first grade experience and establish themselves."

The Roosters swamped the player market last year, signing big guns Braith Anasta from the Bulldogs and Souths captain Ashley Harrison, but the side is currently languishing in 11th after three straight losses.

Cross announced on Wednesday he would join Super 14 rugby franchise the Western Force while Morley will return to England to join Warrington.

Canavan said clubs had to put "some planning in place" for signing established first graders, but hanging on to talented youngsters was more important.

"We're only just over the halfway point (of the competition), you can't make decisions, particularly on young kids, you can on older players of course," he said.

"What we've got to do is finalise our own retention first, that's been our priority for probably the last sixweeks."

Canavan said he had met with Fitzgibbon's manager David Riolo once and negotiations were "ongoing".

He said the departure of Cross and Morley, on top of forwards Jason Cayless and Michael Crocker last year, meant Fitzgibbon's experience was important to the club.

"That's a part of it, Fitzy's a much-loved player in our club too," Canavan said.

"There are things, budgets and salary caps, it's not that simple, I wish it was."

Asked if the Roosters would get to make the last offer to the skipper, Canavan said: "That would be assumed.

"The manager hasn't presented any other club option to us at all, that's not in his line of thinking either."

Fitzgibbon said on Thursday he was hopeful he'd receive an offer that would allow him to stay and would be disappointed to