LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Less than a day after Hugo Savala announced his plans to explore the open market, an NRL club has reportedly decided to withdraw from the competition for the young halfback from the Sydney Roosters.
Recognized as one of the top emerging halves available, Savala is expected to draw significant interest from various teams, as he prefers not to be overshadowed by Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker in the immediate future.
In addition, Toby Rodwell is positioned as a potential future halfback for the Roosters, adding to the club's notable talent pool.
According to The Canberra Times, the Canberra Raiders have become the first team to publicly rule out pursuing Savala, despite their ongoing search for a new playmaker to support Ethan Sanders.
While the Raiders had previously shown interest in players such as Lachlan Ilias and Jonah Pezet, they are now opting to focus on handing the No. 7 jersey to Sanders. Acquiring Savala could impede the growth and development of Sanders, who represents the Under-19s NSW Blues.