Adam Doueihi may not have request his release from the Wests Tigers yet, but it would hardly be a surprise if it came over the next few weeks.
The halfback and utility option is sitting out this weekend's match against the Canberra Raiders after being told by Benji Marshall he wouldn't be running out in the number seven, with the club instead preferring to hand a debut to Javon Andrews.
The move came as a shock, but Doueihi's decision to sit out the match was a bigger one.
The star is contracted through to the end of 2029 after putting pen to paper on an extension earlier this year, and while he has obvious talent, his injury history and the way the club have stuck by him through long stints on the sideline mean this is all getting very ugly and very quickly.
It's hard though, given the events of this week, to see Doueihi suiting up for the Concord-based joint-venture next year at this stage.
The club clearly see Latu Fainu and Andrews as the way forward. The duo are prodigiously talented, and even with Jarome Luai leaving the club at the end of the year, Jock Madden is also in the system ensuring there are options.
Jamie Humphreys is also back on the open market and could become a candidate to replace Doueihi at Concord if he does put in a request to leave the club.
Assuming that may happen, here are the clubs he could play for in 2027.
2. Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are one of the clear clubs in the market for a halfback as they head into the 2027 campaign.
Sean O'Sullivan is the closest thing the club have to a halfback for the time being, but he is likely to leave at the end of the season given the club continue to try and use Lachlan Galvin at seven alongside either Stephen Crichton or Matt Burton.
Both of those players are far better served in the centres, while Galvin's best spot is clearly in the number six jumper.
Doueihi moving to Canterbury would knock over a few problems for the Bulldogs, provide Cameron Ciraldo's side with some structure in attack, and add some excellent experience to their spine.
