St George Illawarra looks poised to extend the contract of a player who may never lace up a boot again, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Cody Ramsey, 23, played 36 games for the Dragons across three seasons but hasn’t taken the field since September 2022.
He was diagnosed with a debilitating bowel condition during last pre-season, underwent multiple surgeries and did not play a game in 2023.
He looked certain to nab the club’s No.1 jumper this year before being struck down, and watched fellow young talent Tyrell Sloan make the fullback position his own.
Ramsey continues to receive treatment for the illness and there is not yet a guarantee he will ever be passed medically fit to play in the NRL again.
But the Dragons are now in discussions with the NRL about extending Ramsey’s stay for another year, reports the Herald.
Ramsey was already contracted for 2024, but the club has devised a plan to keep him on the books until the end of 2025.
The Herald says the Dragons want to pay Ramsey his full 2024 salary, but split it over two years, and officially remove him from the top-30 roster so they can fill his spot with an available player.
It means St George Illawarra will ensure Ramsey is paid a wage despite not being able to train or play.
The NRL will need to decide whether the salary paid to Ramsey is included in the salary cap. If he becomes fit and is able to play at any point, the Dragons will need to put him back in the 30-man squad and his salary would definitely be counted on the cap.