The NRL has long flirted with the idea of having a loan system, although it has never fully been used throughout the game's history.
During the coronavirus pandemic, with more players sidelined than ever before, it was used at times, with the New Zealand Warriors in particular benefiting from its existence.
But there has been an ongoing discussion ever since that situation cleared itself up and the game got back to being somewhat normal.
Should a loan system exist, and be used more frequently by clubs?
While it's commonplace in European football competitions, there are plenty of NRL clubs that could benefit from a rival club's player for the remainder of 2026.
There are also players who could benefit from a move, extra minutes, a fresh coach and a change of scenery before returning to their current club in 2027.
Here are five players who simply make sense to be elsewhere for the remainder of 2026.
1. Hugo Savala (Gold Coast Titans)
Easily the player in the NRL who could most benefit from heading away from Bondi for the remainder of the season.
Savala, who was on a development deal pretty much right up until the 2026 season got underway, spent most of 2025 in first grade and excelled.
Coming from nowhere, he replaced Sam Walker during the first part of the year and was still around first grade after the injured star returned.
He is on the outside looking in this year following the arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans from the Manly Sea Eagles, but his one-year deal, and Savala's extension through to the end of 2028, ensure he is still a big part of the tri-colours' plans.
There is no reason in the world, though, why he shouldn't be getting minutes in elsewhere this year, and the Gold Coast Titans could be the right fit.
There is already talk that the Gold Coast are about to shuffle their spine around, playing Lachlan Ilias and moving AJ Brimson out to the centres.
If that is the case, then we can almost guarantee Savala would be a preferred option. Tough on Ilias, who relocated to the Gold Coast, but Savala has some serious runs on the board from the 2025 campaign.
