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.
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Wayne Bennett is in an intriguing position at South Sydney, and Brown is the type of player he may well want to work with.
That alone is enough to justify a position like this on this list, but once you add to it some of the question marks surrounding South Sydney's halves, it would be unsurprising if they made a play for Brown.
While it's believed Jack Wighton is due to move into the five-eighth role from the start of 2026 should Cody Walker hang up his boots, the big question mark is around Lewis Dodd.
He is unproven at NRL level, and while some will tell you he is the best halfback in the world - probably a stretch if we are being honest - he will need to step up quickly from the level of the English Super League to compete at NRL level.
If it doesn't work, then it could see Walker and Wighton floated into the number seven jersey again, and the Rabbitohs seriously consider their options regarding making a play for Brown.
