Here's something to have a chat about, trouble in paradise at the roostes. they're talking about offloading these 3 players and signing up a few new ones for next year. all of the sudden the roosters look like they''re hardly the glamour club that people really wana play for anymore. lots of roosters fans seem to have a bit of a grudge against this guy but at least when ricky stuart was there he could get good players to sign for a little less then they could have gotten elsewhere. (ashley harrison & braith anasta = perfect examples)
today however.....show me a good reason why you'd even sign with the roosters with the exception that they're paying you good money (which is the reason for signing with any other club).
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...006066,00.html
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THE Roosters appear headed for a stand-off with Willie Mason as club officials try to reconfigure their ageing team towards youth and speed.
Just three games into the season, The Sunday Telegraph understands club powerbrokers are prepared to let Mason walk even though he is signed until the end of 2010.
Mason's agent Greg Keenan is currently in Europe and has strong connections in rugby union.
Anthony Minichiello, Craig Fitzgibbon, Iosia Soliola, Shane Shackleton and Mitchell Aubusson are all off contract.
Fitzgibbon, the heart and soul of the club for the past decade, is not expected to be offered another deal. The same goes for former Test fullback Minichiello.
Their departures would free up around $600,000 for the Roosters as they try to lure the likes of Todd Carney, Karmichael Hunt, David Williams or Brett Kearney to add some much-needed speed.
Boom Raiders junior Josh Dugan, a superstar in the Toyota Cup, is also understood to be a target.
The Mason situation will cause major rumblings within the club. If the former Test forward digs in his heels, there is guaranteed to be a fight.
Recruited to Bondi Junction after a fallout with the Bulldogs 18 months ago, Mason was trumpeted as a player who could help deliver the club a premiership. Chief executive Steve Noyce has denied Mason is on the outer, but if another offer falls his way the Roosters would happily let him leave.
Asked if the Roosters would honour Mason's contract, Noyce said: "Very much so. There's no truth in (him leaving).''
The Roosters have a reputation for getting the players they want.
When they wanted Craig Wing and Brett Finch, they got them.
When they wanted to get rid of Ricky Stuart as coach, they did. That was despite Stuart leading them to three successive grand finals.
Roosters insiders remain concerned about the lack of speed in their team. It was evident when Wests Tigers ran them ragged last Friday night.
Recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan was poached from Melbourne at the start of last year to ensure the club had the edge when it came to recruiting both big names and junior talent.
O'Sullivan has had his hands tied because of the playing roster he inherited.
To be fair to Mason, he is returning from a knee reconstruction and it will take time for him to recapture his best form.
However, the Roosters are not a club renowned for being patient.
Nrl 2009
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