Angus Crichton’s exit from the Sydney Roosters is a major blow, but it again places the powerhouse club front and centre of the NRL player market.
The star back-rower confirmed on Wednesday that he would leave the Bondi-based outfit after a seven-year tenure, linking up with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia.
Crichton established himself as one of the game’s elite forwards during his time with the Tricolours, winning a premiership in 2019, while also representing NSW and Australia.
His departure is a major blow for the Roosters, who will lose one of their best and most experienced players after the 2026 campaign – but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Mark Nawaqanitawase, fresh off his blistering rookie season, will also head to the 15-man code, while new recruit Daly Cherry-Evans is expected to hang up the boots.
Should the veteran halfback opt to call it quits, making it a one-and-done stint in the red, white and blue jersey, the Roosters would be littered with salary cap space.
Crichton was on a deal worth an estimated $800,000 this year while Nawaqanitawase and Cherry-Evans are both raking in approximately $500,000 each.
That’s close enough to $2 million of potential spending money, which we know powerful chairman Nick Politis and the club have no issue utilising when the opportunity arises.
Reuben Garrick has already committed for 2027 and beyond once he finishes his current deal with Manly, but there will still be some wiggle room for the Roosters if they do wish to go after a big-name free agent or two after Crichton’s decision to leave.
The most obvious name on their hit list would be Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who is yet to commit to Josh Hannay’s rebuild beyond this year.
Fa’asuamaleaui has seemingly grown frustrated of the issues on the Gold Coast, who have gone through two coaches – Justin Holbrook and Des Hasler – since his arrival, with Hannay now the third man to lead the struggling outfit on a full-time basis.
The 25-year-old has options in his favour to remain at the Titans and would demand a seven-figure salary at another club, but the Roosters could feasibly make it happen.
He would immediately bolster the front-row stocks at the Roosters and would no doubt complement the short and sharp bursts delivered by Spencer Leniu.
While landing the hottest man on the market would be an ideal scenario for not only the Roosters but any other club, Fa’asuamaleaui isn’t the only star forward available.
In terms of a genuine like-for-like replacement for Crichton once he exits, off-contract Dragons enforcer Jaydn Su’A would be the man to fill the void.
Su’A has developed into a leader at St George Illawarra, is in the prime of his career and would likely demand around the same figure as Crichton’s $800,000 mark.
With a handful of State of Origin appearances and 10 games for Samoa under his belt, Su’A is an established name with plenty of good football still ahead of him and joining the Roosters would give him a realistic chance of competing for a premiership.
Other unsigned forwards who could attract interest from the Roosters would be Shawn Blore and Siosifa Talakai – but the more pressing issue would be extending Siua Wong beyond his current $425,000 deal which expires at the end of this year.
Away from the forward pack, Garrick’s arrival gives the Roosters a touch of class in the outside backs once Nawaqanitawase switches back to rugby union – but the future of veteran winger Daniel Tupou remains unclear as he enters the final year of his contract.
Tupou will turn 35 midway through this season, and while he’s still playing high-level football out wide, he’s undoubtedly in the final years of his NRL career.
There are a stack of enticing options on the market right now and Trent Robinson could look to bolster the wing and centre positions for 2027.
Tyrell Sloan has fallen out of favour at the Dragons but still has enormous upside and is the type of player Robinson could turn into a legitimate superstar, while Murray Taulagi is a proven performer at representative level but remains unsigned by the Cowboys.
Another quality player from North Queensland without a contract for 2027 and beyond is utility back Jaxon Purdue, who has been tipped for higher honours early in his career.
The talented youngster has the ability to fill anywhere in the backline, which makes him an attractive option should a deal not get sorted at the Cowboys soon.
It is also still unclear where Zac Lomax’s future lies, although a move to the Storm for this year is looking more likely as the days and weeks progress.
Then there’s Selwyn Cobbo, who is yet to play a game for his new club the Dolphins but is only signed for the 2026. Granted, it’s unlikely he would move again so quickly.
But perhaps the most intriguing option that the Roosters could possibly look at would require them luring one of the Wallabies best players away from union.
Max Jorgensen – the son of former Roosters player Peter – has been linked with a move to the NRL for quite some time and Bondi would be the obvious choice.
In fact, the Roosters have pushed to sign the 21-year-old on two separate occasions and with Jorgensen unsigned for next year and beyond, it could be a genuine option.
While it’s widely expected that Jorgensen – who would likely be a fullback or a centre if he switched to league, particularly given his $1 million price tag – will remain with RA through until next year’s World Cup, it would be a surprise if the Roosters didn’t at least ask the question again.
RA bosses tabled a five-year extension to Jorgensen in October, but at this stage he is yet to sign on the dotted line, making him available to sign elsewhere.
Looking further ahead – perhaps to November 1 this year – and the obvious elephant in the room is James Tedesco’s future and the long-held Kalyn Ponga rumour.
Tedesco recently signed a one-year extension, taking him until the end of 2027.
That contract lines up with when Ponga’s deal at the Knights finishes, which has only sparked more joining of the dots from NRL conspiracy theorists.
Ponga has been heavily linked with a move to Bondi for the better part of five years and while nothing official has ever been touched on by either party, when there’s smoke in rugby league there’s often fire and it would make a lot of sense.
By the time his contract finishes, Tedesco will be approaching his 35th birthday and while he is still one of the best players in the game, he won’t be around forever and at some stage, the Roosters will need to look towards the future.
While there’s plenty of water to go under the bridge between now and then with the void left by Crichton, Nawaqanitawase and most likely Cherry-Evans needing to be filled, there’s an air of mystery and excitement building around the club.
But for now, Robinson’s men enter the 2026 season as a legitimate premiership hope and Crichton will be hoping to finish on a high as one of the club’s all-time greats.
