Cody Walker will meet with South Sydney officials next week in the hope of signing off on the final deal of his playing career.
The development comes as Wests Tigers confirmed in-demand back-rower Samuela Fainu had extended until the end of 2029.
Walker, who returned from Italy this week after attending the wedding of teammate Jai Arrow, will now turn his sights towards completing a deal to play on with Souths in 2027.
To help get the deal done, several sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed Walker was prepared to sign a deal for slightly less money, provided he would be compensated if Souths win a premiership.
The same sources confirmed the premiership payday would be worth around $75,000 to Walker, which would top up an annual salary of around $400,000.
Walker and Latrell Mitchell have had similar premiership clauses inserted into previous contracts, and went close to earning bonuses in 2021 when Souths lost to Penrith in the decider.
Turning 37 in January, Walker will become the oldest player in the NRL following Daly Cherry-Evans’ move to England.
Despite breaking down with a calf injury in the elimination final against eventual grand finalists Newcastle, Walker has only failed to play 20 or more games a season once in 11 years.
Such is his belief in Souths’ roster and their ability to go all the way, especially with the arrival of marquee recruit Payne Haas, Walker is eager to have a premiership clauses added.
Souths have big hopes for young halves Taj Alvarez and Matt Humphries, who have been building nicely in the lower grades, but the pair remain at least another 12 months away from becoming NRL regulars.
The problem for Souths is they have little wriggle room in the cap for next season, and are not even in the position to accommodate fullback Matt Dufty, who was earning a $1200-a-week full-time training wage last season plus $3000 match payments.
Their cap position does not improve dramatically for 2028, which explains why Souths are unlikely to be serious players for Jack Bostock should the representative winger hit the open market.
Bostock made his NRL debut at the Dolphins under Souths coach Wayne Bennett, and the club could have a right-centre opening with Jack Wighton no certainty to play on next year. But the same sources confirmed Bostock would be out of the Rabbitohs’ price range.
Meanwhile, Fainu – reportedly a PNG Chiefs target – cited coach Benji Marshall as a major factor in his decision to stay on at the Tigers for another two years.
“He not only wants me to be the best footy player I can be, but he also wants me to be the best version of myself off the field, and that’s something you can’t find in many places,” said Fainu, whose older brother Sione was already committed to Concord until the end of 2029.