Whether Brett Kimmorley plays alongside new signing Trent Hodkinson at Canterbury next year remains a decision for the NRL veteran.

The Bulldogs have finally landed a successor to Kimmorley in Manly No.7 Hodkinson, signing the 21-year-old to a three-year deal reportedly worth $800,000.

But chief executive Todd Greenberg said an extension to 33-year-old Kimmorley's contract was a call the former NSW half had earned the right to make himself.

"We've always left the opportunity open. The way we've done our forecast on (salary) cap, that this wasn't going to force Noddy (Kimmorley) out," Greenberg told AAP on Tuesday.

"In the end the decision will be his. He's earned that right over a long period of time.

"If he absolutely wants to play then there's an opportunity for him to play and if he doesn't want to play then ultimately he'll have our 100 per cent support."

The club will discuss on-field and off-field options with Kimmorley in the next few weeks, but the club has always seen him as a mentor for whichever young halfback they eventually secured.

"It comes down to whether he's going to tutor him on the field or off the field," Greenberg said.

The deal caps a memorable year for Parramatta junior Hodkinson, who played for City Origin in May just six games after making his first grade debut.

Kimmorley even played a role in talent-spotting the rising star.

"He knew all about it, in fact he encouraged us continually to chase Trent Hodkinson on what he saw in him as a player," Greenberg said.

Hodkinson's signature comes after the Bulldogs failed to lure Parramatta half Daniel Mortimer to the club that made his surname famous.

His halves partner at the Eels, Kris Keating, was also on Canterbury's radar but has said he is keen to stay put.

The move rules the Bulldogs out of making a bid for Melbourne's Cooper Cronk should he be released as part of the Storm's salary cap fire sale.

Manly coach Des Hasler said there was no added urgency to finalise Hodkinson's Sea Eagles halves partner Kieran Foran's new deal.

Kiwi international Foran has agreed to a four-year extension in principle but is yet to sign.

"It's going along so there's no urgency, there's no panic," Hasler said on Tuesday.

He said the decision would be a weight off Hodkinson's shoulders.

"It was very big offer, an offer too good to good to refuse, and no doubt about it there would have been a lot of anguish," Hasler said.

"He's a very popular member of the team but, at the same time, that's the nature of the business.

"We would have loved to have kept him but we just couldn't compete with that offer so he goes with all our blessings."

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