Sydney Roosters set to face awkward contract call as rivals circle

The Sydney Roosters are headed towards “awkward” contract talks as rival clubs line up to try and lure one star away.

Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco

Following Joseph Suaalii’s extension with the Roosters, the Tricolours are headed for an “awkward” call regarding their long-term fullback at the end of 2024.

Superstar No.1 James Tedesco and Suaalii both come off-contract at the end of the 2024 season, leaving Roosters powerbrokers with a mammoth decision.

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The 19-year-old prodigy reportedly turned down the advances of Eddie Jones’ Wallabies to sign a $750,000 contract extension, informing coach Trent Robinson and Roosters supremo Nick Politis of his decision on Sunday according to The Daily Telegraph.

“He’s (Suaalii) now locked in until the end of 2024, which is a good yarn for rugby league in that Eddie Jones was desperate to have a chat,” The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said on NRL360.

“The interesting thing is Joseph has committed until the end of 2024, guess what, that is when Tedesco is off-contract as well.

“Tedesco is 30 now, will be 32 then, and young Joseph is only 19, will be 21 then.

“So the Roosters are going to have to make a decision in my view on their long-term fullback.

“Do they drag Teddy on for another year or two, or do they give Joseph that fullback role, it is an interesting and awkward internal thing.”

Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco

Suaalii has made it clear he wants to shift to fullback and his goal is reportedly to wear the No.1 jersey in the NRL.

Meanwhile, Tedesco has been one of the best and most consistent players in the competition for several years, captaining his country and state at representative level.

Tedesco will be 32 by the end of next season and Rothfield believes the Tricolours will have to make a call, similar to the Rabbitohs’ shock decision to allow Adam Reynolds to depart Redfern.

“That’s why I think it might have to come to a head with Tedesco, and there might have to be a clear path for Joseph to sign long term,” Rothfield said.

“What the Roosters have done with this new deal, they have bought themselves 12 to 18 months to look at this four, five year six million dollar deal.

“You don’t tap Teddy, he’ll be 32, it will get to a stage a bit like Adam Reynolds at Souths where you have got to make a decision.”

Teddy and the Roosters headed for an awkward time. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

NRL360 host Braith Anasta is backing Tedesco to continue playing at an elite level, but co-host Paul Kent issued a big warning.

“It just leaves Teddy on his toes, and obviously he just has to play the way he always does to maintain that position because he’s got him breathing down his neck,” Anasta said.

“But the risk is you are going to frustrate Suaalii, because at some point he is going to say ‘all right, I no longer want to play wing, I want to move to fullback’,” Kent said.

Suaalii is also reportedly the Wallabies’ top target and the Australian rugby union side have a number of big tournaments scheduled for the coming years.

The British and Irish Lions are set to tour Australia in 2025, two years before the Wallabies host the 2027 World Cup.

As it stands, Suaalii’s contract allows him to depart the Roosters and still play in both tournaments.

“I think the bigger risk for the Roosters with Suaalii, 2025 the British Lions come out, 2027 there’s a World Cup, at the moment his contract aligns so he can go and play in those tournaments,” The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said.

“He can leave at the end of 2024 and play against the Lions.”

Read also revealed the Tigers had made contact with Tedesco regarding a potential Leichhardt reunion and are “working in the background” should the Roosters decide Suaalii is their long-term fullback.

Originally published as Sydney Roosters set to face awkward contract call as rivals circle