Keary.......No No No, He's Off Limits

[PeeGee]

EXCLUSIVE: Warriors the dark horse for Keary

Josh Massoud
7Sport / 8:25pm AEDT


The Roosters have offered five-eighth Luke Keary a handsome three-year extension – and are confident of keeping him.

Pearce already causing friction at the Sharks

VIDEO Mitchell Pearce is still a Rooster and still on holidays in the USA, but he's already causing friction at Cronulla, with young recruit Valentine Holmes facing an uncertain future if Pearce is signed by the Sharks.

But 7th tackle understands the New Zealand Warriors have emerged as a threat for his signature, with the Kiwi club keen to partner Shaun Johnson with a more experienced playmaker after losing Kieran Foran to the Bulldogs.


Off-contract at the end of 2018, Keary is currently a free agent and can talk to rival clubs. After a stellar first-up season at Bondi, the Roosters are deep in negotiations to extend his stay until the end of 2021.

But uncertainty surrounding the arrival of Cooper Cronk for the next two seasons has given other clubs a sniff at both current Roosters halves, Keary and Mitchell Pearce.

Could Keary be heading across the ditch? Image: Getty

Pearce’s unhappiness with the lack of warning or consultation about Cronk’s signature is well documented; as is the long line of suitors – Newcastle, Cronulla, Manly and Canberra - poised to pounce should he ask for a release.

But Keary’s situation is less clear. He has become close to Pearce over the past 12 months and would be disappointed to see the incumbent Blues No. 7 depart.

And should Pearce stay, he’d be left to fight to play alongside Cronk and face the real prospect of being pushed back to the bench.

If a release were granted, Pearce would leave immediately. 7th Tackle understands that’s not the case with Keary, with the Warriors looking at him for 2019 and beyond.

Pearce is unhappy at the Roosters. Image: Getty

One way or another, the Aucklanders are keeping a close eye on the fall-out at the Roosters from Cronk’s signing.

New Zealand has already offered veteran Manly playmaker Blake Green a three-year deal – but only on the condition that he gets an early release from the Sea Eagles to join them in 2018.

Green is ready to up-and-leave, but Manly won’t let him go without a satisfactory replacement. They are in the hunt for Pearce but don’t have the same money as other clubs, although back rower Curtis Sironen is a close friend.


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[PeeGee]

Manly could also make a play at Keary if they offload Green to the Warriors. I'm pretty sure Cronulla will stay away.

[Rooster_6]

Unless Pearce moves on I think Keary will want to see how the first 2months of the season play out before signing anything.

Don't see him staying if he's pushed out of the halves.

[Lydon]

If Pearce is chosen ahead of Keary at 5/8th based on form last year our Club has truly lost the plot..
Why bother signing Cronk to partner him with another no.7 when you have a genuine no.6 who smashed it last year and finished top 2 performer in his position?!?
It will bite the Club on it’s backside!

[PeeGee]

Unless Pearce moves on I think Keary will want to see how the first 2months of the season play out before signing anything.

Don't see him staying if he's pushed out of the halves.

Yep, totally agree R6.

[mightyrooster]

Thanks Pee Gee. This is the article I was referring to. It's obvious 3 into 2 won't go. The club may be prepared to pay either Keary or Pearce heaps of money to sit on the bench but that doesn't mean either of them will want to NOR should they have to. I wonder if Keary will be accused of spitting the dummy if he signs with the Warriors? I've said many times Pearce and Cronk is a bad halves combo. For me it's either Cronk and Keary or Pearce and Keary. But Pearce has every right to stay and collect his money if he wants as he signed a contract in good faith. Same with Keary. I hope we don't lose Keary as he is the perfecty partner for Cronk (or Pearce). But IMO this situation has been created by the club not Pearce.

