‘Geeing me up’: Gorden Tallis cannot believe Roosters got another one

Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis has been left stunned after it was revealed a former Origin forward has signed with the Roosters.

Gorden Tallis couldn't believe it. Photo: Getty Images and Twitter

Rugby league great Gorden Tallis has laughed in the face of the news former NSW Blues lock Nathan Brown has signed with the Sydney Roosters.

In another example of the Roosters getting their man, the Parramatta Eels grand finalist from 2022 will join the club on a one-year deal.

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Brown has not played so far this season due to an injury and the Eels will reportedly contribute a significant amount of his contract for the year.

But Tallis has met the news in incredulity after another big signing to add to the premiership favourite’s remarkable depth.

In a discussion of the Roosters’ diminished stocks in the forwards, Fox Sports’ James Hooper said: “If you look at all the quality talent they had missing from their middles yesterday, you take that amount of quality players out of any other team, most teams would struggle to come up with a way to come up with a win.

“But the Roosters, they have got the depth.”

Hooper then said the side had signed Eels and two-game Origin representative for NSW Nathan Brown.

Nathan Brown played two matches for the Blues in 2020. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Through laughter, Gorden Tallis asked: “Did they signed another one?

“They did, you’re geeing me up. They have signed another player?

“For the culture? Because he wants to play Roosters football?

Hooper replied: “Clearly he does, he’s not getting a go at Parramatta.”

An incredulous Tallis continue: “So he is going there? And they just have enough money?”

Last season, Brown was told he could shop himself around despite having 2023 remaining on his contract.

He missed much of the back end of the season for the Eels after being dropped but was brought into the side’s Grand Final losing side.

He has so far missed the Eels opening two matches of the season due to a hamstring injury and won’t play in the Roosters’ match against the Rabbitohs.

Hooper tried to argue the Roosters had lost a lot of players, including Sam Verrills to joined the Titans.

“No they bought the Cheese (Brandon Smith) that six clubs were going for,” Tallis said.

“So they need middles so they just go buy them? Is it a ceiling or a circus tent? It’s a circus tent isn’t it?

As his co-panellists argued he was bringing up the age-old salary cap sombrero joke at the Roosters, Tallis laughed it off.

“What road?” Tallis said.

“Every fan that looks at teams that lose players and teams that don’t.”

Gorden was in disbelief. Photo: Triple M

Nathan Brown has a new club. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Hooper argued the Roosters had lost the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Boyd Cordner, Cooper Cronk, Jake Friend, Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Isaac Liu, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Sam Verrills, Lachlan Lam, Mitch Aubusson, Kyle Flanagan, Matt Ikuvalu and Dale Copley in recent seasons.

And this season the Roosters have suffered injuries to the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Matt Lodge, Sitili Tupouniua, Victor Radley, Connor Watson and a facial injury to Matt Lodge, as well as Angus Crichton following his bipolar diagnosis.

The Roosters are seen as the haves in the NRL after a Daily Telegraph deep dive uncovered a $4 million gulf in value between Sydney and The Dolphins’ playing stocks.

On paper, the Roosters’ roster has been valued at $13m, while the “Moneyball” Dolphins are valued at $8.7m.

But the Roosters hit back at the criticisms, saying the players care “less about the money and more about winning”.

Originally published as ‘Geeing me up’: Gorden Tallis cannot believe Roosters got another one