Frawley closing in on Knights deal

Departing Canterbury playmaker Matt Frawley has confirmed he is on the verge of a move to Newcastle next season.

Frawley was farewelled along with veterans Brett Morris, Josh Morris and Greg Eastwood, which followed the well documented exit of high-profile players Aaron Woods and Moses Mbye left in June.

The 23-year-old played his final NRL game in Bulldogs colours on Sunday after 31 appearances for the club but will feature for the Intrust Super Premiership side until the end of their finals campaign.

"There's a fair few of us dropping back and we're a chance of winning it so not on holidays yet," Frawley told NRL.com.

"I've had so many great memories here and built so many great relationships. For it to come to an end it's a bit of a weird feeling.

"I come up here straight out of 20s and the Dogs gave me an opportunity. I've grown as a player and person."

Newcastle are on the hunt for backup halves following the departure of Jack Cogger to Canterbury and Brock Lamb to the Roosters.

The Knights endured a horrid injury toll in their spine during the 2018 season and despite the thought of favoured halves Mitchell Pearce and Connor Watson ahead of him, Frawley welcomed the opportunity to head to the Hunter.

"I'm a realist, I know I'll have to work for a spot there," he said.

"I've got no dramas with that, I want to go up there and prove myself again.

"It is an option, the Knights are a club on the way up and I'd love to go there. It's still up in the air to an extent, but confident something will get done in the next week or so.

"They've got some good players in Pearcey, Connor Watson and other good halves. It's an option. I wouldn't say it's done and dusted but if it was to happen I would be excited and it would be a good place for my footy.

"We've had a few discussions but it's still early days."

The future isn't as clear for Eastwood, who remains without a deal beyond this season.

The 31-year-old battled a heart scare over the pre-season and was restricted to 15 appearances in 2018.

"Hopefully I can stay in Australia and play a few more seasons in the NRL," Eastwood said.

"It was hard missing all of pre-season, it's hard to get your body up to speed these days with everything so quick.

"But I thought the end of the year I got back to where I wanted to be and gave it a good crack. Hopefully a club has a look and needs me to fill a spot."