[PeeGee]

Thanks Pee Gee. This is the article I was referring to. It's obvious 3 into 2 won't go. The club may be prepared to pay either Keary or Pearce heaps of money to sit on the bench but that doesn't mean either of them will want to NOR should they have to. I wonder if Keary will be accused of spitting the dummy if he signs with the Warriors? I've said many times Pearce and Cronk is a bad halves combo. For me it's either Cronk and Keary or Pearce and Keary. But Pearce has every right to stay and collect his money if he wants as he signed a contract in good faith. Same with Keary. I hope we don't lose Keary as he is the perfecty partner for Cronk (or Pearce). But IMO this situation has been created by the club not Pearce.

TBH, it's a risky move by the club. Very risky. I know it's all been said before, but:

How will the team react to Pearce staying or going?
We need the $$$$
We'll definitely lose players, but which ones?
We need big attacking forwards (go forward)
We need to address the goal-kicking situation
We need to get some 3/4 depth (that can tackle and read attacking plays)
We need to play for 80 mins every week
The interchange bench needs to be as good as possible.

We got Cronk for 1 reason only. To win a premiership. We won't go close if many of the issues above are not addressed.

[mightyrooster]

TBH, it's a risky move by the club. Very risky. I know it's all been said before, but:

How will the team react to Pearce staying or going?
We need the $$$$
We'll definitely lose players, but which ones?
We need big attacking forwards (go forward)
We need to address the goal-kicking situation
We need to get some 3/4 depth (that can tackle and read attacking plays)
We need to play for 80 mins every week

I agree with you on all this.
It's a big gamble by the club to put a lot of money into a 34 year old player. We have no depth out wide, even less so than last year. We have not replaced Evans or Guerra. Our forward pack was monstered by the Cowboys in the PF and yet nothing has been done to boost it.
I so hope the club knows what it's doing. Or more to the point, Nick knows what he's doing. If we lose Keary we're back to square one IMO with no creativity in the halves.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Dont think a Cronk/Pearce halves combo works...and the club would know this hopefully.

A lot of smirk and mirrors going on and journos straining hard for an angle for some ink.

[The Thracian]

Thanks Pee Gee. This is the article I was referring to. It's obvious 3 into 2 won't go. The club may be prepared to pay either Keary or Pearce heaps of money to sit on the bench but that doesn't mean either of them will want to NOR should they have to. I wonder if Keary will be accused of spitting the dummy if he signs with the Warriors? I've said many times Pearce and Cronk is a bad halves combo. For me it's either Cronk and Keary or Pearce and Keary. But Pearce has every right to stay and collect his money if he wants as he signed a contract in good faith. Same with Keary. I hope we don't lose Keary as he is the perfecty partner for Cronk (or Pearce). But IMO this situation has been created by the club not Pearce.

Dead set you say some stupid things Keary has been at the club 1 season exceeded everyone's expectations and our best player, Your fav Pearce has been at the club 10 years, been looked after very well, protected and saved from the sack numorous times, been sent to counseling, rehab, AA, had other more promising players let go, was literally gifted his 1st grade position early on based on reputation not form.

If he indeed does leave the club because he has spat the dummy, he is very dis loyal and a sook after the support he has been given by the club and his dwindling bunch of fanboys.

Put simply If he leaves he is walking out of the club his team mates his fanboys and his contract like a spoilt brat.

Yet an ignoramous like yourself tries to compare it to Keary leaving, the bloke has not got a contract for after next season, completely different scenario.

if he signs an extension then asks to leave yes, he is a farken sook also

get over yourself

[The Thracian]

Unless Pearce moves on I think Keary will want to see how the first 2months of the season play out before signing anything.

Don't see him staying if he's pushed out of the halves.

that is the scenario you and other Pearce fanboys are hoping for,

I guess we will find out by the weekend if the Golden Child buys in and stays loyal or spits the dummy and moves on.

Depends how well his manager talked him up during his much needed escape

[mightyrooster]

Dead set you say some stupid things Keary has been at the club 1 season exceeded everyone's expectations and our best player, Your fav Pearce has been at the club 10 years, been looked after very well, protected and saved from the sack numorous times, been sent to counseling, rehab, AA, had other more promising players let go, was literally gifted his 1st grade position early on based on reputation not form.

