TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 23: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui of the Titans runs the ball during the round seven NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Gold Coast Titans at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on April 23, 2022, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
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.
The Bulldogs have been linked to anyone and everyone on the free-agent market, and, despite the protests of director of football Phil Gould, Fa'asuamaleaui is another one.
Whether Gould admits it or not, the men from Belmore need another big forward to add to an engine room which has struggled at both ends of the park this year.
Whether Fa'asuamaleaui would leave the Titans to head to Sydney at a club struggling remains to be seen. For all the promises of what the Bulldogs are building, the on-field results have been less than impressive in Cameron Ciraldo's first season.
But the money on offer from Belmore could sway the Origin forward.
Reports recently suggested the club would offer him as much as a million dollars per season - how they fit that in under the salary cap with Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton and Tevita Pangai Junior's big contracts already on the books remains to be seen, but that sort of money could make it hard to say no.
The Storm are always careful and selective around their signings, but Fa'asuamaleaui is one player they never wanted to let go of in the first place.
The NRL's picture of consistency for the best part of two decades, the temptation of liking up with his first NRL coach in Craig Bellamy could well speak to Fa'asuamaleaui.
As much as Bellamy is only around for another year, being in constant contention for premierships would also speak to the star forward - and the Storm, regardless of Bellamy being in charge or not, you'd have to imagine, will continue remaining at the head of affairs.
The Storm too need another forward to complement their current engine room.
The club lost big in the initial recruitment raid by the Dolphins, and while their starting group of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica and Christian Welch is still among the best in the competition, there is a real train of thought that they have lacked depth at times this season.
Fa'ausamaleaui would walk straight into the starting outfit of this side and instantly provide upgrades in multiple facets of the game.
Don't be surprised if the Storm make a play here.
The Dolphins have 29 players already signed to their Top 30 for next season, so there is a real need to be selective when it comes to the final roster spot.
In usual circumstances, a team with 29 players signed wouldn't have the salary cap space to accomodate someone like Fa'asumaleaui, who will be commanding well into the high six figures, probably without breaking the seven-figure barrier.
That said, the Dolphins should have the cash available - the question is whether Wayne Bennett and his recruitment staff have the desire to sign someone like Fa'asuamaleaui.
There is little doubt the NRL's newest club have performed well above expectations this year, but the Redcliffe-based outfit have an aeging forward pack.
The forward pack is a big part of the reason they have performed so well this year, but when Jesse Bromwich, Mark Nicholls and Jarrod Wallace can all feature as part of the engine room on the same team sheet, an injection of youth is needed.
Fa'asuamaleaui brings exactly that, but talent and attitude to match the calling of the club and what they are ultimately attempting to build their future on.
The Queensland Origin star could turn into a franchise player, and, if he does leave the Titans, the move to the other side of Brisbane gives him the potential to stay in the south-east corner of Queensland without moving too far away from family and friends that a move to Sydney or Victoria would provide.
It has been highlighted more than once previously, but the Sharks desperately need a big, powerful middle forward to take over ownership of the pack in the Shire.
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The Sharks have the Nicho Hynes express leading the way in the halves, but too often, it has been magic from the star number seven which has allowed the black, white and blue to win games.
While there is plenty to be said for the efforts of players like Royce Hunt, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Cameron McInnes, as well as fan favourite Toby Rudolf in the middle forward, they would all be a much stronger unit with a player like Fa'asuamaleaui leading the way and playing big minutes.
A week-in, week-out starter who performs consistently, he would allow Hamlin-Uele and Hunt to play the shorter minute roles they really should be off the bench, while forming a solid starting middle third.
Cronulla have other questions to ask regarding the futures of both Cameron McInnes and Dale Finucane - realistically, there isn't room for two players in the same mould on the side, but that is another question for another day.
For now, Fa'asuamaleaui is the recruit who could just about change the entire fortune of the club.
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.