Jake Friend retirement: Why Roosters won’t receive NRL salary cap relief
Roosters legend Jake Friend has retired from rugby league after a series of concussions but the club won’t receive any salary cap compensation. Here’s why.
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The Sydney Roosters will not receive any salary cap dispensation for Jake Friend after the premiership-winning hooker made the decision to retire immediately.
Friend’s 14-year career is over after suffering three concussions in his past six games.
The Roosters’ co-captain met with the club’s coaching and medical staff this week with the 31-year-old now griped with the reality of having played his final match.
Despite Friend clearly being forced into a medical retirement, the club will not be able to receive any salary cap dispensation this year.
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Under NRL rules, club’s cannot claim salary cap relief in the same season the player suffers the injury.
The Roosters could have petitioned the NRL for a cap break next season and beyond had Friend been contracted to the club beyond this year.
However, Friend was off-contract at season’s end after inking a one-year deal with the club last year.
The club received $350,000 salary cap relief for teammate Boyd Cordner who will miss the opening three months of the season because of a head knock he received during Origin.
That came as a result of the NRL’s representative injury policy.
Friend will go down as a Roosters all-time great. His career ends with 264 top grade games, three State of Origins for Queensland and one Test. He has been a co-captain for six years and helped lead the club to back to back premiership titles.
He has won three premierships and played in four grand finals. Only 300-gamers Mitch Aubusson, Anthony Minichiello and Luke Ricketson have played in more matches for the tricolours.
Friend had been wrestling with the retirement call since he was knocked out in the opening round game against Manly at the SCG. During the course of his decorated career Friend has suffered 20 concussion and has struggled with ongoing shoulder and neck issues in the past couple of seasons.
He was initially reluctant to retire because he felt he was letting down the team, however, Friend finally informed his closest teammates it is now time to hang up the boots.
Friend is expected to remain as part of the Roosters club in an off-field role. He was seen in the dressing room during the club’s win against the Warriors on Saturday and sat alongside coach Trent Robinson during the match.
An official announcement is expected before the Roosters next clash against Cronulla on Saturday.
HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT
Friend had been wrestling with the retirement call since he was knocked out in the opening round game.
He had told teammates he felt like he was letting them down.
Friend told The Sunday Telegraph a week after the collision that he would be guided by medical advice.
“I want to keep playing but I’ll be guided by the medical experts,” he said.
“We’ll see what happens.”
Friend only inked a one-year deal last year. He has struggled with ongoing shoulder and neck issues in the past couple of seasons.
He achieved his long-term goal of playing Origin last year, featuring in the Maroons’ series win. He played one Test for Australia in 2016.
The Roosters have already assured Friend’s long-term successor with premiership-winning hooker Sam Verrills. Verrills, who is recovering from another minor knee operation, is signed with the club until the end of 2024.
His Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner is sidelined until at least round 12 after a bout of serious concussions in recent years. There were concerns for Cordner’s long-term future but it is expected the Australian skipper will return to the field.
Friend, who made his Roosters debut in 2008, sits fourth overall in game’s played for the Roosters with 264. Only 300-gamers Mitch Aubusson, Anthony Minichiello and Luke Ricketson have played in more matches for the tricolours.
JAKE FRIEND
Debut: 2008 v Canterbury round 16.
Games: 264 top grade games, fourth all-time in Roosters history. 27 tries, one field goal.
Representative: One Test for Australia in 2016, three games for Queensland in 2020, NRL-All Stars 2017
Grand finals: Four
Premierships: Three including two as co-captain
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