NRL 2023: Sydney Roosters face race against time as $5.5m salary cap crunch hits hard
The Sydney Roosters face a race against the clock to lock up some of their biggest names, with more than $5 million worth of talent set to become free agents from November 1.
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The Sydney Roosters have stepped up their form at the right time of year but they will need to get a wriggle on once their premiership campaign is over as they look to tie down more than $5 million worth of talent before the market officially opens on November 1.
The group of players heading into the final year of their deals is headlined by centre Joey Manu and five-eighth Luke Keary, two loyal servants who have been at the heart of their late-season charge into the finals.
According to the NRL website, hooker Brandon Smith also has a player option in his contract which means he is able to sign with a rival club on November 1 for the 2025 season.
NSW and Australian back rower Angus Crichton and his back row partner Nat Butcher are also able to sign elsewhere along with emerging stars Siua Wong, Naufau Whyte and Terrell May.
The Roosters have their work cut out for them, although they generally manage to find a way. The difficulty they face is that Wong and May will likely demand upgrades on their current deals given the way they have played this year.
Butcher has also been a solid contributor yet again, making 22 appearances and locking down a place in the second row.
This masthead understands at least one rival club is readying a move for Butcher, although they privately concede it will be difficult to prise him away from the Roosters.
The priority will be Manu, who was believed to be the subject of a monster bids from the Dolphins and Warriors before he inked a new agreement with the Roosters two years ago.
There have already been reports that incoming St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has earmarked Manu as a potential signing with a view to playing him at fullback, where he has starred for the New Zealand national side and when given a chance at the Roosters.
His path to the No.1 jersey at the Roosters is blocked by James Tedesco while Keary’s future could dictate whether he is given more opportunities in the halves, where he played at times this season when Sam Walker was dropped and then injured.
The Roosters will have some of their cap constraints eased when Joseph Suaalii leaves for rugby union at the end of next season. Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and winger Daniel Tupou may also be off the books in 12 months.
The more immediate priority for the Roosters is Saturday night’s sudden-death final at Pointsbet Stadium against Cronulla, a side coached by their former assistant Craig Fitzgibbon.
Fitzgibbon was a loyal lieutenant to Trent Robinson for years and left a lasting impression on his former players, chief among them Roosters captain Tedesco.
“I have a lot of respect and love for Fitzy,” Tedesco said.
“He was a big part of our success at the Roosters and my success as well. I loved having him as a coach.
“We have had some good battles against Fitzy already even just us verse sharks. He got it over us at the start of the year.”
Asked how Fitzgibbon had helped him, Tedesco said: “He was the defence coach for us. He is just very smart.
“Even some of the attack stuff he spoke to me about. During Origin, he was the assistant there (for NSW). He is just a very smart man.
“A lot of respect - whatever he said, you didn’t want to let Fitzy down. I feel like that is how the Sharks play - he is well respected, he is detailed, and he backs his players. “I felt very confident under him.”
HOW TEDESCO SAVED SEASON FROM HELL
James Tedesco takes a seat, a deep breath and begins to unpack how easily a difficult year could have turned into a full-blown disaster for both him and the Sydney Roosters.
In the back room of the Telstra building, where the NRL held its finals launch earlier this week, his opposition captains milling around within earshot, Tedesco has carved out a slice of time to talk about the tough times, the upcoming finals and his hopes for another premiership.
Barely a month ago, those hopes looked forlorn. The Roosters were limping towards the end of the season and Tedesco was under the pump.
He had emerged from a difficult State of Origin series with some suggesting that he was at risk of losing his Kangaroos No.1 jersey to Reece Walsh. Or Kalyn Ponga. Or Latrell Mitchell. Anyone but Tedesco apparently.
How quick some forget. Tedesco may have been enduring lean times, but less than 12 months ago, he led Australia to World Cup success. He was without doubt the best fullback in the game. Maybe the best player.
Yet some would have you believe that all that credit had been washed away as Billy Slater inspired another Maroons win and the Roosters faltered.
