The Sydney Roosters have just nine players contracted for 2025, and a number of important, potentially club and future-defining decisions to make.
As it stands on November 1, Trent Robinson's side has decisions to make on 12 players coming off-contract at the end of 2024, not to mention a handful of players they still need to sign for 2024 that may only be included on one-year contracts.
What is clear is that for Joseph Manu - who is one of the biggest names off-contract - the Roosters will need to hope the lure of winning games is enough, given they won't be able to offer him as much money, or the same position on the park as rivals.
The likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Daniel Tupou are also off-contract at the end of 2024 and approaching the end of their careers, while Angus Crichton has a big call to make.
Then there is the pack of young forwards. Siua Wong, Nat Butcher and Terrell May - the Roosters will be desperate to re-sign all three, but money may be an issue.
Brandon Smith's player option that he may or may not take is another issue.
In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every NRL team's state of play for 2025 and the players they need to target in free agency.
Current squad for 2025
Egan Butcher, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Tyler Moriarty, Victor Radley, James Tedesco, Robert Toia, Sam Walker, Dominic Young
Current best 17 for 2025
1. James Tedesco
2. Dominic Young
3. Robert Toia
4. No player signed.
5. No player signed.
6. No player signed.
7. Sam Walker
8. Lindsay Collins
9. Tyler Moriarty
10. Spencer Leniu
11. Egan Butcher
12. No player signed.
13. Victor Radley
14. No player signed.
15. No player signed.
16. No player signed.
17. No player signed.
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Nat Butcher, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Terrell May, Lewis Murphy, Brandon Smith (player option), Sandon Smith, Joseph Suaalii, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Naufahu Whyte, Siua Wong
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Roosters could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
2. Jarome Luai
The Roosters will almost certainly be looking for another option in the halves come the start of the 2025 season. Luke Keary is off-contract at the end of 2024, and there are no guarantees he will play on into 2025. If he does, there are even less guarantees that it would be with the Roosters.
Money is likely to be the biggest roadblock if the Roosters were to make a move for Luai. He is going to get a million dollars per season on the open market, and, if the most recent reports are to be believed, then he would even earn himself about $850,000 by staying at the Panthers.
The Roosters would probably be able to match that lower figure, but with big-money contracts already locked in for some players, and others likely to re-sign on big money, this isn't going to be a case of take the cheque book out and ask the player to write a number.
That said, if the Roosters are going to excel moving forward, they need a strong option to form the halves partnership moving forward alongside Luke Keary.
We all know exactly what Jarome Luai can bring to a side, even if that has been in the Penrith side, and ultimately, he wins games of footy.
That is what the Roosters need, but matching other clubs on money will be a struggle.
