SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters watches on during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Despite being dropped by the NSW side, Latrell Mitchell is a wanted man by many in the upcoming free agency period.
But according to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sydney Roosters will not engage in a bidding war for his services, something he might be in the middle of with Canterbury prepared to offer him approximately one million a year for the next five.
The Roosters will offer him, what they consider, a competitive contract that will leave him as one of the highest paid players in the league. But if money is his main motivator, he might be better off looking elsewhere.
Roosters brass believe the opportunity to be competitive in Sydney would hopefully offset a salary sacrifice if he stays.
Roosters and NSW skipper Boyd Cordner said coach Trent Robinson was best placed to get the best out of Mitchell.
"I'm sure Robbo, Nick [Politis] and the club have plans in place to keep him at the club," Cordner said.
"It's eyebrow-raising stuff when you hear about the massive deal supposedly on offer for him.
"But Latrell knows how much we love him at the Roosters. I've spent a lot of time with him, I watched him debut, and I know he loves the club.
"He's a Rooster. We want him there a long time."
The Roosters will have more than one responsibility this offseason as Siosiua Taukeiaho, Jake Friend, Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Nat Butcher also finish their contracts at the same time as Mitchell, meaning rivals can also pounce on them from November 1.
Sydney has a lot of decisions to make soon and their team can go in plenty of directions. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.