to lock Talakai in since August, would be able to retain him off the back of a breakout season.

Talakai enjoyed a switch to the centres and his versatility earned him a State of Origin debut for New South Wales. He also played two games for Tonga in the Rugby League World Cup.

Talakai’s signature is the second of the five backline players the Sharks are hopeful of re-signing.

Ronaldo Mulitalo was the first domino to fall, inking a two-year extension in September.

The remaining players are Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa and Will Kennedy.

FERGUSON’S CAREER HANGING IN THE BALANCE

Blake Ferguson is reportedly back in Australia after gaining an early release from his contract with UK club Leigh Leopards (formerly Centurions).

The 32-year-old starred for Leigh this year, scoring 21 tries in 17 games to help the club earn promotion to the Super League.

News Corpreports Ferguson was granted the release on compassionate grounds due to a health situation regarding someone close to him.

An NRL return hasn’t been completely ruled out, however it’s not in his immediate plans.

It means he has likely played his final game of professional rugby league.

Ferguson achieved just about everything in the NRL before an unsuccessful code switch to Japanese Rugby.

He played 249 NRL games across four clubs, represented New South Wales and Australia, was named Dally M Winger of the Year in 2016 and won a premiership with the Roosters in 2018.

Ferguson joined Japanese club NEC Green Rockets on a lucrative deal this year but was shortly sacked after being jailed for alleged cocaine possession and assault.

He signed with Leigh in April and impressed so much that he was locked in on a two-year extension in July with their head of football dubbing it “one of the best signing the club has ever made.”

CAP CALL TO TRIGGER SIGNING FRENZY

A salary cap figure is set to be finalised this week which will see “a pre-Christmas rush” of player signings, according to The Daily Telegraphs’s Phil Rothfield.

“Last Friday at NRL headquarters Clint Newton and the RLPA, three clubs and the NRL executives got together and made considerable progress,” he said.

“From the people I spoke to inside that meeting I’m very hopeful it will be solved this week.”

Rothfield expects it to see several signings at clubs in the coming weeks, including Souths trio Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook all extending.

World Cup stars Matt Burton (Bulldogs) and Brian To’o (Panthers) have been held up signing their lucrative extensions due to the prolonged cap negotiations.

Meanwhile, Rothfield is tipping Eels forward Nathan Brown to join the Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles veteran Marty Taupau could also be on the move.

“Burton at the Canterbury Bulldogs, Gus (Phil Gould) and Cameron Ciraldo have offered him a significant pay rise and a long-term deal,” Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast.

“But they can’t actually sign him or do a deal because they don’t know what the salary cap is so that’s why this week is so important.

“Nathan Brown at the Parramatta Eels, I think if the cap goes up to what it’s supposed to what they’re hoping then Nathan Brown will sign at the Wests Tigers. I wrote last week he met Tim Sheens at a coffee shop.

“Also players like Marty Taupau at Manly, he isn’t getting paid right now and doesn’t have a club.

“But for example if Nathan Brown goes to the Wests Tigers that will trigger an opportunity for a Marty Taupau type player, same with Newcastle - he’s also talking to them.

“Brian To’o will sign at Penrith, so it’s a really, really important week for the game. This has been going on 12 months these negotiations.

“Very slow off the mark but I’m hopefully these boys will all get their futures settled.