Luke Keary’s new deal with the Sydney Roosters is the NRL bargain of the season

Rival fans can whinge all they want but it won’t change anything. The Roosters just secured the NRL’s best player on a bargain deal. Find out how the deal went down and get the latest on James Tedesco.

Luke Keary in action for the Roosters. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Rival fans can whinge all they want but the star-studded Sydney Roosters have just secured the rugby league bargain of the season.

In what’s another massive win for the reigning back-to-back premiers, the NRL’s best player Luke Keary has signed off on a three-year extension that is understood to average out at just under $1 million-a-season to keep him at Bondi until at least the end of 2024.

While there’s no question it’s great money for the 28-year-old three-time premiership winning playmaker, Keary’s new salary still keeps him just outside the NRL’s top 10 paid players.

Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans leads the way on $1.25m-a-season, which Brisbane young gun David Fifita will also earn when he joins Gold Coast next year.

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Roosters' Luke Keary during the NRL Indigenous Round match between the Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast Titans at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Then comes Ben Hunt ($1.2m), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($1.1m), Ash Taylor ($1.025), and after that Kieran Foran, Michael Morgan, Anthony Milford and Jason Taumalolo are all on $1 million. Keary’s Roosters teammate James Tedesco’s wage will also bump up to $1m next season.

But while Keary’s decision to take significant unders is sure to spark more debate about the Roosters’ so-called salary cap sombrero, the fact is Keary could have earned a stack more elsewhere but truly wants to be a Rooster for the rest of his life.

“From the top down there’s a really good group of people involved at the Roosters, and I’m excited to have my long-term future locked in here,” Keary said in a statement.

And it’s yet another lesson from powerful Roosters chairman Nick Politis on how to get business done with a minimum of fuss, and absolute professionalism.

“He is an outstanding player and a person and a fantastic club guy, and he has a great attitude,” Politis said.

It is understood the Roosters had Keary locked down last week but chose to delay the announcement after Keary suffered a serious rib injury in the loss to Melbourne and was rushed to hospital.

Trent Robinson added: “Luke is a leader and a student of the game who brings energy to everything he does. He’s also a good person, so it’s great news that he will continue to play his important role here.”

Now Keary’s future is finalised, the Roosters’ next mission will be to do the same with Tedesco.

All eyes are now on James Tedesco. Picture: Phil Hillyard

That’s probably still a few weeks away given Tedesco’s going through a change of management that has caused a delay.

But it is expected Tedesco will also recommit long-term without any dramas.

Keary was said to have received huge interest elsewhere but never seriously contemplated leaving.

It has put the Roosters in a wonderful position to continue their run as the competition’s benchmark team for years to come.

Meanwhile, the Roosters will debut yet another young gun when Freddy Lussick comes off the bench in Saturday’s clash against Wests Tigers.

Lussick was the Roosters’ Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2019 and is an outstanding dummy half talent with plenty of zip.

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There was also some talk that exciting young halfback Sam Walker might get a run this week after being named in the 21 man squad.

However, it is expected Walker, who only recently turned 18, will have to wait a little longer to get his debut.

Although there is still an outside chance Walker could stay in the reduced squad this week just in case there is a late injury with Keary injured.

Walker is the son of former Brisbane player Ben Walker and is regarded as the best young playmaker coming through at any club.