The Roosters are armed with a near $3 million war chest to go to market, leaving rivals “terrified”, but a big question has been raised — can the Tricolours compete in 2025?

Trent Robinson is set to lose Joseph Suaalii, Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Joseph Manu at the season’s end, amounting to an estimated $2.95 million cleared off their salary cap.

The Roosters currently sit in third position on the NRL ladder, and are one of the favourites to win this year’s premiership.

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However, Fox League’s Paul Crawley holds grave concerns for the famous club and questioned if their premiership window will come to a close after their big-name departures.

“It’s an interesting time for the Roosters, because you talk about premiership windows and with those four big names finishing up at the end of the season,” Crawley said.

“With the exception of Manu, who will most likely be back, are they going to be a better team next year if they don’t get someone?”

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie was of the belief that Roosters powerbrokers could make a play for Broncos superstar Kotoni Staggs.

They’ve previously been linked with his services, however the Broncos gun is currently contracted until the end of the 2025 season.

“I think most clubs would be terrified when the Roosters have money to spend and to burn, and they do,” he said on NRL360 on Tuesday night.

“I think we have to factor in the fact that Joey Manu will probably come back… perhaps in May, so some of that money would go.

“They are upgrading a lot of young kids as well. The one bloke I think they might take a look at, it’s a centre, Kotoni Staggs.

“They’ve shown interest in him before… I think you’ll find that there would be some interest in Kotoni Staggs who is a New South Welshmen.”

Should the Roosters not get their man and recruit a big-name star, Crawley explained the club will have to rely on their juniors coming through the ranks.

However, he also revealed that the next eight weeks could be a decided period should the Tricolours want to compete once again for a premiership in 2025.

“They’ve got a bunch of really good juniors coming through, but it’s like the next eight weeks is their time to shine,” Crawley said.

“I’m saying the window will close unless they pick up a big buy… the Roosters argument here is that they do have an exceptional crop coming through.

“Sandon Smith will take over from Keary, they’ve brought Townsend as a back-up, but they’ve got young Toby Rodwell and Jake Elliott who are the halves coming through.

“They’ve got Blake Steep who is a lock, that Robert Toia who is coming back from (injury).”

NRL360 host Braith Anasta then said ”but you wouldn’t think they are premiership players” to which Crawley replied by saying: “which is the point next year, will they be a better team?”

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“We’ve known in the past the Roosters don’t start the season not thinking they can win a premiership,” he added.

For Anasta, who played 147 of his 288 NRL games for the Tricolours, he hadn’t seen the famous club in this position in the past.

Outside of rugby union recruit Mark Nawaqanitawase and Chad Townsend, the Roosters weren’t expecting the arrival of a big-name star.

Ahead of the 2024 season, they welcomed two elite players in Dominic Young (Knights) and Spencer Leniu (Panthers).

“It’s very unusual too, as long as I can remember, the Roosters having so much money to spend,” Anasta said.

“Normally they are pretty locked in with their roster and they have significant recruits they have already purchased before going into the season.”

Crawley then added “maybe they have the faith in the kids coming through” to which Anasta replied: “They will still want a half, they are keeping money there for a half”.

“They need a good centre and a half,” Anasta said.

Meanwhile, league legend Gorden Tallis added: “That’s a lot of talent to lose from one footy side, if you look at that just on sheer talent, you have multiple grand final winners here”.