I don't know if it's just me, but I smell a Nick Politis rat here.
Think about it....as reported "Roosters have all of a sudden found $650-$700K in their salary cap". Wow, how did they all of a sudden have this much extra in the kitty? I will tell you how! They never had it to start off with! This looks like another Nick Politis masterstroke by pulling the wool over the eyes of all....including his own players!
I think what Politis has done is that he had an arrangement with Cronks management that he will give $700K plus TPA (Ferrari to go with his Mosman Mansion) but to give him some time.
This is why Cronk hasn't announced anything yet. So, to get the $700K, he needs to offload Pearce but quietly so that way no one knows what he is really up to! To do that, instead of shopping Pearce around whereby the clubs would then try to get him at 50% of his contract, Politis comes out and says that they can keep Pearce and Friend, fully knowing that he can't. Politis knowing Pearce and his huge ego knows that Pearce won't accept being 2nd fiddle and asks for a release which apparently he has done now. Clubs like Cronulla, Penrith, Parra and Souhs who were all vying for Cronk have now turned their attention to get Pearce but as Pearce now wants a release, the clubs have to pay the full amount. What this also does, it detracts any further interest to Cronk as the clubs have now accepted the fact that Cronk is all but signed with the Rorters.
Thoughts?
Pearce Off!! Mitchell Pearce set to depart Sydney Roosters
Mitchell Pearce has informed
Trent Robinson that he’s set to explore his options at rival clubs, paving the way for
Cooper Cronk to sign with the
Sydney Roosters.
Parramatta and Cronulla have both pulled out of the race for the Maroon’s half, leaving the tricolours as the sole suitors for the halfback’s signature. Though unfortunately for the Bondi club, it’s set to cost them one of their favourite sons
Pearce debuted for the Roosters in 2007, featuring in 238 NRL games for the club, captaining them on multiple occasions as well as leading the side to a 2013 premiership. At only 28 years of age, Pearce has a lot of football in front of him.
Despite being under contract until the end of 2019, Pearce is set to walk following claims that
Luke Keary is in deep negotiations on a three-year contract extension, along with the impending announcement of
Cooper Cronk on a two-year deal.
Reports have already emerged that the
Manly Sea Eagles are set to pounce on Pearce if he is to be released, in effect releasing
Blake Green to join the
New Zealand Warriors.
The
Cronulla Sharks and
Newcastle Knights are also watching Pearce closely.
Controversy has plagued Pearce throughout his eleven year NRL career, though his on-field performances have justified his retention to the Bondi club. While his
State of Origin form has been mixed to put it kindly, his club game has always been strong, and his combination with
Luke Keary has flourished in such a short amount of time.
But
Trent Robinson’s apparent desperation for a second premiership is set to see all that go out the window, with the recruitment of Origin superstars Cronk and
James Tedesco
Despite Nick Politis stating he wants Pearce playing with the Roosters ‘until he’s 35’, it now appears the club won’t stand in his way if he does officially request a release. Chewing up close to $1 million of the salary cap, it’d be insanity to keep Pearce there when his heart isn’t in it anymore.
The Roosters favouritism for the 2018 premiership is set to firm when the tricolours do announce the signing of the Kangaroo’s half, a spine of
James Tedesco,
Luke Keary,
Cooper Cronk and
Jake Friend one of the most formidable in the competition.
Cronk is expected to fly to Sydney following
Australia’s match against
England on Friday night, with an official announcement coming next week. Meanwhile, Pearce is set to holiday over in America and will sort out his future when he returns.
Looking at it now, it appears
Mitchell Pearce’s days at Bondi are all but over.
Source...
https://www.zerotackle.com/pearce-off-mitchell-set-depart-sydney-roosters-30008/
