Roosters’ $2m recruit told he’s free to leave as new suitor emerges

The Roosters have reportedly dropped a bombshell and told a high priced recruit he’s free to leave less than halfway through his deal.

The Roosters have reportedly dropped a bombshell and told high-profile recruit Dom Young he’s free to leave the club immediately and a suitor has already emerged.

Young arrived at the Roosters from the Knights last season on a four-year deal worth more than $2 million, but last week he got dropped to the NSW Cup.

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Now, just 18 months into his contract, he’s been granted permission to talk to rival clubs so that he can leave before the June 30 deadline, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Young broke Newcastle’s single-season try-scoring record in 2023 with 25 and then scored 20 tries in 22 games for the Roosters last season.

The 23-year-old scored five tries in the Roosters’ opening five games this season but his form has fallen off a cliff over the past month, particularly in defence.

Dominic Young has reportedly been told he can leave the Roosters immediately. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Knights’ attack has struggled badly this season and they’re reportedly interested in bringing Young back to the club.

Young is one several high-profile recruits that haven’t worked out in recent years, with Brandon Smith also being shown the door.

Rugby league reporter Danny Weidler said the club is looking to keep veteran winger Daniel Tupou and offload Young.

“There was also a fair bit of talk around Magic Round that the Roosters are shopping Daniel Tupou to Japanese rugby,” Weidler said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

Young’s form has dropped off lately. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

“They’ve now decided that they’ve got him on contract for next year, they’re going to keep him.

“He’s never really been on big money, he’s always been paid a bit under. That looks like settling down.

“For Dom Young, the other winger, there’s a lot of chatter that he’s on the way out. Even though he’s got a contract.

“Newcastle have heard that chatter, where he was before, and while they haven’t heard anything official, they’re definitely keeping an eye on it. Because I think they could see him back at that club one day.”

Weidler also revealed that Roosters young gun half Sandon Smith recently rejected a contract extension offer from the club.

“Sandon Smith … I know that a little while ago, the Roosters tried to upgrade and extend him for around $400,000 a year,” Weidler said.

“He said ‘no’. Whether that suddenly develops into a situation where Sandon, if he keeps playing well, and they’re worried about signing Cherry, whether they could keep him as well.

“I found it unusual, even before the Cherry talk started, that [Smith] knocked it back.”

Originally published as Roosters’ $2m recruit told he’s free to leave as new suitor emerges