NRL Transfer, signing news: South Sydney fail in bid to land Sydney Roosters young gun Ethan Roberts
MARKET WATCH: South Sydney have failed in an attempt to get one back on fierce rivals the Sydney Roosters by poaching their next big thing.
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The Rabbitohs have failed to get payback for the Joseph Suaalii heist with the club failing in a bold attempt to snatch one back from the Roosters.
In a continuation of rugby league’s greatest rivalry, the Roosters scored another win over the Rabbitohs by stopping their 114-year enemy from signing their next big thing, who just happens to be a genuine Eastern Suburbs junior.
News Corp can reveal Ethan Roberts, 17, knocked back a guaranteed top 30 spot with the Rabbitohs to sign an NRL deal with the Roosters.
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In another coup for the club that stole Suaalii away from Souths, the Roosters fended off the challenge by offering their Harold Matthews player of the year a full-time deal.
Roberts, a barnstorming backrower who played Harold Matthews for the Roosters when he was just 15, could play NRL as soon as next year after being earmarked as a future star.
As part of his new deal, Roberts will join the top squad for the NRL pre-season in a move that could see him become the Roosters next teenage top-grader.
A Paddington Colts junior, Roberts has now been in the Roosters pathway system for four years.
The behind the scenes fight for Roberts‘ signature is a continuation of rugby league’s oldest war.
Having lost the likes of Luke Keary, Angus Crichton and Suaalii to the Roosters in recent years, the Rabbitohs were intent on getting one back by signing the hulking teenager.
While the Roosters are the clear winners in the cross town recruitment war, the traffic has not always been one way.
The Rabbitohs pulled off a heist of their own when Latrell Mitchell broke his Roosters deal to sign a lesser money deal with Souths.
RON COOTE: Defected to the Roosters in 1972 and lead the tricolours to two premierships. A legend of both clubs.
LATRELL MITCHELL: Walked out on the Roosters mid-contract to sign with Wayne Bennett and the Rabbitohs.
JOSEPH SUAALII: Made headlines when the Roosters signed the then 17 year old on a $2 million four year deal.
ELWYN WALTERS: Won three premierships with the Rabbitohs before being recruited to the Roosters by Jack Gibson in 1974.
LUKE KEARY: Jumped ship to the Roosters following a blue with Russell Crowe. Keary has helped deliver the Roosters two premierships.
CRAIG WING: The Rabbitohs lost their poster boy to the Roosters when they were excluded from the competition in 1999. Wing ended up returning home to the Rabbitohs to finish his NRL career.
TERRY FAHEY: The Redfern Express hopped off at Bondi Junction in 1981 after five seasons in the red and green.
ANGUS CRICHTON: A player Souths desperately wanted to keep – but couldn’t. He is back up for grabs now if the Rabbitohs want him back.
BRYAN FLETCHER: Switched from the Roosters to South in a big money deal in 2003.
TERRY HILL: Another Souths teenager the Roosters swooped on. The Roosters signed the future international in 1991.
MARTY GURR: The Bunnies got one back when they signed the NSW Origin fullback in 1984.
ROYCE AYLIFFE: Got another one back when the former Roosters captain signed with Souths in 1985.
MIKE CLEARY: Souths were fuming when the Roosters signed the dual international in 1971.
RUSSELL FAIRFAX: Finished his glittering career with the Rabbitohs after seven years with the Roosters.
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