during a Gold Coast Titans NRL training session on May 10, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia.
The rugby league transfer merry-go-round occurs every year, new players come, while others go. It's part of the game and it happens to every team.
However, particular departures can leave fans wondering what could have been. We've looked at each team and picked one player they would love to have back in their jersey.
He's currently one of the best players in rugby union.
Originally departing the NRL to pursue a career in the AFL, Folau then made the transition into rugby union with his bid to return to the NRL thwarted at the last minute by salary cap issues.
The Broncos would love to convince Israel Folau to return to Brisbane.
Anthony Milford moved to Canberra as a teenager from Brisbane.
He burst onto the scene in 2013 as a fullback for the Raiders and everyone could see that he was the next big thing. However, the master-coach of Wayne Bennet persuaded the young-gun to join Brisbane.
Canberra would love to have Milford back, especially with the experience he's gained whilst he was gone.
The decision the release Thurston in 2004, will be listed down as one of the biggest retention blunders the game has seen.
Thurston desperately wanted to stay, shedding tears in the Belmore carpark when told he was going to leave.
In 2017, Thurston is the greatest rugby league player in the game. The Bulldogs attempted to lure him back to Belmore in 2013, however, he stayed in Townsville.
If Johnathan Thurston had left the Cowboys, North Queensland and the game of rugby league would've been robbed of so many great memories and moments.
The Bulldogs club can only sit here and wonder 'what if'.
Tyson Frizell barely made his name in the Cronulla Sharks. He transferred over to Kogarah and hasn't looked back since.
Frizell has established himself as one of the best back-rowers the Dragon's club ever had. Frizell has performed at Origin level and made his Australia debut.
The Cronulla Sharks decided that releasing Frizell was the way to go, to make way for veteran Luke Lewis. The Shire would love to have Frizell back, to compliment an already strong forward-pack.
Gavin Cooper joined the Gold Coast Titans almost a decade ago from the Cowboys. He enjoyed his stint, however, moved back up north to the club he made his debut at.
Since his departure, Cooper had made his Queensland debut, his Australian debut, and won the Premiership in 2015 with the Cowboys. He also captained the Cowboys into the 2017 Grand Final.
Cooper's experience is one that the Titans would cherish. They need some experience to mentor their young players and haven't found the suitable player yet, however, Cooper fits the bill.
The Titans would love to have Cooper back, but it's too little too late as he's built a Cowboys dynasty in North-Queensland.
Clinton Gutherson was playing for New South Wales under 20's during his time with Manly. The club saw him as a long-term player.
When Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur was the assistant coach at Manly, he built a strong relationship with Gutherson leading to Arthur signing him for the 2016 season and beyond.
While 2016 was a rocks and diamonds season for Clint, in 2017 after a strong pre-season, he had a stand-out year despite it being cut-short to injury. If Gutherson would've played on to season's end, he could've been a contender for the Dally M Medal.
Manly need Gutherson's strike power, and they will be filthy with themselves for not doing enough to keep Clint in the Northern Beaches.
He enjoyed success at Melbourne winning a premiership, before making a move to Gold Coast this year, which hasn't been successful. After being appointed as captain, an off-field incident led to a lengthy ban.
Melbourne have a number of young players coming through the system, as possible replacements for Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, and Cameron Smith.
Proctor's experience, as a New Zealand International, would be one that Melbourne would cherish most.
Melbourne have still remained at the top, despite Proctor's departure, but would surely benefit if Proctor decides to head South back to Victoria.
Darius Boyd linked up with Newcastle in 2012 after Wayne Bennett was appointed the head coach. In his three year stint with the Knights, we saw Boyd play through adversity, facing issues on and off the field. When in full-flight Boyd impressed the Knights-faithful.
A move in 2015 to Broncos, saw Boyd revive his career, and succeed with the Brisbane club he's always known. It's no secret that the Knights have had fullback problems since Boyd's departure.
The fullback vacancy was filled by Dane Gagai, Nathan Ross, Kurt Gidley, and Jake Mamo.
Although the Knight's would love the ball-playing fullback back in the Hunter, they've got Connor Watson and Kalyn Ponga joining their ranks for next season, in what will be a new-look Knights outfit.
The Northern Queensland club were devastated to find out that their premiership-winning prop James Tamou signed a deal with the Penrith Panthers, to be closer to his family.
The experienced prop has had a tough year with the Penrith side, however without a doubt his experience is worth the pay cheque. Tamou's Australian and NSW representative experience would be valued by any team.
The Cowboys have had front-row problems all season, opting with John Asiata and Scott Bolton to fill the vacancy, left by the departure of Tamou and the injury of veteran Matt Scott.
The Cowboys would love to have Tamou back in Townsville, to mentor their young forwards, Corey Jensen, and Jason Taumalolo.
Nathan Peats was squeezed out of Parramatta after they breached the salary cap. The call to release Peats was a controversial one, as at the time, Peats was one of their best players.
