Every NRL player STILL without a contract for 2026

The final round of the 2025 NRL season is underway, and rosters for next year are filling up quickly. With fewer and fewer spots available, Zero Tackle has cast an eye over the entire competition to determine every player still without a deal for 2026. » Every NRL team's 2026 best 17, full squad » Zero Tackle's contract hub Brisbane BroncosOff-contract:Fletcher Baker, Jack Gosiewski, Kobe Hetherington, Delouise Hoeter, Jaiyden Hunt, Corey Jensen, Israel Leota, Cory Paix Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Broncos still have decisions to make on eight players. Jack Gosiewski and Kobe Hetherington, as well as Corey Jensen, are the most likely to re-sign. They have no known contracts with options in them, so they can plan effectively with their remaining roster spots. Canberra RaidersOff-contract:Albert Hopoate, Danny Levi, Jordan Martin, Josh Papalii Player option: Corey Harawira-Naera Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil At the time of writing, Josh Papalii has still not officially put pen to paper, so he joins the small list of Raiders' players still without a deal for next year. Albert Hopoate and Danny Levi are both likely to leave, while Jordan Martin is a young talent. Corey Harawira-Naera, it's understood, is in talks with clubs in Sydney and could leave as he continues to work his way back from a scary on-field medical incident. Canterbury BulldogsOff-contract:Drew Hutchison, Jake Turpin, Blake Wilson Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Bulldogs have just three players left off-contract. Recent reports suggest Jake Turpin will stay with the club, while Drew Hutchison could be on the way out, and Blake Wilson has struggled for opportunities in the top grade. They have no options built into any current deals. Cronulla SharksOff-contract:Jayden Berrell, Mawene Hiroti, William Kennedy Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The biggest decision the Sharks need to make is on the future of William Kennedy. The star fullback, it was revealed earlier this year, can not be offered more than about $300,000 by the club due to salary cap pressure. The Sharks have Jayden Berrell and Mawene Hiroti also potentially set to be re-signed, with no options. Gold Coast TitansOff-contract:Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Foran, Tony Francis, Ben Liyou, Harley Smith-Shields Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Carter Gordon The Titans have locked up all their big guns into next year at the very least, but would probably still like to add a couple of contracts for some of the young guns without a deal. That list is likely to be led by Tony Francis, but at the same time, they could let all five depart. Carter Gordon still has a mutual option in his deal that has not been confirmed, but is likely to be taken up for 2026 by both parties after he spent much of this year out with a spinal fluid problem. Manly Sea EaglesOff-contract:Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Daly Cherry-Evans, Aaron Schoupp, Tommy Talau, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega Player option: Matthew Lodge Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Sea Eagles have one of the longer lists of players still off-contract, although it can be automatically shortened by one, given we know Daly Cherry-Evans won't be there next year. It has been reported that Aaron Schoupp is set to depart, while Siosiua Taukeiaho is in talks to extend his time on the Northern Beaches after an impressive return this year. The rest of the list haven't heard much noise about their futures, while Matthew Lodge is likely to take up a player option and remain at Manly into 2026. Melbourne StormOff-contract:Ativalu Lisati, Lazarus Vaalepu Player option: Nil Team option: Tui Kamikamica, Tyran Wishart Mutual option: Nil Just the two forwards remain off-contract for the Storm, with Ativalu Lisati and Lazarus Vaalepu both in and out of the 17 for Craig Bellamy. Vaalepu, in particular, is seen as a big part of the club's future in the middle and should re-sign soon. Tyran Wishart is believed to have already had his option activated, while salary cap pressures mean Tui Kamikamica could be on the lookout for a new home next year. Newcastle KnightsOff-contract:Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Mason Teague Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil It's believed that all four players remaining off-contract for the Knights will be let go. Jackson Hastings has barely played a game for the Hunter-based outfit this year and could be heading to England, while the talk around Adam Elliott and Jack Hetherington has gone quiet. Mason Teague is the most likely of the quartet to re-sign, but it still seems unlikely. New Zealand WarriorsOff-contract:Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita The Warriors have just three players left off-contract heading into 2026. Tom Ale is