Loyal Dog: Faitala-Mariner set for new deal after sniffing around – NRL.COM

Bulldogs back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner is eyeing off another two years at Belmore after weighing up an early exit 12 months ago in pursuit of regular game time.
A two-year extension for the Samoan and Kiwi international is understood to be close to completion now a rejuvenated Faitala-Mariner has shaken off a series of injuries to simply “run hard and tackle hard” in 2020.
The 26-year-old has started on Canterbury’s left edge in the past five outings and churned out an impressive 40 tackles and 123 running metres per game.
Midway through last year it was a different story, when Faitala-Mariner was dropped to Canterbury Cup and while sidelined with a knee injury, wondered whether his future lay elsewhere as rival NRL interest lobbed with his management.
“It did cross my mind when I wasn’t getting game time,” Faitala-Mariner told NRL.com when asked how seriously he considered leaving the Bulldogs.
“It was there for a bit. But I chose to back myself, stay here and work on the little things in my game.
Faitala-Mariner breaks through on the left edge
“I was told there were

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