The Roosters and Luke Keary have reportedly agreed on a 12-month extension that will keep the veteran half at the club through to the end of 2025.
But the club is resigned to losing Joey Manu as he indicates he’ll accept offers nearing $1.2 million a year from French rugby.
According to the SMH “barring a dramatic change of heart” Manu will accept an offer of up to €700,000 ($AU1.157 million) to play for a French club.
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The Roosters can only afford to pay Manu around $850,000 per season and the current exchange rate between the Aussie dollar and Euro is ruining their hopes of keeping him.
Graham out for six months with injury | 00:31
Meanwhile there were rumours that the 2024 season may be Keary’s last in the NRL, but as The Daily Telegraph reports, the gutsy playmaker and the club have decided he’s still got plenty to offer.
The three-time premiership winner was one of a number of Roosters still without contracts beyond this season.
With Keary signed, the Tricolours will look to lock up the likes of Billy Smith next.
Angus Crichton, Daniel Tupou, Terrell May and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are the other notable names that come off contract at the end of the 2024 season.
Keary is expected to start the season alongside Sam Walker in the halves when the Roosters take on the Brisbane Broncos in Las Vegas in just over three weeks.
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Burgess to leave Bunnies at season’s end | 00:33
DRAGONS STAR SET TO PLAY OUT CONTRACT
Ben Hunt is reportedly set to play out the rest of his Dragons contract, which ends at the end of the 2025 season.
Hunt’s public desire to be released from his contract with the Dragons to relocate back to Queensland was one of the stories of the 2023 season.
Despite the awkward situation which brewed last season, Red V bosses dragged their feet and resisted Hunt’s request with Flanagan stating his desire to have the playmaker stay at the club in 2024.
According to journalist Michael Carayannis, Hunt is “pretty happy playing under Flanagan”.
“Not only will Ben Hunt plays out this year at the Dragons, he’ll fulfill his contract next year (2025) as well,” Carayannis told SEN.
“Obviously not having the roster around him will be frustrating but the Dragons have shown they aren’t going to let him go.
“He’ll definitely be there this year and I think he’ll see out next year, because what is he 33-34? Not a lot of teams have $900,000 to accomodate that in their cap.”
Hunt is set to partner Flanagan’s son Kyle in the halves when the Dragons kick off their season against the Gold Coast Titans in round 1.
While these reports are promising for Dragons fans, a poor first half of the season for the club will no doubt force Hunt to reconsider his future.
Since linking up with the Dragons in 2018, Hunt has only appeared in one finals game in six seasons.
Grant appointed as sole Storm captain | 01:17
DRAGONS LAND MANLY WINGER IN IMMEDIATE SWITCH
The Dragons have made moves to improve their backline depth, with Christian Tuipulotu reportedly leaving the Sea Eagles effective immediately to link up with Shane Flanagan’s roster.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Tuipulotu will be granted a release from Manly to sign with the Dragons on a two-year deal.
The signing of Tuipulotu helps a team who just lost winger Corey Allan for the season because of an ACL injury.
The Dragons have been busy in the last couple of weeks, signing both Tuipulotu and Raymond Faitala-Mariner to complete their 30-man roster.
Tuipulotu will compete with the likes of Zac Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa for a spot on the wing, with the latter two expected to start for the Dragons in their round 1 clash against the Titans.
DOGS PULL OUT OF $1.6M RACE FOR PROP ENDING HOPE OF LANDING BROTHERS
The Bulldogs are set to miss out on another prop forward with the club reportedly prepared to pull out of the race for Roosters enforcer Terrell May.
May is out of contract with the Roosters at the end of the season, and has been free to talk to rival clubs since November 1.
The Bulldogs have shown the most interest in the 24-year-old, willing to offer a $1.6 million deal – a significant pay rise on his current contract.
May has publicly expressed his desire to play alongside his brothers Taylan and Tyrone in the near future. The club has at least told Terrell that they would consider signing all three, but those hopes are now dashed.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Bulldogs are concerned over the lack of progress in contract talks with May as well as the fact the prop forward left his long-term agent, indicating he will likely stay at the Roosters.
May told the Bloke in a Bar podcast earlier this year that he was telling interested clubs that he was hoping to play with his brothers.
“I want to be honest here, my talks are with whoever wants to sign us three brothers, that’s where I want to be,” May said.
“Robbo (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) knows too. I haven’t hid it from him. Whichever club wants three brothers, that’s where I’ll be at.
“We are all off at the same time. That’s the preference, if a club can get all three of us, I’ll sign there in a heartbeat no matter what. I think everyone would.”
Only the start for the Warriors | 01:50
The Bulldogs have one of the more underwhelming front row groups in the competition and are desperate for a boost in that position.
May would have been a huge asset from next year but it seems that the club is willing to shift its focus to other targets.
The Bulldogs had a deal in place with Super League star Sio Taukeiaho but that fell through when the former Rooster failed a medical.
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