The masters of the salary cap, the Sydney Roosters, may be under significant pressure ahead of the 2024 season.
With rising star Joseph Suaalii and captain James Tedesco taking up a combined $1.85 million of the salary cap in 2023, the Roosters face an uphill battle to keep both at a reasonable price for 2024 and beyond.
With both players coming off contract at the end of the 2024 season, Tedesco has already asked for an extra year on his existing deal, something that hasn’t gone down well with the Roosters, according to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Webster.
“They’ve got a really interesting situation off the field with Tedesco and Suaalii,” Webster said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“Joseph Suaalii has triggered his option for 2024 but that means both him and James Tedesco will be coming off contract at the same time.
“James Tedesco’s management have been pushing the Roosters for the last few months to get an extra year on his contract, that hasn’t gone down particularly well with Roosters management.
“Particularly Nick Politis who doesn’t like getting bullied into triggering contracts, particularly when the player is very well paid.”
Suaalii is set to demand a new deal in excess of a million dollars, whilst Tedesco already commands $1.1 million per year.
“The salary cap makes clubs work in advance about what their future is going to look like, but this is a very tricky one,” Webster added.
“They’ve got arguably the best fullback in the game, in James Tedesco and arguably the best future fullback in the game in Joseph Suaalii.
“If they get forced to choose in the next year it’s going to be a very tricky one for the club to handle.”
Both Suaalii and Tedesco will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1st of this year if they don’t re-sign with the club.
The Roosters will look to get their first win of the season this when they host the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon.
