Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton could be in line for a code-switch due to a salary cap stamp down from the NRL.
The Roosters were rumoured to be chasing Melbourne’s Cameron Munster in a shock deal that would see the Sydney side offload Crichton, along with Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in order to finance the move.
However, the Sydney team may already be scrambling to keep their own players due to ‘salary cap issues’, according to Phil Rothfield.
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Munster would be an expensive signing for the Roosters looking in excess of the $1 million mark.
Speaking on NRL 360, Rothfield said: “I just don’t think there is room for a $1.1 or $1.2 million player.”
The 2019 Premiers’ financial problems may actually lead to Angus Crichton making the move over to rugby union in order to balance the books.
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Rothfield continued: “I’ll tell you how much pressure their salary cap is under, Angus Crichton agreed to terms and the deal wasn’t signed because they cannot lodge it with the NRL because it would put them over the cap for next year.
He added: “Crichton possibly might go, but they have got a deal with him and they don’t want to dud him.
“If the Wallabies came up and rugby union, I’m sure they would probably let him go.
“That talk has been around for a long time.”
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Crichton has been at the Roosters for three years since joining from South Sydney in 2019, playing 67 games for the Chooks.
But if the NRL is blocking his current contract, he may have to consider his options.
Crichton actually spent much of his youth playing union, representing the Australian Schoolboys in 2013 and 2014 before signing for the Rabbitohs in 2015.
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Paul Kent agreed that the Crichton could be in line for a move to the 15 man code should he be granted similar money to what he’s making in the NRL.
Kent said on NRL 360: “For similar money, he probably would.”
He continued: “I know he is on significant money, but that would actually be part of the reason why the Roosters might be willing to move him on because he takes up so much of their cap next season. He is on $1.3 million next year.”
$1.3 million could provide some serious leeway for the Roosters’ salary cap.
Topics: Australia, NRL, Sydney Roosters, Rugby Union, Rugby
Jayden Collins