THE Newcastle Knights insist they have not closed the door on Kade Snowden but concede Cronulla are now well placed to re-sign the NSW Origin prop.
The Herald understands that incoming coach Wayne Bennett has not ruled out making an offer for Snowden. Current coach Rick Stone said: ''I don't think it's fallen through.''
Stone, who is weighing up an offer to stay with the Knights as assistant coach next year, has been liaising with Bennett about the club's off-contract players and salary-cap position.
He will hold further discussions with Bennett next week and said on Thursday: ''I don't think any decisions have been made about Kade Snowden at this stage. I don't think we've ruled it out.''
Another Knights source said there had been ''no further developments with regard to Kade, one way or the other''.
There has been a development at the Sharks, where Snowden's front-row partner, Luke Douglas, agreed on Wednesday to accept a three-year deal with Gold Coast.
His loss was expected to prompt Cronulla to increase their offer to Snowden.
''Obviously the landscape has changed significantly with Luke Douglas going to the Gold Coast,'' Stone said. ''He [Snowden] becomes even more important to them, and you would imagine they have a little bit more money available. To lose one of your premier front-rowers is tough, but to lose two, I don't think too many clubs would sit by and watch that happen.''
It is believed the Sharks will offer Snowden a four-year deal worth at least $400,000 per season, but the Knights, through third-party sponsors, would be capable of outbidding them if they so wanted.
Newcastle's priority appears to be St George Illawarra's international fullback Darius Boyd, who has stated on several occasions that he wants to continue playing under Bennett.
The Knights have talked with Boyd and Stone said last week he believed it was ''a given'' that the dynamic Queenslander would be at Newcastle next season.
Whether Newcastle can afford to sign both Snowden and Boyd remains to be seen.
The Knights have most of their squad for next year under contract, but Junior Sa'u, Matt Hilder, Wes Naiqama, Shannon McDonnell, Cameron Ciraldo, Steve Southern and Keith Lulia are among the free agents.
It is also debatable whether they need to recruit a front-rower, given that Antonio Kaufusi, Dan Tolar, Evarn Tuimavave, Richie Fa'aoso, Joel Edwards, Mark Taufua, Chris Houston and Neville Costigan are already on their books.
Stone had initially been keen to entice Snowden back to his home-town club, but when they re-signed Houston and Tuimavave extended his deal late last year, the Knights withdrew their offer.
Now the decision of whether to make an offer to Snowden appears up to Bennett, and even if the new coach gives his approval, the Sharks will dig deep to keep their 24-year-old battering ram.
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