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The Sydney Roosters could be about to lure another All Blacks star with halfback TJ Perenara reportedly considering a shock code switch.
Ahead of their NRL heavyweight clash with the Storm in Melbourne on Friday night it emerged that Perenara was looking at following his now-retired Test teammate Sonny Bill Wiliams to the Roosters.
New Zealand’s 1 News reported Perenara’s agent Warren Alcock said the 29-year-old was “seriously considering” a move to the NRL, and all options were on the table.
“We are talking to New Zealand Rugby and other parties that have approached us,” Alcock said.
With 69 Test caps, Perenara is playing his rugby for NTT Red Hurricanes in the Japan Top League but is known to be a fan of rugby league.
His father was a Junior Kiwi and NRL referee Henry Perenara is his cousin.
While he’s played halfback through his career, he could easily fill the dummy-half role vacated by the recent retirement of hooker Jake Friend and a spate of other injuries in the position at the NRL club.
As well as Williams, the Roosters have a strong rugby connection with with former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika working as a part-time assistant coach.
There are thoughts that NZR should invest in youth rather than players in the twilight of their career ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France.
Perenara’s deal is up at the end of 2021, although if given permission he could join the Roosters at the end of the Japan season next month.
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