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SYDNEY Roosters supremo Nick Politis has vowed to keep Mitchell Pearce at the club until the end of his career despite attempts to sign Cooper Cronk on a two-year, $2 million deal to play halfback.
“I want Mitchell to play here until he’s 35,” Politis told The Sunday Telegraph from Athens.
“There’s no guarantee Cooper Cronk is coming to us but, if he does, it’s not long term.
“Mitchell can learn from him and become an even better player. We’re not going to let him go anywhere.”
With the near certainty Cronk will sign for two years at the Roosters, rival clubs are already preparing to swoop on the NSW State of Origin halfback who faces the prospect of playing off the bench or at hooker.
The Manly Sea Eagles are leading the way, hoping to play Pearce in the halves alongside Daly Cherry-Evans which would allow Blake Green to sign a long-term deal with the Warriors.
The Cronulla Sharks are monitoring the situation, too.
“We rate him,” coach Shane Flanagan said.
“He works his arse off. Maybe he’d be an even better player at a club where it’s not all about him and he’s just one of the team. We’ll see what happens.”
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has also spoken to his management about making an approach.
Not that Politis sounds prepared to back down.
“He’s got to have faith in us,” Politis said.
“We’ve been through a lot but we stood by him for a decade and we love him.”
Coach Trent Robinson and Politis, who returns from Europe on Sunday night, will meet Cronk and his manager, George Mimis, in the next 48 hours.
The Roosters have already had an NRL clearance to do a deal without breaking the salary cap, although one mid-range player may have to go.
The Roosters were actually under the salary cap last season by about $200,000 which helps their situation.
It allowed them to prepay players some of their 2018 money on the 2017 cap which frees up the extra cash for next season.
Pearce now has to decide in which direction to go.
Does he stay and try to become the complete halfback under Cronk? Or does he demand a release to be assured of playing first grade and keep his NSW jersey?
It remains to be seen how Cronk’s signing would affect the rest of the players.
Robinson and Politis believe he will have a similar influence to the great Sonny Bill Williams, who led the way in changing the Roosters’ culture after years of off-field dramas.
There were more off-field problems this year, with Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Paul Carter, Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell in strife.
Only Ferguson and Mitchell remain at the club.
It remains to be seen if Cronk’s arrival would have an impact on the co-captaincy arrangement between Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend.
He has had far more big-game experience than both of them, having played in seven grand finals for Melbourne, eight State of Origin series for Queensland and 33 Test matches for Australia.
“I want Mitchell to play here until he’s 35,” Politis told The Sunday Telegraph from Athens.
“There’s no guarantee Cooper Cronk is coming to us but, if he does, it’s not long term.
“Mitchell can learn from him and become an even better player. We’re not going to let him go anywhere.”
With the near certainty Cronk will sign for two years at the Roosters, rival clubs are already preparing to swoop on the NSW State of Origin halfback who faces the prospect of playing off the bench or at hooker.
The Manly Sea Eagles are leading the way, hoping to play Pearce in the halves alongside Daly Cherry-Evans which would allow Blake Green to sign a long-term deal with the Warriors.
The Cronulla Sharks are monitoring the situation, too.
“We rate him,” coach Shane Flanagan said.
“He works his arse off. Maybe he’d be an even better player at a club where it’s not all about him and he’s just one of the team. We’ll see what happens.”
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has also spoken to his management about making an approach.
Not that Politis sounds prepared to back down.
“He’s got to have faith in us,” Politis said.
“We’ve been through a lot but we stood by him for a decade and we love him.”
Coach Trent Robinson and Politis, who returns from Europe on Sunday night, will meet Cronk and his manager, George Mimis, in the next 48 hours.
The Roosters have already had an NRL clearance to do a deal without breaking the salary cap, although one mid-range player may have to go.
The Roosters were actually under the salary cap last season by about $200,000 which helps their situation.
It allowed them to prepay players some of their 2018 money on the 2017 cap which frees up the extra cash for next season.
Pearce now has to decide in which direction to go.
Does he stay and try to become the complete halfback under Cronk? Or does he demand a release to be assured of playing first grade and keep his NSW jersey?
It remains to be seen how Cronk’s signing would affect the rest of the players.
Robinson and Politis believe he will have a similar influence to the great Sonny Bill Williams, who led the way in changing the Roosters’ culture after years of off-field dramas.
There were more off-field problems this year, with Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Paul Carter, Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell in strife.
Only Ferguson and Mitchell remain at the club.
It remains to be seen if Cronk’s arrival would have an impact on the co-captaincy arrangement between Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend.
He has had far more big-game experience than both of them, having played in seven grand finals for Melbourne, eight State of Origin series for Queensland and 33 Test matches for Australia.
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