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Sport Nation
Why Cornes believes the Suns shouldn't pay star forward
SEN • January 19th, 2026 8:19 pm
Could the Gold Coast Suns survive without Ben King?
The superstar key forward has been a staple for the club since his draft year, anchoring the side’s forward line throughout their steady rise into finals contention.
However, the Victorian-born talent is entering the final year of his current contract, and with interest from multiple Victorian clubs, a homecoming for King has certainly not been ruled out.
Booting a career-high 71 goals in 2025, the 120-game star will be one of the hottest commodities on the market, but can the Suns afford to lose him?
The club’s unmatched access to elite talent has begun to pay dividends, with key forward pair Ethan Read and Jed Walter making waves in their development over their short careers.
And while the recruitment of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan certainly holds its own questions, a fit and firing Jamarra can compete with the best of the best.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Sam Edmund argued that re-signing the 25-year-old should be non-negotiable.
Kane argued otherwise.
Edmund: “They are stacked everywhere! Stacked forwards, stacked mids, there is no weakness there. The only thing stopping them is themselves, and just how quick this development can be for the likes of (Jed) Walter and (Ethan) Read, and all of these guys to ease the goalscoring burden on Ben King - who will be his own story.
“He is out of contract this year – they’ve got to sign him up, and they’ve got to sign up quick.”
Cornes:“Do they have to sign Ben King up?”
Edmund: “I’m not convinced on Jed Walter to be honest. Ben King is an established key forward proposition, and I don’t think you give them away easily.”
Cornes:“I don’t think it would be a catastrophic disaster if he chose to leave, depending on what you get from Jamarra, and the development of Walter.
“But you’re going to have 12 months. You’ll have a full season to understand that. I wouldn’t be paying huge dollars for King, (and) I wouldn’t be devastated if he left.”
