THE Roosters have tabled Lachlan Coote a four-year deal as the bidding begins for North Queensland’s superstar fullback begins.

Clubs were told to present their offers over the weekend, with Trent Robinson’s side a bolter for the 26-year-old with an offer longer than any other.

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ROOSTERS WANT COOTE

Round 19

Cowboy's Lachlan Coote during the NRL game between the Manly Sea Eagles and the North Queensland Cowboys at Brookvale Oval .Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper is reporting that the Roosters have offered Coote a deal which would see him in Bondi until the end of 2020.

A product of Western Sydney, Coote has spent the last two years in Townsville after leaving Penrith and not short of interest from clubs vying for his signature.

It’s understood the Roosters view Coote as a half with Latrell Mitchell the club’s long-term fullback.

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“There’s a little bit of a bidding war that centres on premiership winning Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote and the Sydney Roosters have come in at the last minute,” Hooper said on NRL Tonight.

“They’ve tabled a four-year contract offer. St George Illawarra are also at the table, they’ve submitted a three-year deal and of course the North Queensland Cowboys, they’ve still got their fingers crossed that even though they’re only offering two years, they might still be able to hang onto Lachlan.”

HOOKER DOESN’T TRUST HALVES

Former Panthers and Warriors mentor Ivan Cleary believes Jake Friend is playing as if he doesn’t have faith in his young halves Jayden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings.

Not a noted kicker, Friend made some poor kick choices during Monday’s loss to Penrith, something Cleary believes could be an indication that the hooker doesn’t trust the rookie spine.

“There was a couple of things that alarmed me,” Cleary said when reviewing Monday’s game.

“Jake Friend kicking from dummy half. It’s not like he hasn’t kicked from dummy half before but he was kicking from positions that weren’t really suited, which sort of says he may have lacked confidence in the halves.”

SHOULD LYON RETIRE?

Ben Ikin hinted on NRL360 that it could be time for Apisai Koroisau to unseat Dylan Walker in the halves on a permanent basis once Daly Cherry-Evans returns from injury.

But that could spell the end for Jamie Lyon’s NRL career.

“I don’t know when he’s thinking of hanging up the boots (but) geez Dylan Walker would be a handy replacement in the centres if (Manly) consider (Api) Koroisau a long-term solution in the halves with Cherry-Evans,” Ikin said.

THE RULE RUINING GOLDEN POINT

The seven-tackle set, brought in at the start of last season to stop halves from intentionally kicking the ball dead, is under fire after turning golden point into even more of a field-goal shootout than it used to be.

The Tigers v Storm golden point game on Sunday demonstrated how easy it was for both teams to march up the field into field-goal range from a 20 metre tap and NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent said it wasn’t good for the game.

RELOCATE THE GRAND FINAL?

Should the NRL take the grand final on the road?

“That’s ridiculous,” according to Cronulla hooker Michael Ennis.

Ennis called on the NRL to move the GF to the SCG if ANZ Stadium is unavailable.

Dragons star Benji Marshall however is in favour of moving the grand final abroad.

“Wellington — if it has to move,” Marshall told NRL360 of where he would take the game.

“We can promote the game over there some more.

EELS CAP SCANDAL

Seven News is reporting that the NRL has finished their investigation into Parramatta’s salary cap breaches.

The final two witnesses were interviewed on Monday with lawyer and sports administrator, Nick Weeks to compile his report and file it to Todd Greenberg before an announcement is made.

Seven News claims the Eels will be stripped of eight points.