Todd Carney has ended speculation about his NRL future by agreeing to a new five-year deal with Cronulla.

The NSW five-eighth was the last big-name playmaker off-contract at the end of this season and was linked with moves to Penrith, St George Illawarra and the Warriors.

But the 26-year-old has opted to remain with the Sharks having developed a strong relationship with coach Shane Flanagan.

He was thrown a lifeline by the club after being sacked by the Sydney Roosters.

Carney joined the Sharks at the start of the 2012 season and his form earned him a first State of Origin call-up.

The former Canberra star was close to signing a new contract with the Sharks just before the start of this season but negotiations were put on hold after the ASADA investigation engulfed the club.

“I think he’s very happy in his environment, the people he’s playing with,” Carney’s manager David Riolo told Fairfax.

“He thought long and hard about it, and had some exciting offers elsewhere.

“But in the end, he just didn’t want to make the change.”

Cronulla are set to release a statement officially confirming the deal on Thursday afternoon.