NRL 2026: James Tedesco and Sam Walker provide latest on future with Sydney Roosters, Mark Nawaqanitawase poised for NRL return, transfer whispers

Superstar fullback James Tedesco has revealed his hopes of striking a new deal with the Sydney Roosters after guiding them to the 2026 NRL premiership and winning the Clive Churchill Medal.

Still regarded as the competition’s best No.1, the 34-year-old joins a list of stars who will hit the open market on November 1 and be free to speak with rival teams.

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Contracted until the end of 2027, Tedesco has now revealed his hopes of extending with the Tricolours for at least one season, which would make 2028 his final season.

While there is no rush to reach a deal, he told The Sydney Morning Herald he is keen to sit down with the club to discuss his future as soon as the World Cup ends.

“There’s no rush, I don’t think I’ll be chased by other teams for a contract — and I wouldn’t really go anywhere else,” Tedesco said.

“Ideally, if I can play 2027 and 2028, after that, I’d be pretty content. I’m getting on, but I’m still getting opportunities to wear jerseys like this [the Kangaroos], which is cool.

“It’s cool to be the older guy and having the younger guys coming through. I do feel old. How old is Reece? I felt old when Jack Bostock sent me a message in 2019, and he was only 15.”

CROSS-CODE STAR POISED FOR NRL RETURN

The update on Tedesco’s future comes as cross-code athlete Mark Nawaqanitawase is poised to return to the NRL after a two-year stint with Japanese rugby union outfit Saitama Wild Knights.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, there have been positive talks between Nawaqanitawase’s management and the Roosters about a potential return.

And the NRL also believe he will be back in the 13-man code, where he made an immediate impact in two years time for the 2029 season.

It comes as his management have been assured by the Tricolours that “fullback money” — up around the $1 million mark for elite players — will be available to the former Olympian if he ever decides to return to the competition.

“Mark is the best winger in the world right now,” Roosters chairman Nick Politis told the publication.

“We were blessed to have had Daniel Tupou, so we know the standard.

“We love Mark. We love his family. He will be paid like the best. We want him back, and we are confident he will come back.”

QLD HALF PROVIDES BIGGEST HINT ON FUTURE

Meanwhile, fellow premiership-winner Sam Walker has also given the biggest clue yet about his future with the Sydney Roosters.

One of the game’s elite halves, Walker is coming off a standout past 12 months which has seen make his State of Origin debut for Queensland, win a premiership and be named in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the 2026 World Cup.

As he closes in on an international debut, his value has skyrocketed and he is set to become one of the highest-paid players in the NRL.

After his management suggested Walker has no issue testing the open market - where he could find the interest of the PNG Chiefs - the halfback remains keen to get a deal done with the Roosters.

It is understood he could command up to $1.5 million a season.

“It’s obviously such a professional club and our motto is, ‘We play for premierships’. And that’s what I want to be a part of,’’ Walker told CODE Sports on Saturday.

“We’re in a really good position with the players that we have in the club at the moment and the people that we have in the club to continue to be successful for a very long time.’’

Pressed on if he was likely to re-sign with the club for whom he has played 109 matches and scored 838 points for, Walker admits that is the plan.

“That’s the plan. I’m leaving that up to my management crew and the club to get that all sorted,” Walker added.

“My job’s now to play football again (for Australia) and I’ll do that while they get it done and fingers crossed we’ll get something sorted soon.’’