Parramatta Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown will field offers for 2026 and beyond as he contemplates his future.
It's a major blow for the blue and gold, with their strategy of contract options yet again backfiring.
Brown will make a call on whether he is remaining with the Eels or not for the first of two player options included in his deal until the end of 2031 by the end of Round 10, but in the meantime, there will be plenty of conjecture following the New Zealand international around.
It's the last thing rookie coach Jason Ryles needs as he looks to turn Brad Arthur's old team into a finals team after they slumped to the wrong end of the table last year.
Described by his agent as a 'franchise player' in an email to all 16 other clubs, there will be plenty at least weighing up their options when it comes to making a play for Brown ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Here is where each rival NRL club is likely to sit in the chase for Brown.
2. Sydney Roosters
One club who do not have salary cap issues - contrary to popular belief - are the Sydney Roosters.
They have lost many players in the last 12 months, with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaalii and Terrell May along the all-star list of departures.
While there is a belief at Bondi that Sandon Smith could be the long-term answer at number six in combination with Sam Walker, who will miss the first half of 2025 with an ACL injury, Smith has arguably played his best rugby league in the number seven, or indeed at fullback, while progressing through reserve grade.
He has the talent to become an elite number six at NRL level, but 2026 is also shaping up as something of a moving year for the Roosters. Potentially the final of James Tedesco's career, and also marking the arrival of Reece Robson from the North Queensland Cowboys.
That's not to say Smith couldn't play a role, but the Roosters would be somewhat foolish to not at least investigate the prospect of adding Brown to their roster.