Peats since joined Gold Coast Titans, where he has felt at home, on and off the field.
Peats made his New South Wales debut, impressing many spectators, who doubted the No. 9.
The Eels haven't had a permanent hooker since his departure with Isaac De Gois, Kaysa Pritchard and Cameron King all having stints in the jersey. They would love to have Nathan Peats back in the West, to add further talent to this already great team.
In one of the most biggest headlines in the 2012 season, it was revealed that Lewis was released from his Panthers contract after Phil Gould opted for him to look elsewhere. Coach Ivan Cleary stripped his captaincy away from him in Round 10, with his position at the club looking unstable.
After over a decade at the foot of the mountain, Lewis joined the Cronulla Sharks with only one intention, to win the premiership, and so he did. He won the Clive Churchill medal in the historic 14-12 victory over the Melbourne Storm.
It seems as though the more he ages, the better he gets. The Penrith Panthers would be pinching themselves, seeing what they had let go, succeed in the Shire.
The Penrith club would love to have the 34-year old back, to add experience to the squad, that has many young forwards.
Keary burst onto the scene for Souths in 2013, then lead the Redfern club to premiership glory. A couple of lacklustre years for the then 24-year old, saw him offloaded to a rival club.
Since, Luke Keary has been a revelation at the Sydney Roosters, almost leading the tri-colours to the big dance. Souths, on the other hand, have had ongoing issues with their five-eight position. For most of the year, Cody Walker had filled the void. However, in the long-run, is Walker the suitable option?
Souths couldn't even string ten wins together, is it a fair credit to Walker who couldn't help his under-performing Bunnies side. Souths need a overhaul in their halves stocks, Reynolds who has been in and out through injury needs a consistent partner who can lead from the front, on and off the field.
With Luke Keary returning to South Sydney, in the form he's in now, Souths would have a lethal halves partnership that could trouble the NRL.
The flying winger epitomises what it means to be apart of the Red V. The veteran winger grew up in Kiama, and remarkably scored 112 tries from 169 games for the merged club.
Since, Brett Morris has suffered several setbacks through injury, however impressed with every opportunity he was handed. We saw him score seven tries in three games last year when he returned from injury for the Bulldogs.
We're all aware of what the representative winger is capable of, and without a doubt the Wollongong-based club wouldn't hesitate to lure Morris back to their club. They have lacked quality wingers, opting with the much criticised Nene McDonald and Jason Nightingale.
The class and experience of Brett Morris, who already spent more than a decade with the club, would be one that the Dragons would value.
It's not a fair reflection to blame the departure of Russell Packer on the New Zealand Warriors, however despite his off-field dramas, Packer would be a great signing for the New Zealand club.
He played under Ivan Cleary, and he was clearly the next big thing. A grand final, then a tragic off-field incident which ultimately saw Packer depart Warriors and the NRL. The prop did his time and then signed with the Dragons, before signing with the Wests Tigers for next season.
When many discuss New Zealand's problems, they narrow it down to two things, self-belief, and the lacklustre forward pack. The return of Russell Packer would add much needed grunt to the Warrior's forward pack which hasn't been all that exciting.
The notorious Sonny Bill Williams joined the Sydney Roosters in 2013, after years absent from the game. He received backlash for his decision to walk out on the Bulldogs in 2008, however soon after, Williams ensured he silenced the critics.
A couple of great seasons, saw Williams walk the Grand Final victory lap. He departed the game, to continue his ongoing journey, playing Rugby Union.
The influence of Sonny Bill Williams on the Rooster's side was worth the pay cheque. Teammates spoke of high regard when talking about the part-time boxer. He changed his teammates lifestyle, and vision of life, for they credited him for the premiership win.
Roosters have since struggled with players in the No. 12 jersey. But with rumours suggesting that Williams is a possibility to return for the tri-colours in 2019, that problem could be solved.
The Roosters would empty their pockets to have Williams at Bondi, after seeing his influence on and off the field. He's an incredibly gifted athlete, and an even better mentor off the field.
When Adam Blair transferred over to Leichhardt from Melbourne, it was not only a change of environment, but also a change of lifestyle. He under-performed whilst playing for Tigers under Tim Sheens, despite captaining them in 2012.
He was regarded as one of the greatest Tigers signing, can we not forget how rich his deal was? The Tigers obviously would've expected more from Blair, however a move to Brisbane would see him restart his career.
We all sat by and watched Blair's development and growth as a player, into a leader. He's been a huge factor of Brisbane's success in the last couple of years, recently signing another rich four-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors.
Despite, recruiting Ben Matulino and Russell Packer for 2018, Wests could do with another experienced forward who could help the merged club climb up the ladder. A new and improved Blair would be one that Tigers would need, and utilise.
Wests Tigers would be pinching themselves for not giving him another chance, or perhapsLeichhardt wasn't the ideal location for Blair.