The Roosters are reportedly armed with one of the scariest chequebooks in the history of the powerhouse club.
With the club looking at a major roster overhaul, links to superstar targets have already been made.
As first reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, the Roosters have an eye on Wallabies star Max Jorgensen — as well as a number of players from rival clubs.
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The Chooks will farewell Joseph Suaalii, Angus Crichton, Daniel Tupou and Jared Warea-Hargreaves at the end of 2024, while star centre Joey Manu is also widely tipped to make a move to French Rugby.
With James Tedesco and Luke Keary also coming off contract at the end of 2025, the Roosters have cash to splurge.
The Roosters could potentially look at raids on the Broncos and Dragons for the likes of Selwyn Cobbo and Zac Lomax.
Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio on Sunday Roosters chairman Nick Politis has got his “thickest chequebook ever”.
“They will make a statement signing or two in the next 12 months,” he said.
“Watch this space because Nick Politis with that cheque book would put fear into every rival club.”
He said the potential play for Jorgensen would be a huge coup for the club with the 19-year-old one of the hottest talents in Australian rugby.
The rising star fullback was set to make a shock World Cup appearance for the Wallabies last year before suffering a broken leg in a freak training incident.
Jorgensen is off contract with NSW and Rugby Australia at the end of the 2024 season, however, he has previously declared his desire to remain with the 15-man code.
Rothfield said the signs are not good for Rugby Australia.
“There’s a lot of talk that rugby will not have the money to be able to keep him especially with all the money they’re paying Joseph Suaalii,” he said.
“The Roosters want him back and I think he’s a deadset superstar.”
The Roosters also have Mark Nawaqanitawase code-hopping to the club from the Waratahs in 2025.
The links to Cobbo and Lomax will stir up the hornets nest in the NRL with both players remaining under long term contracts.
Cobbo last year signed through to the end of 2025, while Lomax is tied to the Dragons until the end of 2026.
Rothfield reports Lomax is not happy at the Dragons after being shifted to the wing by coach Shane Flanagan.
Once regarded as the future of the club, Lomax was dropped in 2023 and was immediately linked to a potential exit from the Red V.
Cobbo, meanwhile, is coming off a blockbuster season with the Broncos, but the winger previously indicated he had interest in playing at fullback.
With Reece Walsh emerging as one of the biggest stars in the competition last year, it seems Cobbo won’t get a chance to wear the No. 1 jumper any time soon.
Jorgensen, meanwhile, said earlier this year the prospect of playing in the British Lions Tour in 2025 and potentially the 2028 Olympics excited him.
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