Chris Heighington will extend his NRL career to a 14th season with the Cronulla veteran close to agreeing to a one year contract extension.

Heighington – who will turn 34 this year – will become one of the oldest players in the NRL in 2016, with only teammate Paul Gallen, Gold Coast-bound Warriors hooker Nathan Friend and Knights forward Jeremy Smith born before Heighington. Off-contact prop Willie Mason is older but yet to commit to a club.

While Heighington is yet to officially put pen to paper, he said he is "very close" to re-signing with the club for next season, shunning offers from the English Super League.

"I'm hoping to re-sign here and having it worked out in the next the week," he said. "There is some young talent and I see a good future for the club. It's exciting because there is a good feel around the club. Hopefully we can build another good year next year. [I spoke to clubs in England for] a little bit but I've been talking here [at the Sharks] for a few months so I just wanted to get that sorted and not lead anyone on."

With Gallen extending his career by at least one more season and Heighington to follow, the Sharks are close to finalising their roster for next year. Centre Ricky Leutele re-signed for three years while the club will add halves James Maloney and Chad Townsend to the roster next year.

Halfback Jeff Robson wants one more year, with the club still on the lookout to add at least another prop to the squad.

The Sharks' top-four hopes suffered a setback when they were strangled out of the contest against Melbourne, losing 30-2 on Monday night. Heighington said the Storm's wrestle was the most he had experienced this season since the NRL announced it would call "held" sooner and forced defenders to release tackled players immediately in 2015.

"This year the ruck has been faster," Heighington said. "It was noticeable on Monday night that it wasn't that fast. They were probably doing it a lot last year because the rule wasn't put in place. [On Monday] it was a bit slower than usual. Credit to them, that's what footy is about. The refs weren't blowing penalties so they kept doing it and that was the outcome of the game.

"We couldn't get any momentum. I take my hat off to them."

The Sharks host Heighington's former side the Wests Tigers at Remondis Stadium on Saturday. Cronulla still hold out hope of a top-four spot but will need to do so without Ben Barba, who is sidelined for at least two weeks with an ankle injury. They play a Tigers side locked in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

"They are in every game," Heighington said. "They are young and enthusiastic. [We need to be] confident going into the finals and winning footy games and wherever we end up we end up. A top four would be a bonus but if it's fifth or sixth, hopefully we can build a bit of momentum."

Meanwhile, the rugby league community helped raise $25,000 for Kurt Drysdale. A host of former NRL players – led by organiser Al Wilson – walked from Heathcote to Remondis Stadium on Monday in aid of the former Sharks junior who is paralysed from the neck down after he was injured playing for Cabramatta.