Luke Keary drops big retirement news amid new deal with Sydney Roosters

Luke Keary has signed a one-year contract extension with the Roosters that will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2025 season. The Tri Colours co-captain revealed he was originally planning to call it quits at the end of this year, however, feels that he has more to offer.

Keary's new deal was confirmed on Wednesday as the Roosters wrapped up their camp in Los Angeles, with his re-signing seen as vital to a club that is set to go through a period of change at the end of 2024. Last week Jared Waerea-Hargreaves confirmed this season will be his 16th and final one in the NRL, with the veteran reportedly set to link up with Super League club Hull KR for one final season in 2025.

'HORRIBLE': Paul Gallen in brutal swipe at ugly NRL pre-season reality

'SO UNFORTUNATE': Manly star sorry for 'robbing' Dom Young of Vegas dream

Fellow Roosters stars Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu will also leave the club at year's end, with both signed to rugby union sides for 2025. Angus Crichton is expected to follow them out the door, reportedly also set to defect to the 15-a-side game.

But one man who will remain at the club in 2025 is Keary, who believes he can provide both quality and stability to the side as they prepare for life without some of their biggest stars. "I did three years a while ago, and in my mind, I thought that would be a full stop," Keary said about his new contract.

"But as I got closer to the end, you start to realise you have a lot more left in you mentally and physically. I wanted to see if I wanted to do it, but my family too. I have three kids and my wife. But I wanted to check in with the club too and see the future they wanted to go."

Trent Robinson says he is glad Keary has signed on the dotted line for another 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," Robinson said.

Ahead of Saturday's clash with Brisbane in the historic NRL season opener, Keary says the Roosters are desperate to shake their tag as perennial slow starters. The Tri Colours have only won a single round one match since 2018, despite starting favourites in every one of them.

"We're due for a win," Keary said. "We've had different pre-seasons in the past, somewhere we have travelled (for World Club Challenge), somewhere we haven't had guys train for a lot of it. We have had a consistent one this year, so hopefully we come out a little bit better than in previous years."

Angus Crichton's Roosters future uncertain

Angus Crichton's future at the Sydney Roosters is clouded in uncertainty after the forward was left out of the Roosters' side for their round-one clash with the Broncos. The second rower's contract with the Roosters runs out at the end of the year and as of yet no other NRL team has declared its interest in his services.

The 28-year-old played just 13 games last year, the least of his career since debuting for South Sydney in 2016. He took an extended break away from the game to attend to his mental health, with his father revealing that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

A move to French or Japanese rugby is widely viewed as his most likely option at the end of the year but in the meantime, Crichton says he is committed to seeing out his contract with the Roosters. "To be honest, I always wanted to stay and finish my contract here with the Roosters," Crichton told SMH.

"Rugby is always something that’s there for me, I haven’t played it for a long time but growing up with it, it’s a sport I really enjoy.

"It's something I'm still open to and some of my best mates – (former Wallaby) Jack Maddocks and (Scottish vice-captain) Sione Tuipulotu – are playing at a really high level in Europe. I'm 28, it’s something that could still be there. But right now I’m at the Roosters and I want to be the most dominant player I can be in this competition."

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.