Jye Gray rejects $700k pay rise from R360 to extend stay at South Sydney Rabbitohs

They say that loyalty is dead but Jye Gray has just proved that's not the case with an incredible rejection of a whopping salary upgrade.

A call from Rugby 360 may take the fancy of some, but Gray has incredibly rebuffed the rebel competition's lucrative advances and will instead stay put at South Sydney.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the young fullback had been offered a deal of roughly $920,000 AUD per year to join R360, a pay increase of over $700,000 per season.

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But the announcement of a 10-year ban for any player who defects to R360 has reportedly played a role in influencing Gray to opt against taking the lucrative deal.

The 21-year-old was among the first players linked to the new rebel league, which is offering big money contracts that could be declared tax-free depending on where the athlete elects to reside.

A breakout 2025 season for the 21-year-old captured the imagination, with his success at fullback in the absence of Latrell Mitchell seeing him lead the Dally M for several weeks.

While it looked like South Sydney could have a difficult situation on their hands to keep Gray when Mitchell returns to fullback, it appears that the potential for him to leave has been warded off.

Sources close to the situation told the SMH that Gray has decided to remain a Rabbitoh, even though he is set to hit the market on November 1.

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While Gray has not yet put pen to paper at South Sydney, it is expected that he will receive and sign a contract extension in the coming weeks.

Gray's decision will be a cruel blow for the newly formed rival competition, given he had made a mark in the 15-man code during his schoolboy career.

At one point, the Queensland Reds had expressed interest in him, but he instead looked to develop his career as a rugby league player.

Still, Gray was not the only player on R360's radar, with Ryan Papenhuyzen and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck also floated as potential signings.

Papenhuyzen has yet to confirm what his future looks like in 2026, although his early exit from the Storm has increased speculation that he could be on the move to R360.

It is understood by the SMH that R360 has been urging players and their agents to ink long-form deals before November 1, with the league hopeful to reveal five to 10 major signings next month when they officially launch the competition.