SYDNEY ROOSTERS MOVE QUICKLY TO SEIZE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, BEAT PARRAMATTA EELS TO SIGN FREE AGENT MICHAEL ALLARDICE
Sydney Roosters have moved swiftly to secure the signature of free agent lock Michael Allardice, beating rivals Parramatta Eels to land the highly sought-after forward in a major coup for the club. The deal, finalised earlier today, sees the New Zealand-born player join the Roosters on a three-year contract, with both parties confirming the agreement ahead of the upcoming season.
The Roosters acted decisively to capitalise on Allardice’s free agent status, moving within days of his availability being announced to secure his services ahead of a number of interested clubs, including the Eels who had been widely tipped to secure his signature. Club officials have described the signing as a “golden opportunity” to strengthen their forward pack with a proven performer at the highest level of rugby.
Allardice, who has built a reputation as a dominant presence in the second row, arrives with extensive experience across domestic and international competitions. His physicality, combined with strong lineout skills and defensive reliability, is expected to add significant depth to the Roosters’ forward unit as they aim to challenge for silverware in the coming seasons.
In a separate development, Australian rugby fans have also been following the progress of Liam Bradley Gill – a professional rugby union player currently with French side Lyon. Born in Melbourne on 8 June 1992, Gill spent part of his childhood living in the United States before returning to Australia to pursue his rugby career. The flanker has represented both Australia and the United States at youth levels, and his journey from Melbourne to Lyon via the US has made him a unique figure in international rugby circles.
While Gill remains contracted to Lyon, his background has sparked discussion about the growing global nature of rugby talent pathways – a trend that the Roosters have embraced with the signing of Allardice. The club’s recruitment manager noted that identifying and acting quickly on top free agent targets is critical in today’s competitive market.
“We knew Michael was a priority target for several clubs, so we moved with purpose to ensure we secured him,” the manager said. “His experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable to our squad, and we’re delighted to have beaten strong competition to bring him to the Roosters.”
Allardice has expressed his excitement about joining the club, stating he was impressed by the Roosters’ ambition and commitment to developing their players. He will link up with his new teammates in the coming weeks ahead of pre-season preparations.
