Keary signs new one-year deal
Luke Keary joined Sydney Roosters back in 2017. He made an immediate impact for the club, helping them win back to back NRL Premier titles in 2018 and 2019.
In recent years, Keary has been slowed down by injuries. Concussions have been a constant concern for the veteran five-eighth over the past few seasons. Despite the injury concerns, Keary has no plans of retiring.
The 32-year-old Keary says he’s “really happy to extend with the Roosters for another year.” He also hinted at talks about him retiring by saying “I’m still motivated to keep getting better as a player and we’ve got a great crew here so I’m excited about what we can achieve over the next few years.”
Roosters boss Trent Robinson also endorsed Keary’s decision to stick around for one more year. “Luke is our vice-captain and he is always pushing both himself and those around him to be better so it’s great to have him locked in for another year,” said the Sydney head coach.
Keary commits while others look to leave
Sydney Roosters were one of the most talked about NRL clubs of the 2023 offseason, but for all the wrong reasons. Multiple Roosters stars have been linked to moves away from the club next season.
This includes versatile veteran Joey Manu, who is set to switch codes and play rugby union abroad next year. Angus Crichton may also leave the club. Like Manu, Crichton has been linked to rugby union sides in Japan and France.
Since finishing second and winning their second consecutive Premiership in 2019, the Roosters have not finished higher than fourth and have not appeared in an NRL Grand Final.
There is a looming feeling that the Roosters recent era of semi-dominance has come to an end. Players like Manu and Crichton leaving is a sign of that. Keary signing is a well-needed sign of stability at a time like this when the club is in such a period of transition.
Sydney Roosters season preview
Roosters’ 2024 NRL season starts this weekend on March 2 (3:30 PM, March 3 AEDT) against Brisbane Broncos at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
This is the first time the NRL has ever played a regular season match outside of Australia or New Zealand. The NRL is hoping for a tight, exciting contest that will enamour American fans. According to the betting sites, it’s more likely to be a blowout.
PlayUp has made Broncos huge favourites in this match with $1.58 odds to win outright compared to Roosters’ $2.40 odds. With that being said, the matchline is -3.5 points, so it could end up being a tight one.
