Luke Keary has disclosed that he initially intended for 2024 to be his final year in the NRL before ultimately convincing himself to extend his contract with the Sydney Roosters for an additional year.
The completion of Keary’s much-discussed deal for 2025 was finalized on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), coinciding with the conclusion of the Roosters’ camp in Los Angeles.
This retention of the 32-year-old provides a degree of stability for the Roosters, particularly as the club prepares to undergo significant changes in the upcoming seasons. Keary had previously signed a contract until the end of 2024 in 2020, initially believing it would be his final deal in the NRL.
However, he now feels assured that he still has more to offer and has committed to playing until at least 2025.
“I had initially planned for a three-year stint a while back, and at that time, I thought it would be the end,” Keary remarked. “But as I approached the end, I realized I still have a lot to give mentally and physically.”
“I wanted to assess not just my desire to continue playing, but also the impact on my family – my wife and three kids. Additionally, I wanted to touch base with the club to understand their future plans.”
The Roosters are set to bid farewell to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who will switch to rugby at the end of this season, and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the club’s most experienced player, who is expected to join the Super League.
Angus Crichton is also rumored to be considering a move to rugby union, while coach Trent Robinson has acknowledged the likelihood of losing Joey Manu to French rugby.
“He (Manu) is an exceptional individual. He’s been a part of this club for a significant period, essentially growing up here,” Keary remarked.
“He’s played a mentoring role for many of the young talents emerging in the ranks. I’ve witnessed his development since his debut in first grade.
“He’s not only a great person but also an exceptional rugby league player.
“If he does decide to move on, we’ll understand completely. While we’ll miss him greatly, we’ll follow his journey, and hopefully, he’ll return one day.”
The Roosters will depart Los Angeles for Las Vegas on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) ahead of their clash with Brisbane in the historic season opener on Saturday.
Eager to shake off their reputation as slow starters, the team has been favorites for every round-one match since 2018 but has only managed to secure one victory.
“We’re certainly overdue for a win,” Keary quipped.
“In the past, we’ve experienced various types of pre-seasons. Some involved travel, like for the World Club Challenge, while others saw players missing out on training for extended periods.
This year, however, we’ve had a more consistent pre-season, so we’re hopeful that we’ll start the season in better shape than in previous years.”
