The Sydney Roosters have just nine players contracted for 2025, and a number of important, potentially club and future-defining decisions to make.

As it stands on November 1, Trent Robinson's side has decisions to make on 12 players coming off-contract at the end of 2024, not to mention a handful of players they still need to sign for 2024 that may only be included on one-year contracts.

What is clear is that for Joseph Manu - who is one of the biggest names off-contract - the Roosters will need to hope the lure of winning games is enough, given they won't be able to offer him as much money, or the same position on the park as rivals.

The likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Daniel Tupou are also off-contract at the end of 2024 and approaching the end of their careers, while Angus Crichton has a big call to make.

Then there is the pack of young forwards. Siua Wong, Nat Butcher and Terrell May - the Roosters will be desperate to re-sign all three, but money may be an issue.

Brandon Smith's player option that he may or may not take is another issue.

In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every NRL team's state of play for 2025 and the players they need to target in free agency.

Current squad for 2025
Egan Butcher, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Tyler Moriarty, Victor Radley, James Tedesco, Robert Toia, Sam Walker, Dominic Young

Current best 17 for 2025
1. James Tedesco
2. Dominic Young
3. Robert Toia
4. No player signed.
5. No player signed.
6. No player signed.
7. Sam Walker
8. Lindsay Collins
9. Tyler Moriarty
10. Spencer Leniu
11. Egan Butcher
12. No player signed.
13. Victor Radley
14. No player signed.
15. No player signed.
16. No player signed.
17. No player signed.

Players off-contract at end of 2024
Nat Butcher, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Terrell May, Lewis Murphy, Brandon Smith (player option), Sandon Smith, Joseph Suaalii, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Naufahu Whyte, Siua Wong

Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Roosters could target for 2025 and beyond.

EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024

3. Nick Meaney

Nick Meaney has been superb since he made the switch from the Canterbury Bulldogs to the Victorian capital to take up a contract with the Melbourne Storm.

2023 saw him add another string to his bow, becoming one of the NRL's most consistent fullbacks where he took over from the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen.

The Storm will no doubt be desperate to retain his services, but there is less than a guarantee of that happening given Sua Fa'alogo's emergence, and the fact wingers Will Warbrick and Xavier Coates are now set in their starting 17 positions.

That said, Meaney could be looking for a switch back to Sydney, and the Roosters, with questions right through their backline both short and long-term, could do a lot worse than signing Meaney.