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MANLY Sea Eagles is keen to begin talks with Brent Kite as soon as possible to extend his future at the club beyond next year.
Kite came out of the representative wilderness last year after a two-year hiatus, and regained his Country and NSW Origin jerseys and then made his Kangaroos debut in the Tri-Nations Series.
The present deal has Kite off-contract at the end of 2007 with an option for 2008.
The 25-year-old gentle giant is composed about his playing future and quietly confident.
"I haven't thought too much about it because I've always had it in the back of my mind that I'm here for next year anyway," Kite said.
"I haven't talked to anyone yet but I'm pretty happy here so hopefully negotiations get under way sooner rather than later.
"But we'll see what offers come up ... or don't come up."
In the short-term Kite must rally the troops, particularly the forwards, with no Ben Kennedy as skipper barking orders any more.
Kite is convinced he will have Kennedy's voice in his head throughout the 2007 season.
"Definitely ... especially in close situations where he had the mentality of leading by example in just tucking the ball under the wing and going," he said.
"I'll be remembering that and how he consolidated us after a try of, if we'd made a few blues, just how he managed to steady the ship and get us going forward.
"For me, personally, I'm not feeling any added pressure but I know people will look to me as I'm in the front row and I'm ready for that."
He is also quite content Matt Orford has been named captain.
"Ox (Orford) expects high standards of himself and the guys around him and that's a good thing," Kite said.
"He'll do well. I think he's in for a big year."
Kite came out of the representative wilderness last year after a two-year hiatus, and regained his Country and NSW Origin jerseys and then made his Kangaroos debut in the Tri-Nations Series.
The present deal has Kite off-contract at the end of 2007 with an option for 2008.
The 25-year-old gentle giant is composed about his playing future and quietly confident.
"I haven't thought too much about it because I've always had it in the back of my mind that I'm here for next year anyway," Kite said.
"I haven't talked to anyone yet but I'm pretty happy here so hopefully negotiations get under way sooner rather than later.
"But we'll see what offers come up ... or don't come up."
In the short-term Kite must rally the troops, particularly the forwards, with no Ben Kennedy as skipper barking orders any more.
Kite is convinced he will have Kennedy's voice in his head throughout the 2007 season.
"Definitely ... especially in close situations where he had the mentality of leading by example in just tucking the ball under the wing and going," he said.
"I'll be remembering that and how he consolidated us after a try of, if we'd made a few blues, just how he managed to steady the ship and get us going forward.
"For me, personally, I'm not feeling any added pressure but I know people will look to me as I'm in the front row and I'm ready for that."
He is also quite content Matt Orford has been named captain.
"Ox (Orford) expects high standards of himself and the guys around him and that's a good thing," Kite said.
"He'll do well. I think he's in for a big year."
