My worry in regards to extending Vaughan is we have Mahoney (reportedly 600k), Kikau (reportedly 800k) and Sutton coming next year.
We have to spend 95% of our salary cap so we're sitting on a maximum of 470k in the salary cap free this year which we can use for next year.
We don't have a lot of big names/money coming off contract. Doorey, Dufty, RFM, Hoffman, Katoa, Stimson, Topine, Vaughan and Wakeham. Dufty, RFM, Stimson and Vaughan would be on a decent amount with the others basically on minimum wage (freeing up nothing if they're released).
I would guess looking at that it's going to be tough to extend Vaughan unless we're able to move contracted players on who aren't not in the top 17 (or in it) on decent money and/or we've frontloaded contracts this year.
I also think it's weird (definitely not normal) Mahoney, Kikau and Sutton haven't had official/public announcements (Mahoney and Kikau have been announced in a members email). I'm not sure if that's linked with anything (in regards to salary cap and player retention).