The Sea Eagles are looking for more grunt up front and have identified Mason as capable of providing the required experience on and off the field.

The former NSW and Australian forward is keen on one last contract after Newcastle coach Rick Stone deemed him surplus to requirements.

Mason will be 35 in April, making him one of the oldest players in the NRL. However, the Clive Churchill Medal winner has shown during his three-year Knights stint he is more than capable of matching it with his younger opponents.

Several clubs have expressed interest in Mason, who has indicated he wants to finish his career with a Sydney outfit capable of challenging for a title. The Sea Eagles fit those requirements and are the club most likely to earn his signature.

It is not the first time Manly have attempted to recruit Mason. Former Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler made a bid to lure Mason to the northern beaches following his departure from Canterbury in 2007.

Instead, Mason signed with the Roosters before embarking on stints with North Queensland, Hull KR and Newcastle. He remains a marketable figure in his twilight years, amusing viewers by sledging opposing St George Illawarra forwards when near a ref's microphone in their most recent meeting.

The Sea Eagles will have some wriggle room in their salary cap for next year after the departure of established stars.

Jason King has retired and Glenn Stewart will transfer to South Sydney, while back-up forward Daniel Harrison will continue his career at English club London Broncos. But the most significant development will be the departure of long-serving forward Watmough to Parramatta.

Fairfax Media revealed last month that the NSW and Australian representative had agreed to a three-year deal with the Eels, despite still being contracted to Manly for next year.

The 31-year-old has asked for an immediate release and it is expected it will be granted, potentially as soon as this week. The last sticking point is how much of the final year of his contract, worth about $975,000, the Sea Eagles will pay out.

Watmough's management believes he is owed $350,000 in arrears, although the club is prepared to settle the matter for $300,000. If the Eels can make up the shortfall he will wear blue and gold next season. The move will also free up salary-cap space to bolster their forward pack and work towards re-signing halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans.

After struggling for experience up front – Richie Fa'aoso sat out the entire year with a neck injury – officials are searching for extra forwards. They have already secured the services of Zane Tetevano on a one-year deal. It remains to be seen if the NRL will register the former Newcastle forward after he was accused of assault. There are several court matters that will be heard and the governing body is likely to monitor the outcomes before giving Tetevano a clearance to resume his 29-game first-grade career.