Melbourne Storm's rising star, Cooper Clarke, is poised to secure one of the longest contracts in the team's history.
The Storm have traditionally shied away from offering lengthy contracts, particularly to their veteran players.
The previous exception to this rule was Jack Howarth, who signed a five-year deal a couple of years back.
Now, Clarke appears ready to follow a similar path after an impressive start to the season, especially given the injuries affecting the team, including Eliesa Katoa's season-long absence due to a serious head injury.
At only 19 years old, Clarke is already contracted through to the end of 2028, but according to News Corp, there are plans to extend his contract until the end of 2031.
This would keep him with the Storm for an additional five years, alongside the current season, with the total value of the deal expected to reach millions, although the specifics per season remain undisclosed.
Clarke's rapid development into an NRL talent has been remarkable, a fact not overlooked by the Storm as he aims to become a regular in the starting lineup this year, even as Craig Bellamy's squad - who have won two of their first three matches - seeks to return to full strength.
The forward's ascent into the top 17 is backed by his stellar performances during the pre-season trials for the Melbourne-based team, showing clear improvement with each game.
An upgrade for Clarke could be finalized in the upcoming weeks, as the club navigates its long-term forward strategy.