Ben Hunt is still hopeful of getting a deal done with St George Illawarra in the next week, despite rejecting the latest offer from the NRL club.
Hunt is off contract at the end of next year and the Dragons remain desperate to get a new deal sorted before he is free to talk to rivals on November 1.
Both Hunt and the Dragons had signalled their intent to have the deal signed before the club captain leaves for the World Cup, if selected, late next week.
But those plans hit a roadblock on Wednesday, with news Hunt's management had knocked back the latest offer from the club.
"We've got a number and we're getting there, but it's going to take a bit of time," Hunt said.
"We're getting close. We are very close.
"Both parties want to get it sorted out before the World Cup. I'm sure we'll get it done this week."
Hunt's comments came on the Dally M's red carpet, where he entered as one of the favourites to take out the top gong.
The halfback and club have now been in negotiations for several months.
That has largely played out in the media while at one stage an inquiry from Hunt's camp to have a clause linked to coach Anthony Griffin was rejected by the club.
The Dragons find themselves in a tricky position with Hunt their best player by some margin.
However they are also keen to keep their hands on rising star Jayden Sullivan, with the natural half spending time at hooker late in the season.
One option would be Hunt shifting to the No.9 jersey in the long term to keep Sullivan at the club, but the man himself said that was not part of discussions.
Hunt indicated there had been a small frustration over the protracted nature of the discussions.
"Yes and no," he responded when asked if he was growing frustrated.
"It's just the way contracts goes. Sometimes it's the way it is. I understand that they're trying to do the best by the club and I'm trying to do best by myself.
"I'm still sure we can work it out (if not before World Cup).
"But the preference is to get it done before them. Obviously after that it might get a bit harder."
