The financial standoff between Corey Norman and the Parramatta Eels is reportedly over, with the five-eighth set to be released immediately to join the St George Illawarra Dragons.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Dragons will announce the coup of Norman on a three-year deal on Tuesday.
Norman – who had one year to run on his Eels contract worth around $900,000 – farewelled the Parramatta players last week but his St George Illawarra move was prolonged because of a disagreement over a payout.
The 27-year-old wanted an extra $20,000 and threatened to stay on at Parramatta until his next pay cycle on January 4 to claim the additional funds before moving on.
It appears Norman won't get the money he was chasing, however, with the Eels refusing to provide a cent more than $250,000 towards his Dragons contract in 2019.
The Telegraph claims the Dragons will pay Norman $500,000 next season alongside Parramatta's quarter-million dollar contribution, meaning Norman is on significantly less coin than he would have received at Parramatta.
The Saints will then fork out $1.6 million over the final two years of Norman's deal.
Norman played 107 matches for the Eels after arriving in 2014, leading them to the finals last year before a hugely disappointing 2018 campaign.
He is expected to wear the No.6 jersey for the Dragons, pushing captain and incumbent pivot Gareth Widdop to fullback.
Widdop is widely tipped to depart the club at the conclusion of this season to head to the UK Super League, so the addition of Norman ensures the Saints have playmaking firepower moving forward.
But where all this leaves Matt Dufty is unknown.
Dufty, 22, played every match for the Red V in 2018 and starred throughout the first half of the season as the Dragons shot to the top of the table.
Like many of his teammates, he suffered a dip in form towards the back end of the year but proved he can be a valuable attacking weapon with his blinding pace and sharp footwork.
Dufty's future became clouded last month as reports surfaced that St George Illawarra were pursuing Jarryd Hayne.
But Hayne was caught up in legal dramas and the Dragons subsequently ceased negotiations, safeguarding Dufty's future – or so it seemed.
The pint-sized local junior has attracted interest from other clubs including the Canberra Raiders.
If he remains at St George Illawarra, he will likely be pushed onto the wing or relegated to reserve grade.
Young gun Jaeman Salmon is expected to start in the five-eighth role at Parramatta with Norman gone.