If he indeed does leave the club because he has spat the dummy, he is very dis loyal and a sook after the support he has been given by the club and his dwindling bunch of fanboys.

Put simply If he leaves he is walking out of the club his team mates his fanboys and his contract like a spoilt brat.

Yet an ignoramous like yourself tries to compare it to Keary leaving, the bloke has not got a contract for after next season, completely different scenario.

if he signs an extension then asks to leave yes, he is a farken sook also

get over yourself

And you are a very rude man. A poster who cannot make comments about important football issues without resorting to unecessary personal attacks.
Please refer to my reply to you in the other thread.

[Johnny.]

This is all B.S. Pearce was gone the second Cronk signed.

[The Lip]

Dead set you say some stupid things Keary has been at the club 1 season exceeded everyone's expectations and our best player, Your fav Pearce has been at the club 10 years, been looked after very well, protected and saved from the sack numorous times, been sent to counseling, rehab, AA, had other more promising players let go, was literally gifted his 1st grade position early on based on reputation not form.

If he indeed does leave the club because he has spat the dummy, he is very dis loyal and a sook after the support he has been given by the club and his dwindling bunch of fanboys.

Put simply If he leaves he is walking out of the club his team mates his fanboys and his contract like a spoilt brat.

Yet an ignoramous like yourself tries to compare it to Keary leaving, the bloke has not got a contract for after next season, completely different scenario.

if he signs an extension then asks to leave yes, he is a farken sook also

get over yourself

I think you are grabbing MR's words and reading into them what you want just to have another dig a Pearce. Good for you Thracian have a dig at Pearce whenever you want it obviously makes you feel better, but i think your criticism of MR based on what she has said here is completely unwarranted. She has said nothing that doesn't make sense imo. She said it should be Cronk/Keary. She said Pearce can choose to stay or go as he has a signed contract. She said Pearce/Cronk would be a bad combo. Then she asked a reasonable question, if Keary walks does he get accused of the same thing as Pearce if he does of being a sook/disloyal blah blah blah. Fair enough.She is not accusing him of this i don't think she would think he was if he did, shes just asking would the same people that are accusing Pearce of this say the same if Keary did it.? I don't get the disloyal talk at all, he is a one club player for 10 years and to then turn around and call that disloyal seems to be insanity in this day and age where people move every 3 years on average. I feel you just want to create a scenario that no matter what Pearce does hes a prick. If he stays and plays on the bench for 800K a year he's a prick, if he leaves after 10 years he's disloyal and a prick.

I think you should get over yourself Thracian

[Johnny Tobin]

I think you are grabbing MR's words and reading into them what you want just to have another dig a Pearce. Good for you Thracian have a dig at Pearce whenever you want it obviously makes you feel better, but i think your criticism of MR based on what she has said here is completely unwarranted. She has said nothing that doesn't make sense imo. She said it should be Cronk/Keary. She said Pearce can choose to stay or go as he has a signed contract. She said Pearce/Cronk would be a bad combo. Then she asked a reasonable question, if Keary walks does he get accused of the same thing as Pearce if he does of being a sook/disloyal blah blah blah. Fair enough.She is not accusing him of this i don't think she would think he was if he did, shes just asking would the same people that are accusing Pearce of this say the same if Keary did it.? I don't get the disloyal talk at all, he is a one club player for 10 years and to then turn around and call that disloyal seems to be insanity in this day and age where people move every 3 years on average. I feel you just want to create a scenario that no matter what Pearce does hes a prick. If he stays and plays on the bench for 800K a year he's a prick, if he leaves after 10 years he's disloyal and a prick.

I think you should get over yourself Thracian

I think the loyalty card with Pearce is hard to play. It's not such a big deal to stay at the club that keeps on paying you more than any other club offers. He has been our highest-paid player for almost all of his NRL career. I think the spondula kept him there more than any sense of loyalty. It's time for him to move on.