The Roosters will begin lucrative long-term extension talks to keep rising half Sam Walker off the open market as Sitili Tupouniua is officially granted permission to make an early exit.
The 22-year-old has long been seen as the club’s long-term playmaker but is contracted until the end of 2025, putting him on the open market from November 1 this year. Formal negotiations between the club and his management have been flagged after the Roosters indicated a desire to tie down one of the game’s best young halves on a multi-year deal.Meanwhile, Tupouniua’s likely exit despite being contracted until the edge of 2027 has advanced ahead of Angus Crichton’s expected re-signing on a two-year deal.
Crichton’s expected re-signing leaves Tupouniua potentially down the list of Trent Robinson’s back-row options behind the Blues star, Victor Radley, Connor Watson, the Butcher brothers Nat and Egan and Fijian international Siua Wong.