Jan 23rd, 2018

Jan 23rd, 2018

CRONULLA have emerged as the new favourites to sign former NSW State of Origin halfback Trent Hodkinson.

Manly were poised the sign the Knights star until the NRL put the Sea Eagles under the salary cap microscope.

Hodkinson even did a medical test at Manly but WWOS revealed a couple of weeks ago that the club can’t sign any players until their cap situation is sorted.

That has left an opening for Cronulla - and the Sharks are set to swoop on the 29-year-old.

The loss of talented of James Maloney to Penrith and Fa’amanu Brown to Canterbury has left the Sharks an experienced player short in the halves.

They have two class halves in Chad Townsend and new boy Matt Moylan but need a back-up.

It is believed the Knights, who have plenty of depth in the halves, will pay some of Hodkinson’s wage bill if a deal is reached as he is contracted to Newcastle for 2018.