The Roosters are faced with an awkward dilemma, with James Tedesco and Joseph Suaalii terminating their contracts at the same time, and the club reportedly unhappy with their captain’s requests for extensions.
Suaali recently signed with the Roosters for 2024, and Tedesco is also out of contract at the end of next season.
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This was reported by Andrew Webster of the Sydney Morning Herald. SEN radio that the Roosters are unhappy with Tedesco’s leadership, which is pursuing them with the goal of a 2025 renewal.
“They have a really interesting situation off the field with Tedesco and Sualia,” Webster said on Sep 1170 Morning.
“Joseph Suaalii activated his option for 2024, but this means that both he and James Tedesco will terminate their contracts at the same time.
“James Tedesco’s management has been pushing the Roosters for a one-year contract extension over the past few months, which the Rooster management didn’t particularly like.
“Especially Nick Politis, who doesn’t like being bullied into signing contracts, especially when the player is being paid very well.”
Tedesco is making $1.1 million a season, while Suaalii is reported to make $700,000 in 2024, but he could make a deal worth around $1 million a year in 2025 and beyond.
Webster believes the Roosters may be forced to choose between Tedesco, who turns 32 in 2025, and the younger Suaali, who turns just 21 that same year with the bulk of his career still ahead of him.
“The salary cap forces clubs to think ahead about what their future will look like, but it’s a very complex issue,” Webster said.
“They have possibly the best defender in the game, James Tedesco, and possibly the best future defender in the game, Joseph Suaali.
“If they have to choose next year, it will be very difficult for the club to deal with it.”
Originally published as Roosters refuse James Tedesco’s request amid Joseph Sualiya’s contract showdown