set to join the Penrith Panthers, while Bunty Afoa, cult hero that he might be, is also likely on the lookout for a new side. Morgan Harper hasn't factored since joining the club, and it's unclear what lies in his future. Both Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita have mutual options. There have been no developments on whether either will stay with the club, but they could yet become targets for the Perth Bears from November 1 if those options are activated without extensions. North Queensland CowboysOff-contract:Jamal ShibasakiPlayer option: Nil Team option: Harrison Edwards Mutual option: Nil It was confirmed at the Cowboys' awards night this week that Jamal Shibasaki will be leaving, although he does not yet have a new club to call home. Harrison Edwards is therefore the only Cowboy with his future up in the air - he has a club option that has not officially been activated, but he was not listed among the list of departing players by the Townsville-based club, so he could be staying put into 2026. Parramatta EelsOff-contract:Haze Dunster, Wiremu Greig, Joey Lussick Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Eels have just three players left off-contract at the end of this year, and it's unclear whether any will be afforded the opportunity to re-sign. Wiremu Greig and Joey Lussick could yet be retained as depth, while patience may have run out with Haze Dunster, who has just suffered another serious injury in the NSW Cup. No options to report for the Eels. Penrith PanthersOff-contract:Harrison Hassett, Daine Laurie, Soni Luke, Riley Price, Preston Riki, Luke Sommerton Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Panthers still have some decisions to make at the end of this season, with six players still off-contract Daine Laurie may be the most likely to re-sign, given his performances backing up Dylan Edwards and his versatility to play across the backline. One of Luke Sommerton or Soni Luke, at least, will likely be offered a new deal to back up Mitch Kenny, while forwards Harrison Hassett, Riley Price, and Preston Riki are yet to have movement on their futures. South Sydney RabbitohsOff-contract:Thomas Fletcher, Siliva Havili, Jacob Host, Ben Lovett, Shaquai Mitchell, Davvy Moale, Josh Schuster Player option: Nil Team option: Fletcher Myers Mutual option: Nil The Rabbitohs still have a long list of players without a deal heading into next year. It's believed Shaquai Mitchell and Josh Schuster won't be offered new deals, while Davvy Moale is attracting interest from elsewhere. There has been no movement around Thomas Fletcher, Jacob Host or Ben Lovett, while Siliva Havili is also set to leave. Fletcher Myers has a club option that has not yet been officially activated. St George Illawarra DragonsOff-contract:Corey Allan, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Viliami Fifita, David Klemmer Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Michael Molo The Dragons are looking to promote youth throughout their side as Shane Flanagan continues his rebuild, so it's believed Corey Allan and Raymond Faitala-Mariner will both leave. David Klemmer is less sure of not being at the club next year, while there has been no movement on Viliami Fifita. It's believed Michael Molo's option will also not be taken up from the club's end, and he will depart. Sydney RoostersOff-contract:Zach Dockar-Clay, Tyler Moriarty Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil The Roosters have just two back-up dummy half options still off-contract heading into 2026. It's likely one will be re-signed, but sit well down the pecking order at the club, who will welcome Reece Robson from the North Queensland Cowboys heading into next year. The Roosters are otherwise stable, although they still have Top 30 spots to fill given the list of departures. The DolphinsOff-contract:Kenneath Bromwich, Sean O'Sullivan, Michael Waqa Player option: Nil Team option: Ryan Jackson Mutual option: Nil The Dolphins still have a couple of players out of contract, with Kenneath Bromwich potentially set to follow Felise Kaufusi and re-sign, although he could also retire. Sean O'Sullivan is most likely going to be back in Sydney, while there has been no movement around the futures of Michael Waqa and Ryan Jackson, who were development players in the club's inaugural season. Wests TigersOff-contract:Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua, Taylan May, Brent Naden, Brandon Tumeth Player option: Nil Team option: Nil Mutual option: Nil How the Tigers will proceed with their youngsters out of contract remains to be seen. There were, at one time or another, high hopes for Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua and Brandon Tumeth, but none of the trio have kicked on to the levels anticipated. Brent Naden was rumoured to be on the way out earlier this year, but could still yet remain on the back-up list at Tiger Town heading into next year, with Taylan May almost certain to be re-signed.