The Canberra Raiders are set to lock in young gun Emre Guler for another two years, ensuring they'll keep their post-Sydney game kebab supplier on board until at least the end of 2022.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Guler's off contract at the end of the 2021 NRL season, but the 22-year-old's on the verge of re-signing for another two years and could be locked away by the end of the week.
The Raiders have also started negotiations to extend fellow forward Hudson Young for another two years to have two key members of their pack signed up until the end of 2023.
Both 22-year-olds are part of a handful of Raiders players who were able to begin negotiations with other clubs from the start of November.
Discussions with veteran winger Jordan Rapana were still dragging on, although it was hoped a one-year deal could be wrapped up sometime next week.
Rapana's contract expired October 31, but the New Zealand international was keen to remain in Canberra - given he's laid down roots in the ACT.
Both of the Raiders' back-up halves, Sam Williams and Matt Frawley, are off contract, while veteran prop Sia Soliola's operating on a year-by-year basis.
They've also got Siliva Havili, Queensland prop Dunamis Lui, Semi Valemei and Caleb Aekins off contract - with the latter yet to join the club after switching from Penrith as he looks to impress the Green Machine coaching staff to secure his future.
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
Guler forms part of a Raiders pack that now boasts plenty of depth - thanks in part to an injury crisis among the middle forwards in 2020.
While it almost turned into a nightmare for Raiders coach Ricky Stuart due to the talent he had on the sideline, it also allowed players like Young and Ryan Sutton to establish themselves as NRL players.
With former Gold Coast captain Ryan James set to arrive in the ACT over summer, that depth was only set to increase.
It was injury that cut short Guler's season as he struggled with an ankle he hurt in round eight against the Dragons.
He was initially expected to return before the end of the season, but a relapse returned him to a moon boot towards the back end of the 2020 campaign - keeping him stuck on 22 NRL games.
He's expected to be fit for the start of pre-season, with the younger players set to being training on December 7.
The majority of the rest of the squad will return a couple of weeks after that and then their State of Origin players will return in January.
With Guler close to penning a new deal, it also means the Green Machine will have his parents' Sydney restaurant Watsup Brothers as a post-game option when they're playing in the Harbour City.
In Guler's absence - where Soliola (face), Corey Horsburgh (foot), Josh Hodgson (knee) and Sutton (knee) all spent time in the rehabilitation group with him - Young established himself as a versatile forward who could not only play on the edge, but also operate through the middle as well.
He started the season on the sideline due to suspension, before announcing himself to the NRL in the Raiders run to the preliminary final.