Perenara energy key, claims SBW
Sydney Roosters NRL coach Trent Robinson has confirmed the club are in talks with All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara for a code switch.
Reports emerged earlier this week saying Perenara is in talks with the Roosters and other NRL clubs to determine his next sporting home once his contract with New Zealand Rugby expires at the end of 2021.
The former Hurricanes cocaptain and 69-test veteran is playing in the Japanese Top League with the Red Hurricanes, choosing to take up the short-term contract overseas late last year. Now the Roosters want to also secure Perenara’s services on a short-term basis during what has become an injury-blighted season, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting the club are eyeing Perenara to join as early as June, for $140,000.
“We’ve talked, but it’s preliminary at this stage,” Robinson confirmed.
“That got it out there pretty quickly — we’ve had talks and we’ll see where it gets to. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s be happy with the report of discussions, but let’s not get too far ahead — how’s he going to play in the first game and all that.
“We’ll take it step by step.”
It is believed the club are looking for Perenara to play hooker.
To start this season, hooker Sam Verrills and lock Victor Radley were unavailable due to their continued recovery from ACL injuries suffered during the 2020 NRL campaign. Long-time Roosters hooker Jake Friend was forced into early retirement last week because of concussion while another rake,
Freddy Lussick, is sidelined with an arm injury.
Perenara’s Japanese Top League contract ends on May 23 and he would be required to quarantine for two weeks on arrival in Australia.
The earliest he could take the field for the Roosters would be June 12 during round 14, with 11 matches remaining in the regular season.
However, compounding that process for Perenara is his glaring lack of experience playing league.
When Robinson signed Sonny Bill Williams to a similar Mr Fixit role in 2020, his introduction to the team was slow and Perenara’s entry would likely take even longer.
Williams has spoken to Perenara and believes his former All Blacks teammate would be a success in league.
“What a special addition that would be,” Williams told the Nine Network in Australia. “If he came over here he would be under no illusion the work that would need to be put in to be a successful rugby league player.
“I’ve talked to him at length about how much he loves rugby league and he would love to give it a crack one day.
“Most likely we will see him soon, hopefully.”
Williams added that he sees Perenara potentially filling more holes than just at hooker.
“I would see him as a hybrid.” “Initially as that No 14 player that can come on at hooker or play at No 6 [five-eighth].
“The energy he brings to a team, his fitness, his strength physically — I think he would make a great rugby league player.”