I reckon this will be the Roosters plan, something like this anyway:
1. Tedesco (2025) -> Papenheuzen
2. Young (2027)
3. Smith (2024) -> May
4. Manu (extend)
5. Tupou (2024) -> Nawaqanitawase
6. Walker (extend)
7. Keary (2024) -> S.Smith (unless better option becomes available to poach)
8. Waerea-Hargreaves (2024) -> Whyte (unless better option becomes available for poaching) / E.Butcher
9. B.Smith (extend unless better option becomes available for poaching)
10. Collins
11. Crichton (2024) -> N.Butcher
12. Tupouniua (2027)
13. Radley (2027)
14. Watson/S.Smith
15. Leniu (2025)
16. May (extend and bring in brothers)
17. Whyte/E.Butcher
So if I were other clubs, I'd be locking up my gun fullbacks, centres, props and halfbacks - these are the positions the Roosters will come sniffing for.
Here's looking at you:
Fullback -
@BroncsFan suggestion - Drinkwater BUT...I reckon the front runner they will be chasing here is...Papenheuzen. Think about it, Faalogo is the Storm's future here but Paps is taking up a lot of money. This works for both teams.
Centre - They'll extend Manu, I would be so surprised if they don't but if they don't, well guess who has the best two biggest names in the league off contract at the same time - that's right - us. I am sure the Roosters will chase May though so they can also keep his brother. So if that happens and they extend Manu, then everyone else can breathe a sigh of relief. If they don't extend Manu, then Staggs becomes their focus, I'm sure of it.
Props - The Roosters have a lot of serviceable blokes here with Collins as the legit leader of the pack. JWH is on his last legs though and Leniu is only good for 15 mins a game. So they will be chasing another big name here for 2025/2026. Signing the May brothers will help with this, as the big guy looks a potential gun but you know the Roosters, money is no issue for them. I wouldn't be surprised to see them sign one of the Molo bros in the interim but neither will break the bank account. 2025 though, don't be surprised to see them come for any of Hetherington, Willison, Hopgood, RCG, Cotter, Thompson, Greig, Neame and my pick for who they will really chase - Utoikamanu. I reckon they will be chasing Utoikamanu and RCG. Parra need to re-distribute their salary cap and that forward pack is aging, RCG would be a short-term option for the Roosters while their young poached kids develop so they might go for both these blokes.
Halfbacks - This is not just an issue for the Roosters, it is an issue for every single club not named Penrith. Basically you have a halves pecking order:
1. Cleary
2. A bunch of old blokes who are coming to an end - Reynolds, Hunt, DCE, Keary
3. Moses
4. Daylight
I actually don't know what the Roosters or any club do here. If they choose to not show faith in S.Smith, maybe they extend Keary and hope he doesn't get any more head knocks. Otherwise, they like everyone else are going to have to take a punt on someone and for me, it would ironically be Gamble or Hastings. They will probably try and poach someone else's highly rated kid though - a Pezet or a Weaver or a Schneider or a Duffy.