Matty Johns: How it feels to be the target of a Nick Politis approach

In planning and recruitment, the Roosters have had a poor last 12 months, but club chairman Nick Politis is poised to strike a key target – Matty Johns reveals how ‘Uncle Nick’ operates.

The urgency and lack of denial from the Sydney Roosters in getting Daly Cherry-Evans in red, white and blue for 2026 shows the unusual and unexpected position in which they currently find themselves.

In planning and recruitment, the Roosters have had a poor last 12 months, which you can put down to some bad luck, and some bad decisions.

They had recognised the changing of the guard coming, but struggled to land key targets.

The departure of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary to Super League, and Joseph Manu and Joseph Suaalii to chase their rugby union dreams, have left difficult holes to fill.

In-demand Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BLUNDERS

But there’s been some decisions made which they may be ruing.

Sitili Tupouniua’s impact at Canterbury must have the Roosters questioning why they allowed him to leave.

And of course, the puzzling decision to suddenly inform Terrell May, during the off-season, that he wasn’t in their plans.

May was gobsmacked, as were most others.

May is showing at the Wests Tigers why the Roosters once viewed him as one of the most outstanding young forwards in the game and a man who could fill the JWH hole.

Bad luck has been the cream on top, when both Sam Walker and Brandon Smith suffered ACL injuries in the same Round 26 game last season, ruling them out for most of 2025.

Veteran Chad Townsend was brought to the club to mentor Walker and give some playmaking depth in case he was needed.

Now Townsend finds himself the centrepiece playmaker and is struggling.

Townsend, with his forwards unable to assert dominance, is being forced to play on the back foot and looks lost in the new system of play.

HOW A CAR SALESMAN MAKES A DEAL

Long-term planning is one thing but the Roosters need a player who can come in and get them back on top before those future plans are established.

Signing Cherry-Evans for two years looks the perfect bridge.

The Roosters are favourites for his signature and their desperation will have them going all out on the sell, much like when they landed Cooper Cronk in 2018.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The Roosters are viewed as a club who land big players because they pay big dollars, but there’s much more to their sell than that.

Their boss, their Godfather, Nick Politis, is as passionate a man as you will ever met in the sport and I’ve never met anyone who’s more invested in their team, emotionally, spiritually and, of course, financially.

Politis knows how to make a deal. He turned his City Ford car dealership into a $2 billion empire.

A big part of Politis’ sell to recruitment targets is the history of the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, the players, the coaches, the premierships.

THE PACKAGE THAT LANDED COOPER CRONK

When Politis was trying to sign Cronk, the halfback heard a knock on his door one day and was greeted by a courier who handed him a package.

Inside the package, a book on the history of the Roosters, which Politis had sent.

Attached to the front cover was a handwritten note that said: “just read the chapters on 1974 and 75”.

Cooper Cronk helped guide the Roosters to back-to-back premierships. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Cronk read about the disappointing year the Roosters had endured in 1973, and how, with the help of key signings, they were able to win consecutive titles in 1974 and 1975.

It was the last time the club had achieved successive premierships.

Politis was telling Cronk, in no subtle way, why he was being pursued and what he expected once they got his signature.

Cronk was sold and took the Roosters to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19.

THE DAY I SAID ‘NO’ TO UNCLE NICK

I can attest to the quality of the sell.

At the end of my time at the Knights, I made a decision that I’d go to England and fulfil a boyhood ambition to play for the mighty Wigan club.

Before I signed, my manager, the late, great John Fordham, said that Politis would like a meeting to discuss the possibility of me joining the Roosters.

I agreed, but only out of respect. My head was already in the north of England.

I sat with Politis and he spoke about the history of the Roosters and what I would be part of.

When he spoke of the club, men like Jack Gibson and the Immortal Arthur Beetson, Politis got very emotional.

After 20 minutes I was in trouble, my dream of playing for Wigan was subsiding fast and I asked Politis to stop.

If I allowed him to finish his pitch, I would’ve signed then and there.

Matty Johns did live his dream to play for Wigan.

But Cronk was also sold on the fact that he believed the Roosters could win a title.

Like DCE, Cooper had numerous clubs after his skills and experience. One club was so desperate that, along with a giant monetary offer, they told him he’d only be required to train a few days a week.

Cronk, the ultimate professional, was more alarmed than charmed.

I get the sense Cherry-Evans, who will be 37 when next season kicks off, will join the Roosters.

If so, I’d be interested to know how Walker feels, returning from his ACL injury, whether he will assume control of the team.

DCE coming in would add a considerable amount to Walker’s football education, but does Walker want to return to the role of deputy?