At one point, Tedesco’s father John spoke out in support of his son, so incandescent and bemused was he with the criticism of his son. All the while, James bit his tongue and kept a civil tone as he addressed the criticism.
Surely it stung.
“I have been sweet,” Tedesco said.
“It wasn’t ideal. We started the year and Origin and all that stuff. If I dwelled on that and felt bad for myself, we wouldn’t have put ourselves in this position.
“I would have not played good footy at the end of the year. You can’t go back in time and change results or performance.
“You have to take your lessons and move forward.”
Those lessons extended to watching other teams and working out what they were doing to be successful. He and the other leaders at the Roosters took more ownership of the team. The results have been there for all to see.
The Roosters have strung together five successive wins and find themselves heading to Pointsbet Stadium on Saturday night to face Cronulla as slight favourites to make it six on the trot.
Who would have thought? Tedesco, that’s who.
“We were always confident within the four walls that we could get it done,” Tedesco said.
“We knew it was a tough task but we didn’t think it wasn’t doable. We always finish the year strong — we have been doing that for years at the Roosters.
“We always had that belief that if we played our best footy, we gave ourselves a chance. Anything can happen in the finals.”
As for his own form, Tedesco said: “I always keep working hard and I always back myself. It was good for myself to take a step back, take a look at what changes I could make on and off the field, and put all my energy into winning games.
“When you are winning games, it takes a lot of pressure off and life is a lot better. That is what I have done.”
The Roosters turned the corner and Tedesco was at the heart of it. He enters the finals series having silenced much of the criticism, having also taken his own personal interest in the form of Walsh and Ponga.
The Brisbane and Newcastle fullbacks have been brilliant in their side’s respective runs to the finals and Tedesco isn’t afraid to admit he has watched — and in some cases learned.
“Walsh has obviously been playing the best footy … out of anyone in the game at the moment,” Tedesco said.
“Kalyn Ponga has been really good at the back for the Knights. I enjoy watching them because they play really good footy and they are creating opportunities for the team.
“There are so many different fullbacks who play what is beneficial for the team. What Dylan Edwards does for Penrith is unbelievable.
“Then Reece Walsh is completely different but they are both successful for their team. There was a lot of scrutiny and criticism against (Ponga) at the start of the year.
“Now he is one of the best players in the comp the way he has ended the year. He has always been a massive talent. It is good that he is playing a lot freer and enjoying his footy.
“That just shows how much you can turn it around.”
Tedesco speaks from personal experience. He and the Roosters have turned the corner themselves. It might end on Saturday night.
Then again, it might go all the way to October.
“It has been a rollercoaster” he said.
“It is not over yet, which is a good thing. I think I would have been disappointed if we finished the year well and didn’t make the finals.
“I think that would have been a disappointing end. But to give ourselves a run in the finals now, it could really turn into a successful year.
“Footy seasons can be like that. You can’t be perfect or at your best for every game. It wasn’t ideal for me and the team with how we started the year and midway though.
“But I am proud of the way we turned it around.”
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The Matthew Johns show will be required viewing on Sunday night as Sam Burgess makes his return to our screens to talk about the finals series.
Of course, there will also be plenty of interest around his thoughts on South Sydney, his departure from the club and his issues with the way certain players were handled.
Burgess has said little since walking out on the club but chances are he will face a good-natured grilling from Johns, Bryan Fletcher and Nathan Hindmarsh as he settles into the couch.
His return to Fox Sports comes as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were named in a train-on squad by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga for the upcoming Tri-Nations tournament.
Mitchell is a certainty to make the final cut should he confirm his availability. There were fears he would withdraw from contention to remove himself from the spotlight but Mitchell was a valuable squad member on last year’s World Cup tour and seemed to enjoy being in green and gold.
He thrived as well under Meninga’s coaching. Where Mitchell was concerned, Meninga knew how to pull the right strings and press the right buttons.
His reward was a fit and focused footballer who helped the Kangaroos dominate the tournament. A penny for Burgess’ thoughts.
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