As Cowboys emerge as greatest threat to signing Latrell Mitchell, another game keeps the circus rolling on
As the Sydney Roosters pay Latrell Mitchell a whopping monthly salary to sit back and contemplate his footballing future, rival clubs could be stalling to save money in the countdown to Christmas.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Latrell Mitchell is still being paid an estimated $60,000-a-month as he sits back and contemplates his footballing future in the countdown to Christmas.
But this whopping monthly salary has now emerged as a possible hidden agenda that is potentially stalling rivals clubs from tabling an offer to take the disillusioned young star off the Sydney Roosters’ hands immediately.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
This latest twist comes as speculation intensifies that the North Queensland Cowboys have again emerged as a genuine contender to the Gold Coast with the Cowboys said to be a club Mitchell is showing a serious interest in a lifestyle change as much as anything.
The drawn out saga could still have several twists and turns to come as both the Cowboys and Gold Coast try and work out a possible way to free up enough salary cap space to make a serious play for Mitchell.
The longer it drags out the more cash Mitchell’s future club could potentially save.
Given NRL contracts run between November and October, Mitchell would have been paid his first month’s salary from the Roosters and will have another payment due in December.
On an estimated annual contract of between $650,000 and $700,000 for next season, that would equate to almost $120,000 before he is even required back at pre-season training in January.
It is speculated that the Roosters may eventually chip in even more money to help get Mitchell out the door, so they don’t have to bother with sending him back to NSW Cup to play with the North Sydney Bears next year.
That could potentially take up to $200,000 off what a rival club would have to pay Mitchell, at least for next year.
So instead of signing him for $1 million-a-season, the asking price becomes $800,000, or $800,000 becomes $600,000.
Of course, Mitchell could demand he gets the severance pay-out as well as top dollar at a new club.
But the problem with him making that demand is that no other club with the exception of the Wests Tigers have the available salary cap space to accommodate his reported $1 million-a-season asking price.
As it stands Gold Coast is the only club that has publicly conceded to be still interested in signing a two-time premiership winning 22-year-old after the Tigers and previously Canterbury and South Sydney made their intentions clear.
But don’t be fooled that the Cowboys aren’t sitting back and watching this circus unfold with a genuine interest.
The Cowboys are remaining coy about their intentions but there is no doubt the Tigers’ decision to withdraw a $3.8 million four-year offer has reignited hope up north that a potential bargain buy could somehow land in their lap in the Christmas countdown.
MORE NEWS
NRL dominoes fall in major transfer moves
Heavyweights set to shake-up ARLC
Kind of like the Steven Bradbury theory, the race for Latrell could ultimately come down to the last club that is left standing.
As fed up as the Roosters are, the one thing the reigning premiers would be reluctant to do is fork out more money that will be included on their own salary cap to help strengthen a rival premiership contender.
It is assumed Mitchell would have to work out his settlement with the Roosters before the Cowboys or Titans could get remotely serious about potentially tabling an offer.
The huge plus in the Gold Coast’s favour right now is that Mal Meninga has been very public in his support.
But there is no question the Cowboys’ would offer a better chance of joining a genuine premiership force.
If you throw Mitchell’s strike into the Cowboys’ backline that has already recruited Valentine Holmes and Esan Marsters for next year, that takes a team that missed the play offs to the next level.
It would mean Mitchell would have to give up his dream of playing fullback and remain playing in the centres, which was said to be one of the reasons he became disillusioned at the Roosters in the first place.
It makes you wonder if Mitchell had his time over would he have just agreed to the $800,000-a-season offer the Roosters initially put forward and got on with winning more premierships.
But now there is no going back.
Originally published as As Cowboys emerge as greatest threat to signing Latrell Mitchell, another game keeps the circus rolling on