Cowboys Lachlan Coote to decide whether to sign for Roosters or stay in North Queensland

LACHLAN Coote will decide in the next 48 hours whether to stay with the Cowboys for less money or sign a mega-rich deal with the Sydney Roosters.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Lachlan Coote of the Cowboys looks to take on the defence during the round four NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on March 25, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

LACHLAN Coote will decide in the next 48 hours whether to stay with the Cowboys for less money or sign a mega-rich deal with the Sydney Roosters.

Coote is only interested in signing with either North Queensland or Sydney and the Cowboys have come back from the dead to be favourites for his signature. The brave fullback is in career-best form and is poised to make a career-defining decision before the weekend.

St George Illawarra are now out of the hunt for Coote, while Souths are outsiders despite offering him the chance to play fullback in place of Greg Inglis, who will be moved to centre next year.

The Roosters are the only club Coote is considering leaving Townsville for at the moment.

The Cowboys spoke extensively with Coote’s manager Mark Stewart over the past two days and all parties want to come to a decision over the weekend.

Coote’s decision could come as early as Thursday.

North Queensland officials are confident they have offered Coote enough reasons to stay in Townsville. They have been flexible in negotiations for their star custodian but do want an answer soon.

They will get it this weekend, with the Cowboys facing Parramatta on Saturday night and Coote not wanting the issue to drag into another round.

What the Cowboys can provide is arguably the NRL’s most talented roster and a chance at multiple premierships.

It is understood that Coote has ruled the Dragons out because he does not see them contending for a premiership in the near future. He also wants to earn representative jerseys, a pursuit best served in a winning team.

Coote has to decide which direction he wants to take.

While the Roosters are performing poorly this year, they have the young talent and cap space to rebound as a top four team next season.

The Roosters have offered Coote security with a four year deal worth more than the Cowboys’ offer.

Coote saidlast month he would have to take a cut to stay in Townsville.

“I’ll weigh it up with the family, see what it all is and weigh up whether I come down to Sydney or stay,’’ he said. “It is business though. It is not personal, this is what happens these days.”

If Coote leaves, the Cowboys would have to go to the market for a fullback unless they moved Michael Morgan back to the position next season. Teen sensation Kalyn Ponga may not be ready for the NRL next season given that he only turned 18 last month.