Gold Coast Titans star and captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is currently a free agent, but the window for him to make a call on his immediate future is closing.
A clause in his contract relating to Justin Holbrook's job made him a free agent, but the timeline for a call to be made is believed to be mid-October.
Approximately half of the NRL have reportedly expressed interest in the Queensland State of Origin representative, and Fa'asuamaleaui and his management have confirmed they will explore their options before deciding whether to commit to the Gold Coast.
Even if he elects to stay at Robina, he will become effectively a free agent again from November 1, with his contract only in an option state for 2025 and 2026.
But what if he were to leave at the end of this season, taking advantage of the clause in his contract.
There are plenty of sides in the NRL who could use the star forward, but here are the top five options who must be putting everything on the line in pursuit of the forward.
1. St George Illawarra Dragons
This could be something of a gift for the Dragons, and they should have the salary cap space available to do it.
Shane Flanagan's arrival in 2024 gives the club a successful, premiership-winning coach - something that you'd imagine is a pre-requisite of any switch for Fa'asuamaleaui - but also gives the club a potential new lease on life.
Flanagan wants to make the rebuild of the Red V as sharp and painless as possible. That is going to be close to impossible given they only have a pair of roster spots left within the Top 30 for 2024, but the club absolutely must be making a significant play for Fa'asuamaleaui with one of them.
They should have the salary cap available to do it as well - the only big-money deal within the roster currently will be that of Ben Hunt, and even he is no guarantee of remaining at the joint-venture for 2024 with a release request still hanging in the air.
Salary cap is only one part of the equation here though for the Dragons.
Ultimately, this is a team short in plenty of aspects across the park, but they desperately need a leader in the forwards to partner the likes of Blake Lawrie and Jack de Belin.
Fa'asuamaleaui is that exact sort of player, and has the potential to turn this team around.
