Roosters players have heard all the jokes about salary sombreros and brown paper bags filled with money, but when you listen to them and why they want to wear the red, white and blue jersey, you quickly realise that cash has nothing to do with it.

The club has been in the firing line for the past week after it emerged that Knights winger Dom Young had chosen to play with them for less money, while Penrith’s Spencer Leniu has also reportedly agreed to join them next year.

Premiership winner Dylan Napa has also rejoined the club on a train and trial deal, and while that won’t put a dent in the cap, their incredible roster has fans of other clubs wondering how the Roosters keep signing top-end talent.

Their backline is littered with international stars, they boast one of the best halves combinations in the world and their pack is as brutal as it gets, but as Lindsay Collins says, money isn’t the motivating factor when it comes to the Roosters.

“I think it’s self-explanatory. If players are looking to squeeze the juice out of the lemon as much as they can, then they probably want to see what the talk is about and come here and experience it to get the best out of their careers,” he said.

“The more you get professional, the less you worry about money and the more you worry about winning.”

That culture has been carefully cultivated under chairman Nick Politis and head coach Trent Robinson who have been able to develop something special with some of the best players in the world.

“It’s such a great club,” young forward Nat Butcher said.

“You look at the guys from the top down where you’ve got Nick and Robbo who are the best people at their jobs.

“Then you have such a great calibre of players who have come before us like Boyd (Cordner), Jake (Friend) and Aubo (Mitch Aubusson). They are legends of the game and legends of this club.

“They are players you want to play like and be like as men as well. That’s what sells it for us. The club produced great footy players but better men. That was a big reason why I came here.”

As for the salary cap jokes?

“You get made fun of a bit, but it’s one of those things. The club just knows what attracts players and it’s a good way to get good players to the club,” Drew Hutchison said.

“I’ve never had a bad day here and I’ve always come in with a smile on my face. I think that’s the same as the 30 other blokes here. Everyone is happy to be here and it’s a good environment to be in.”

Players are happy to sign for less at the Roosters because they know the club will always have their back.

Butcher found that out last week when there were reports the Knights had offered to give the Tricolours Young early in exchange for Butcher or his brother Egan.

“The fact that the Roosters shut that down straight away … that’s how I felt,” he said.

“It was great to hear that. It’s crazy to feel sometimes that it’s all out of your control where you can go as a player. It gave me great confidence knowing that the Roosters shut that down straight away.”

Leniu’s deal is expected to be announced in the coming days, with Collins declaring him a great fit for the Chooks, but there’s no doubt about Napa’s future after the veteran returned after an unsuccessful stint in the Super League.

The fiery forward returned to training on Tuesday and fitted in like he’d never left.

“He’s brought his persona and energy and what we enjoy about him,” Collins said of Napa, who left the Roosters at the end of 2018.

“I came to the club as a kid and Naps was already making a name for himself, so he was a big role model for me. To go full circle and come back, it’s really good to have him here.

“He’s a good bloke, a good man and I look forward to having him for the year.”