Mar 3rd, 2018

Mar 3rd, 2018

The Roosters are close to signing talented former Canberra hooker Kurt Baptiste from English Super League club Leigh.

The big-spending Roosters have been chasing a back-up hooker to Jake Friend all summer and are working on a deal with Leigh for a release.

There are still a few stumbling blocks but the Roosters hope to do the deal before the premiership kicks off next weekend.

The Raiders reluctantly released Baptiste late last year because of salary cap problems.

The move back-fired on the Raiders when their number one hooker, Josh Hodgson, tore his ACL at the World Cup.

Hodgson won’t be back until late in the season, forcing the Raiders to go out and sign two new hookers - Craig Garvey and Siliva Havili.