Cooper Cronk confirms he wants to play on in 2018

Don't confuse Total Salary to that which is actually included into a Clubs Salary Cap. It is the actual Total Salary Cap that counts, not including TPAs That is a separate debate! A Newspaper may report that Player A is getting a Million dollars but only $700k may be down under the Cap. but most fans don't get to see that. When Sam Burgess Returned the Media speculation went mad and said that he was getting $1.5M That $1.5M figure was actually the transfer fee paid to Bath, NOT Sams wages! The actual facts are that he was getting just under a Million bucks with $650k listed down on the Cap. The NRL did actually come out and said publically that Sam would be down on the Cap as what his previous contract was before he left to go to Yawnion. Which it was $650k for 2016 and 2017. I am sure that his re-signing for 2018 and 2019 will be worth more, $800k has been mentioned. The Cap does go up by $2.3M and Souths have released 11 players valued at a conservative $1.6M or an average of $145K per player. Those 5 new recruits would be valued at about $1M with Gagai on less than reported in the media, The media reported $2.1M over 3 years but the actual contract was for 4 years not 3. $525k average NOT $700k that was reported, There are TPAs involved also! So the Rabbitohs would be in good shape. All of those U20s players from our Juniors that you mentioned above would NOT be on overs at all. Sam Johnston and Ky Rodwell may well be on a bit more but NOT... Mawene Hirote, Tyrone Taukamo, Lucky Kenneth Taavale, Dean Hawkins and Josh Cook. All unknowns to anyone but diehard fans like myself who go to watch the U16s and U18s play. Oh, Tyrone Taukamo may also be on a bit more also, there were a few clubs chasing him!

No one at South Sydney are on back-ended contracts, Richardson doesn't operate that way as he is a professional operator. No one is getting those ridiculous amounts that pathetically run clubs like the Dogs, Tigers, Dragons, Sea Eagles with their back-ended amounts, Richardson has stated publically that NO Souths players had clauses in their contracts to increase their salary as a percentage of the New Salary Cap from 2018 and beyond. Back then the Cap final figure was UNKNOWN! it has been reported that some players at other clubs have such clauses but NOT at the Rabbitohs! What Richo did do was upgrade the Salaries of our really good up and comers like Musgrove, Cook, Walker, Murray, Graham. Johnston, his new contract starts in 2018 and yes his salary increased, Those marquee players listed above have had upgrades since they Re-signed but so do plenty of other players. But NOT back-ended though! In 2017, Farah was paid $200k by Souths and $700k that the TigPies owed to him as back pay from previous contracts where he took less to keep Tedesco, Brooks and Moses. How did that turn out? In 2018 Farah is on about $500k quite reasonable for an experienced Origin and Spine player who is in the Twilight of his tenure... but "NOT OVERS" by any means! If you think that Souths would be paying Farah that "Contract Amount at the TigPies of $900k to $1M then you know nothing about Shane Richardson, the Rabbitohs OR good business practices!

Why the hell do people think that Pearce needs mentoring? He is a veteran, not some 10 game Rookie. For Farks sake!

Agree Nat that is he one of the best organisers in the comp, certainly by far the best available. But the big question is he worth the squad upheaval for maybe 1 or 2 years and how that will affect his standing in the squad. But no doubt, someone will pick him up, I just hope its a squad that needs him that won't cause too much grievances from within the squad.

And it's the fact that the Storm between 2006 and 2010 should not have been in the final series an denied legitimate team a chance to win the premiership.

OB, unfortunately, yes it is. But that's all they've got. Hopefully Dean Pay will give him a lot more freedom than Des Hasler allowed.

Only drawback is maybe he wants to win another premiership.

Looks like a bidding war is brewing - Chooks/Parra/Sharks/Knights and possible another Sydney Based club after Cronk- currently re-assessing if they can fit him in under their cap. Cooper Cronk contract: Roosters face fight from Parramatta Eels to snare halfback’s signature The Telegraph · 14 minutes ago PARRAMATTA remain hopeful of snatching Cooper Cronk from under the Sydney Roosters grasp. While the Roosters are the red-hot favourites, coach Brad Arthur has confirmed his club was interested in the Melbourne Storm…

Keary isn't a better anything than Pearce.

Yes, I have heard some good wraps on Jesse Arthars also. I think Souths do have some Cap space left even though Richardson denied it. Richo also denied it just before we signed Greg Inglis years ago. That was a shock signing for Rabbitohs fans. Dane Gagai signing was also a major shock Back then, I did hear that Souths were after a current Rep player in the outside backs but I didn't know whom? I think the Rabbitohs can surprise a lot of fans in 2018 if the main guys stay injury free. IF By some miracle we do end up snaring Cooper Cronk then watch out! Don't underestimate the relationship between Cronk and Seibold plus Crowe and Packer have deeper pockets than Politis or Bouris. It has been written recently that Politis and Bouris with their finance can lure Cronk to the Rorts. Their Net worth is a combined AUD $1B approx James Packer and Russel Crowe combined Net worth is about USD $3.5B or AUD$4.4B The mind boggles!

Keary is a better 6 than Pearce though

I feel that by rearranging the team and or moving one player on will cause a lot of disharmony

Put simply, he is the very best #7 by a mile and most clubs/boards are not in the business of loyalty. 2 yrs with Cronk is 5+ with the next best. Along with on-field ability, imagine what he brings to culture, dedication, mentoring from Melbourne. Not that he will be giving away all Bellamy's secrets but as far as setting a standard to be successful there my be only 3-4 others who have what he has ATM.

Couple of ex Storm boys being signed by the Rabbitohs, those 4 newbies you mentioned...most of them should have played a lot more first grade but for the quality of the players in front of them. I'm keen to see how they go...Britts did well the couple of games he played for them at the end of the season. When I saw those signings I checked Siebolds background and sure enough he had a stint being an assistant at the Storm so would have a good idea about those youngsters. If they can get Cronk as well that would really round out the team with Inglis, Farah/Cook, Reynolds/Walker in the spine.

No way they get rid of Friend. His is a Co-captain and playing either Keary or Pearce there will not make up for the 40+ tackles he makes in the middle every game, not for the whole season. Either Keary or Pearce will be benched and I think it will be Keary with Pearce playing 6. Either that or one of those two gets shopped to another club if they refuse to ride the pine, again I think it will be Keary. Not because of Keary's performances but because Pearce has too many connections at the Roosters.

Yes, noticed the wording Josh used as well which speaks to his experience of reaching and winning 4 grand finals which regardless of stripped premierships still takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Its not like being over the cap automatically means you'll win a grand final as recent events at other teams or terence last sentence shows.

keary to 9 and move on friend is crazy. keary would have to put on about 15 kilos to mix it in the forwards and friend is one of the best hookers in the comp and would have played for australia if not fora guy named smith

funny how quickly brooks resigned once cronk came on the market

just ask olympic 100m final winner ben johnson.

for one season and have to dump a guy who's been there how long?