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.
scubasteve
Guest
just a beat up so the agent can try and make it look like there is more competition. what a hoax of a story.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I agree but still the defensive workload of the 9s in the two different games are worlds apart. All I'm saying is that magnificent success in one code at 9 does not automatically transfer to success at the other. Cameron Smith MAY have been a magnificent 9 in Union but there is a huge uncertainty there. Wnereas say Izzy was always going to be successful because his skills are more transferable.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Tackle counts in league are very generous, (not to take anything away from how tough league genuinely is). But the second and third player in the tackle being recognized as tackler can a lot of the times be a bit of a stretch. =
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
The 2 games are almost identical if you peel back the layers that union needed added. An analyst would now that.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
but all the same I don’t think union smarts translate very well to league The Storm Roosters and Panthers would say otherwise. The coaches of these team have adopted union tactics in their defensive and kicking shape
Nat
Roar Guru
Does that matter? There's hundreds of professional player who can't get a look in let alone lace up near 70x.
adam smith
Guest
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: hahaha well played Sir!
Pickett
Roar Rookie
This is just my neutral view from Bondi Junction.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Almost all of those test caps will be coming off the bench for the last 15 mins
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
....+++ benefits, and the company car of course, from City Ford
My conjecture is he won’t make a League nine because of the tackle workload. He will be fine with the workload....League doesnt have the constant competition for the ball Union has and maintaining posession in Union takes a massive work load never asked for in League.....The guy can tackle...
Per match lol
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Tom, the $130 K is to pay for the suchi he got used to playing in Japan.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
If the cap fits
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Salary cap??? It’s the Roosters
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
...and all that for $130k?
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Well if the reported figure of $130,000 is to believed he must be like all those other Roosters… just doing it for the love of the game (despite never having played it)and to be part of a winning culture. Isn’t that the company line?
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Targa - . The exact number is not disclosed but hidden somewhere under a wide, shady hat known informally as the roosters sombrero.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
So much for playing local talent. They have a roster of 30 , a NSW cup side and they have access to all the Central Coast juniors yet they still opt to buy players from outside.
Kerry Hanson
Guest
Now that’s some creative accounting.