The Roosters’ reported play for Cowboys half Chad Townsend has been labelled a “strange one” but may be a part of a greater plan to add a gun playmaker from the 2026 season.
Trent Robinson’s interest in Townsend caught many by surprise, considering the club has their halfback of the future in Sam Walker and a capable pivot of Sandon Smith waiting in the wings.
However, Luke Keary’s departure will leave a huge void in terms of experience and footy IQ, two traits that Townsend possesses.
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NRL360 co-host and former Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta wondered if the Roosters are trying to get their ducks in a row to position themselves to sign a star playmaker for 2026 and beyond.
“They’re losing Luke Keary. Sam Walker is doing an amazing job, we know how he plays. He plays off the cuff and what he sees in front of him which makes he so special and why he’s playing so well.
“They do have a couple of young kids coming through, Sandon Smith of course is there as well, but they wanted a stop gap for one year.
“Whether they are just waiting for these young guns to blossom, or they have someone in mind for 2026 because they went for Shaun Johnson and he knocked them back.
“I feel like they must have someone in mind for 2026. I’m sure of it.
“Yes they have some young guns there, but will they be ready to win a premiership in two years?”
Sandon Smith has been in and out of first grade in 2024, but the club think highly of him.
That fact is a reason why veteran journalist Paul Crawley finds the Roosters’ reported interest in Townsend odd.
“Things change so quickly, I mean two years ago, who was Ezra Mam? You know what I mean? It can happen,” Crawley said.
“They have the Blues five-eighth in the under 19s, Jake Elliott. They have Sandon Smith, Sam Walker is 22 years of age and getting better.
“Townsend’s a strange one unless they’ve just bought him as a security in case someone gets injured.
“In that respect, it’s a pretty smart move.”
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“That’s exactly what it is … It’s around $280,000-$300,000 (for a season),” The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio added.
“Chad knows he’s going there not as the main man. It’s a baton support role for these young halves coming through, but to your point Braith, the main focus has to be re-sign Sam Walker.”
Crawley agreed with Anasta, believing the Roosters will be looking ahead no matter what.
“This is the Roosters, a couple of months ago they were prepared to move on Angus Crichton to bring in David Fifita,” Crawley said.
“They would have someone in mind, they’d be searching for someone.”
Riccio then tossed up Eels star Dylan Brown as a potential option for 2026 and beyond.
Brown has one of the most unusual contracts in the NRL.
Spanning nine years, his current contract expires at the end of 2025, with player options each season until the end of 2031.
Considering the funk Parramatta find themselves in, could Brown look to head elsewhere? Technically, he’ll be able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.
“Dylan Brown has options galore in his contract, which is why this decision for Parramatta to appoint their head coach is never more important,” Riccio said.
“I don’t see him and Walker as a halves pairing. They’re absolute guns, but they are a similar style of player. Not saying it wouldn’t work but that’s interesting,” Anasta replied.
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“You never know with the Roosters, they will have their eye on someone.”
Brown is at the top of the list when it comes to playmakers that could come off contract at the end of 2025.
Warriors star Te Maire Martin, who is enjoying a career resurgence this season for New Zealand, is one of those.
Interestingly, WWOS have reported that several NRL clubs have held “informal chats” with Martin and are keen to lure him back to Australia.
Like Brown, Martin can’t hold talks with rival club until November 1.
Other halves that go off contract at the end of next year include promising Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet, who’s path is blocked to consistent first grade minutes by Cam Munster, Jahrome Hughes and now Tyran Wishart.
Adam Doueihi recently signed a one-year extension with the Tigers until the end of 2025.
Despite the injury concerns, he’s got plenty to offer as a five-eighth, and could be viewed by the Chooks as an option to partner Walker in the halves.