Premiership-winning five-eighth Luke Keary looks set to finish his NRL career in red, white and blue after signing a three-year contract extension with the Sydney Roosters on Thursday.
The 2018 Clive Churchill winner was contracted to the Roosters for next season but would've been a free agent for rivals to target from November.
His retention is a major coup for the defending premiers with the 28-year-old the first player at the club to commit to playing through until at least the end of the 2024 season.
The other Roosters locked in to long-term deals are Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley, who are all signed until the end of 2023.
"From the top down, there’s a really good group of people involved at the Roosters, and I’m excited to have my long-term future locked in here," Keary said.
Rooster for life? Keary re-signs until 2024
Keary, who is currently sidelined with a broken rib, has played 148 NRL matches, 85 of those with the Roosters since joining the club in 2017.
He was a key member of the club’s 2018 and 2019 premiership-winning sides after landing his first title at Souths in 2014.
Keary won the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2018 grand final win over Melbourne and helped set up the match-winning try in last year's decider.
With NSW's 2018-19 series winning five-eighth James Maloney having departed the NRL, the Roosters No.6 is tipped by many to earn his first Origin jersey in November.
"Luke is a leader and a student of the game who brings energy to everything he does," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
Wests Tigers v Roosters - Round 15
"He’s also a good person, so it’s great news that he will continue to play his important role here at the Roosters in the coming years."
Robinson and Roosters officials are now expected to turn their attention to the futures of experienced trio Josh Morris, Brett Morris and co-captain Jake Friend.
