Roosters

The 33-year-old fullback has been in good form this season and is currently the NRL's leading point-scorer this season with 128 points.

"Since day one, everyone at the Roosters has made me and my family feel welcome and at home, so that's a big reason I'm pleased to be extending my time here," Gordon said.

"From a footy perspective, I still feel like the body is really good and I've got something to offer. I'm enjoying my footy and being part of the team here at the Roosters."

Pearce has become the undisputable go-to man for the Roosters in 2017, with the Blues halfback-in-waiting scoring all four of his tries this season in the final 20 minutes of games. 

His willingness to take the line on has been an inspiration to his teammates, while his lengthy field goal drought was broken with back-to-back one-pointers in rounds eight and nine.   

"I feel like he's had his best ever year in the last 20 minutes of games; it's the simplest way I can explain it," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said after the 24-18 win over the Bulldogs.  

Tedesco, the 24-year-old who was the Dally M Fullback of the Year in 2016, will join the Roosters from next year.

A New South Wales State of Origin representative in 2016, Tedesco has played 78 NRL matches.

"James is a tremendously exciting talent whose signature we are pleased to have secured and we look forward to welcoming him to the Roosters in 2018," Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said.

A cloud of speculation has followed the Origin fullback all season, but News Limited reports that he has signed a $1 million-plus contract with the Chooks.

Earlier on Thursday, the Tigers gave Tedesco and Woods a 24-hour deadline to decide on their futures. 

News Limited reports the deals for both players had already been finalised when Wests gave the deadline, but that the club didn't know about them. 

The brightest prospect of the so-called 'Big Four,' Tedesco will be the biggest loss for the Tigers. 

The 27-year-old Kiwi international has been rewarded for his outstanding form in 2016, adding a further three years to his existing contract.

“Everyone who knows me knows how much the Roosters mean to me,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“It’s an honor to wear the Roosters jersey and to represent our area, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to know that I’ll continue to be part of the team we have here for at least the next four years."

It's a common thought in rugby league circles that a top four finish is crucial to a team's premiership chances, a fair assessment when you look at the recent history of the competition.

Since the NRL changed the competition to its current eight-team finals series in 1999, no team outside the top four has ever won the premiership.

In fact, no team has won the NRL grand final from outside the top four since the Bulldogs beat Manly in 1995.

But you only have to go two years prior to find another side that accomplished the feat – Brisbane.

Needing to win their final three games of the regular season – and results to go their way – the Red V were simply never in the contest as the Tricolours secured their third win from their past four starts to rise up to 13th spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder. 

There was no stopping the three-time defending minor premiers who belied their lowly ranking in what was a faultless performance from start to finish. 

Blake Ferguson ran for a whopping 235 metres, Mitchell Pearce added three try assists to his ever-growing tally, while Daniel Tupou had his best game of 2016. 

With first-choice kicker Jackson Hastings having been sent for a spell in the Intrust Super Premiership a fortnight ago, many expected him to resume duties on Sunday when recalled in place of the injured Mitch Pearce but instead Roosters coach Trent Robinson stuck with his lock forward.

The Taree product has played all five of his Origins to date – three last year, the 2014 Game Three dead rubber and the losing 2013 decider – off the bench, for just one win so far.

With a clean out of sorts in the NSW forward pack this year with the likes of Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman and Trent Merrin joining Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough in being moved on by Blues coach Laurie Daley, Cordner finds himself named to start in his sixth interstate appearance and is relishing the opportunity.

Returning troops provide the Roosters with much needed artillery