A source with knowledge of discussions between the Knights and Raiders said Shillington was a "long shot" to finish the season in Newcastle, but that it was not beyond the realms of possibility. The Raiders would be hesitant to release Shillington midway through the season given his outstanding form in recent weeks. The other players who have been mentioned have been forward Mark Nicholls, former Knights hitman Joel Edwards and former Knights junior Tevita Pangai. Nineteen-year-old Pangai, a former South Newcastle, Knights and NSW junior teammate of Knights utility back Sione Mata'utia, ruled himself out via Twitter on Saturday night.

Responding to a question from a Knights supporter, who was of the understanding he would be returning to Newcastle, Pangai said: "heard wrong mate, @RaidersCanberra is home". Pangai is contracted to the Raiders until the end of next year. Last month Leilua exercised a get-out clause from the final year of his deal with the Knights, making him a free agent at the end of this season. Fairfax Media has been told Leilua has agreed in principle to continue his career in Canberra. A player swap with the Raiders is one alternative, but the Knights could choose to release Leilua unconditionally then pursue another player from another club before the June 30 deadline.

Leilua's manager, Paul Sutton, said the Samoan international's future was in the hands of the Knights. Asked whether he thought Leilua would finish the season in Newcastle or elsewhere, Sutton said: "That's purely up to the Knights." Sutton was noncommittal when asked if Leilua had already committed to the Raiders. "There's a couple of options out there, but it's going to be up to BJ once the decision is made by the Knights," Sutton said. The Knights had hoped to resolve the issue by last Friday, then by Sunday, but chief executive Matt Gidley anticipates a decision on Monday.

"There's no further update on BJ's position at this stage," Gidley said on Sunday. "In terms of the June 30 cut-off, I know our football department have spent a lot of time looking at a whole range of options over the last week and they'll continue to do so because they still have two weeks before that window closes. "They're looking at a whole range of options at the moment and they haven't decided anything just yet, but they're certainly spending a lot of time looking at how they can strengthen our roster, whether it be for later this year or in years to come."