Sharks captain Cameron McInnes set to leave NRL after inking long-term Super League deal
Updated . First published at
Sharks captain Cameron McInnes will depart the NRL at season's end, linking up with Super League club York Knights on a long-term deal.
McInnes had been linked with a move to the Perth Bears for their inaugural 2028 season, but Wide World Of Sports understands he will instead finish his career overseas after being unable to land a multi-year contract with Cronulla or another club.
The former NSW Blues forward was unsigned and the club indicated he was unlikely to be offered an extension beyond 2026 due to salary cap constraints.
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McInnes is regarded as one of the game's toughest men and will leave the competition with more than 230 appearances with the Rabbitohs, Dragons and Sharks.
The 32-year-old played one State of Origin match for the Blues in the 2024 series.
Cameron McInnes. Getty
McInnes suffered an ACL rupture last season but returned for the Sharks in round eight.
He will link up with former Dragons teammate Paul Vaughan at the recently-promoted York outfit, who are looking to cement themselves as a force in the UK competition.
"Cam is a quality player and I think anyone that has followed rugby league for the last few years would know that,'' York coach Mark Applegarth said last week.
"Is he a player that I'd be interested in? 100 per cent he is, not only for what he can do on the field but I think culturally with the standards that a player like that sets."
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McInnes has recently been exploring things outside of football, including conducting his own TedX Talk about his career and battles with injuries.
Cronulla still have a plethora of players unsigned for next season including Toby Rudolf, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa and Sam Stonestreet.
Siosifa Talakai was off-contract prior to signing with the Bears.
