The Mole: Sydney Roosters set to lock down Boyd Cordner to long-term deal

The Sydney Roosters are close to signing star back-rower Boyd Cordner to a new long-term deal.

With the club paying big dollars to sign Souths forward Angus Crichton for 2019, rival clubs are already circling Cordner.

Newcastle are one of several clubs to have expressed interest in the Blues Origin and Test forward.

But the Roosters want to keep their captain, despite a chronic knee injury that has seen him play just 30 games over the past two seasons.

Wide World of Sports has been told that Cordner has already agreed to stay - the only question is the length of the contract. His management is believed to be haggling with the club over whether the deal should be for three or four years.

At 25, Cordner has already captained both the Roosters and New South Wales and has over 120 NRL games to his credit.

The Taree junior is highly respected within the club and the Roosters see him as their long-term forward leader.