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An insistent Hugo Savala wants to stay and fight for his position at the Sydney Roosters.
This masthead has been told halfback Savala is poised to reject rival interest and sign a new two-year-deal to the club.
Clearly, Savala isn’t walking away from a challenge.
The 23-year-old had thrown himself on the open market after the Sydney Roosters bought Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans, who plays the same position as Savala.
While Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker will start in the halves next season, Savala will now attempt to somehow force his way into the Roosters’ top 17.
That may mean coming off the bench although the club has signed gun utility Connor Watson until the end of 2027.
He could also be considered as a 13.
Savala, who stands at 194cm and can play halfback or five-eighth, had been linked to the Perth Bears, North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra although the Raiders ruled out any interest.
A local junior who attended Scots College, Savala said this year: “I know I’m an NRL halfback.”
Savala was coming off contract after 2026 but looks set to remain a Rooster until the end of 2028.
Friends claim Savala wants to learn the craft of playing halfback from Cherry-Evans over the next year.
“I love Hugo and his attitude,” Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco said recently.
“He wants to stay at the club. He’s a local junior and he exceeded a lot of expectations last year with how he played.
It’s a great opportunity for him to learn off one of the great halves in our game.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, along with several big stars including Cherry-Evans, Tedesco, Walker, Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley, are currently trekking the Kokoda Trail so any formal announcement on Savala won’t come until next week, at the earliest.
The deal isn’t 100 per cent finalised but it will happen.
Cherry-Evans, 36, hasn’t committed beyond 2026 so Savala may only need to wait another year before reclaiming his spot in the club’s halves.
Savala enjoyed a breakout 2025, playing 21 games for a Roosters side eliminated in week one of the finals. He quickly jumped halves Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend to claim a starting halves spot.
“I’ve tried to introduce myself to most of the group over the last fortnight and it’s been great to have a small conversation with Hugo,” Cherry-Evans said last month.
“He was extremely welcoming, excited about our relationship, working alongside each other, and looking forward to learning some stuff off myself.
“I made it clear I’m here to learn off everyone and he’s someone I want to learn off too.”
An insistent Hugo Savala wants to stay and fight for his position at the Sydney Roosters.
This masthead has been told halfback Savala is poised to reject rival interest and sign a new two-year-deal to the club.
Clearly, Savala isn’t walking away from a challenge.
The 23-year-old had thrown himself on the open market after the Sydney Roosters bought Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans, who plays the same position as Savala.
While Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker will start in the halves next season, Savala will now attempt to somehow force his way into the Roosters’ top 17.
That may mean coming off the bench although the club has signed gun utility Connor Watson until the end of 2027.
He could also be considered as a 13.
Savala, who stands at 194cm and can play halfback or five-eighth, had been linked to the Perth Bears, North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra although the Raiders ruled out any interest.
A local junior who attended Scots College, Savala said this year: “I know I’m an NRL halfback.”
Savala was coming off contract after 2026 but looks set to remain a Rooster until the end of 2028.
Friends claim Savala wants to learn the craft of playing halfback from Cherry-Evans over the next year.
“I love Hugo and his attitude,” Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco said recently.
“He wants to stay at the club. He’s a local junior and he exceeded a lot of expectations last year with how he played.
It’s a great opportunity for him to learn off one of the great halves in our game.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, along with several big stars including Cherry-Evans, Tedesco, Walker, Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley, are currently trekking the Kokoda Trail so any formal announcement on Savala won’t come until next week, at the earliest.
The deal isn’t 100 per cent finalised but it will happen.
Cherry-Evans, 36, hasn’t committed beyond 2026 so Savala may only need to wait another year before reclaiming his spot in the club’s halves.
Savala enjoyed a breakout 2025, playing 21 games for a Roosters side eliminated in week one of the finals. He quickly jumped halves Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend to claim a starting halves spot.
“I’ve tried to introduce myself to most of the group over the last fortnight and it’s been great to have a small conversation with Hugo,” Cherry-Evans said last month.
“He was extremely welcoming, excited about our relationship, working alongside each other, and looking forward to learning some stuff off myself.
“I made it clear I’m here to learn off everyone and he’s someone I want to learn off too.”
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