Roosters ask Rabbitohs to release Joseph Suaalii
The transfer market is heating up, with schoolboy superstar Joseph Suaalii rejecting a $2 million contract extension at the Rabbitohs as he eyes a long-term deal at the Roosters.
NRL
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The Sydney Roosters have opened communications with arch rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs to release boom teenager Joseph Suaalii from the final year of his contract.
The 17-year-old schoolboy superstar has rejected a $2 million contract extension at the Rabbitohs and wants to sign a long-term deal at the Roosters.
He has been in talks with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and the club’s head of recruitment Daniel Anderson for several weeks.
Anderson rang Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly on Monday morning to discuss the possibility of Suaalii coming straight to the Roosters.
The Rabbitohs remain noncommittal.
They have not been approached by Suaalii’s family or advisers for a release.
Whatever happens, the Roosters will have to pay a development fee to the Rabbitohs, 25 per cent of the first year of his NRL contract. It is expected to be more than $50,000.
The Roosters can’t sign Suaalii until November but he can’t play first grade until he is 18, unless the NRL relaxes its rules.
Suaalii has knocked back the Wests Tigers to play for the Roosters.
Originally published as Roosters ask Rabbitohs to release Joseph Suaalii