Sydney Roosters to spend Latrell Mitchell money on Waerea-Hargreaves and Taukeiaho
While Latrell Mitchell’s pending exit from the Sydney Roosters dominates the headlines, behind the scenes the NRL club’s powerbrokers have now moved on to other priorities.
Roosters
Don't miss out on the headlines from Roosters. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Together they are the NRL’s most formidable front-row combination and the Sydney Roosters plan to keep it that way.
So while Latrell Mitchell’s pending exit from Bondi has dominated discussion in recent weeks, behind the scenes the club’s powerbrokers have now moved on to other priorities.
And at the top of that to-do list is locking up their premiership-winning bookends Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Taukeiaho to new deals.
Both rated among the world’s best props, Waerea-Hargreaves and Taukeiaho are committed to the Roosters for the 2020 season but the job now is to come up with a plan that will keep them together long term.
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 >
The pair are shortlisted with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the 2019 Golden Boot which recognises the best player in international matches over the year.
Understandably, either player would only have to say the word to their management and rival clubs would be bashing down their doors to try and prize them away from the reigning back-to-back premiers.
Waerea-Hargreaves turns 31 in January and is likely to get an offer to keep him at Bondi until the end of 2022 at least.
Obviously the giant Kiwi would be aiming to play beyond that but as other clubs have found out the hard way, it can be fraught with danger offering longer term deals to front rowers coming into the back end of their careers.
For that reason the Roosters will have to come to a compromise with an offer that best suits both parties.
Waerea-Hargreaves could probably find himself a longer deal at a rival club if that was his desire but it is understood his preference is to not even get into negotiations with rival clubs at this point.
There is no doubt Waerea-Hargreaves is still the undisputed forward leader at the Roosters.
Even allowing for his poor judiciary record, his aggression and take-no-prisoners nature still make one of the most valuable forwards in the game.
Taukeiaho is also now legitimately regarded in the top few props in the game and his worth will no doubt be rewarded with a significantly upgraded deal.
Taukeiaho, 27, showed inspirational leadership for Tonga when he took a points victory over Kangaroos’ pair David Klemmer and Josh Papalii in that recent Test triumph.
MORE NEWS
Pressure gauge: who is under pressure, and who is flying ahead of Socceroos’ clash with Jordan
SuperCoach BBL Cheapie Bible: Best bargains to target
Jeff Fenech reveals boxers are concussed three times every week
That came on the back of a memorable finals series where he stood his ground against Nelson Asofa-Solomona in the preliminary final win over Melbourne when Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended.
The feeling at the Roosters is that as good as he is already, Taukeiaho’s best years are still to come.
For that reason they are wary of rival clubs trying to get under their guard.
Of other players at the club coming off contract at the end of next year co-captain Jake Friend and Nat Butcher are also priorities.
Friend is hugely popular as well as respected but the emergence of young dummy half Sam Verrills won’t make it any easier for the Roosters to sort out how they juggle the roles of both going forward.
Friend joined the club as a teenager after being signed by the legendary Arthur Beetson and at this point of his career it would be hard to imagine him playing for another club.
Originally published as Sydney Roosters to spend Latrell Mitchell money on Waerea-Hargreaves and Taukeiaho