Kyle Flanagan, who was tipped to join the Roosters before the June 30 transfer deadline, is now listed as a chance to join the premiers at the end of the season, according to Theย Sydney Morning Herald.
The promising playmaker has left good impressions having filled the void of the injured Shaun Johnson during the first half of the season.
In December last year, Flanagan signed a contract that kept him at the Shire until the end of 2021.
But it's understood that his management is trying to get him to the Roosters before the start of next season, as they try and negotiate a way out of the deal.
With Cooper Cronk to retire from the game at season's end, the Roosters are in need of a player with a play-making ability like Flanagan.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will likely play Lachie Lam alongside Luke Keary next season, if they cannot get Flanagan out of his contract.
Sydney also has recently signed talented Queensland teen Sam Walker.
In contrast, the Sharks already have established their halves for the foreseeable future in Chad Townsend and Johnson.
Townsend's deal runs out at the end of the season while Johnson remains at the Sharks until 2021.
Cronulla's 28-man NRL squad is likely to be added too with two development players before June 30, as the salary cap constraints limitsย any potential poaching of players.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Peachey's return to Penrith looks unlikely, given that the required cash amount to secure him hasn't come about, evenย after the Eels' signing of Panthers centre Waqa Blake.
The return of Penrith's coach Ivan Cleary has seen Blake been put on the sidelines, despite signing a monster deal in October, keeping him there until the end of 2023.
Although the Panthers officially released him on Wednesday, it is believed that they are still paying some of Blake's salary.
The departure of Blake has resulted in Penrith having an empty spot on their roster.
If Peachey were to return to the Panthers, the Titans would be forced to pay for some of his salary, given that he left the club to take a pay rise on the Gold Coast.
In other news, the pursuit of Jaydn Su'a continues as the Souths try to lock him down before the June 30 deadline.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was "hopeful" that they would be able to lure the promising Brisbane prospect to South Sydney.
"Yeah we are hopeful. There are a few clubs out there looking at him but Souths wanted to recruit him last year when I was in Brisbane," Bennett said.
"I was part of the process to keep him there because it looks like we had lost him to Souths. We managed to hang onto him and he stayed and this year heโs not getting the opportunities."
It is understood that Su'a is unhappy at Red Hill given the lack of opportunities under new coach Anthony Seibold.
"Heโs not playing in their first-grade squad. Heโs had a couple of games but thatโs all heโs had and heโs now looking to move on so we are in there trying to do a deal," Bennett said.
"Iโm not going to tell you our conversations but weโre keen to get him here and we are just trying to put a deal together now that is satisfactory for both parties."
Keary should retire too for the sake of his brain. Massive concussion is certain have caused long term brain damage.
Now that CTE has been discovered in NRL players I would suggest Keary’s career is over but maybe the Roosters will push him for another premiership.
I spoke to an ex rooster member and asked him why their membership was in tatters and he told me that since they did away with a junior development program the club became void of whatever soul it had left.
He stressed that many ex members believe that the heart and soul of any NRL club is its junior base and without that they are left to scam and poach the elite from other clubs which to anyone with self respect is unacceptable.
There you go Crusty, thereโs your club in a nutshell from one of your own.