More than four months removed from November 1, there are still 136 NRL currently Top 30 contracted NRL players without a club to call home for 2027.
The Perth Bears still have more than half of their inaugural Top 30 to fill, and most clubs are in need of players, whether re-signed or otherwise, to complete their look and feel for 2027.
When you run the rule over the list of players who remain off-contract at the end of 2026, there is still a mountain of talent available.
Taking into account the likely value to a rival club - age, talent and potential included (for example, Cody Walker has been left out as he approaches the end of his career) - here are the Top 20 players to remain without a contract for 2027.
Click here for the full list of off-contract players at the end of 2026
Siua Wong was originally named in this list, however, it has since emerged he has re-signed with the Roosters during the off-season.
13. Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
Smithies joined the NRL from the Wigan Warriors ahead of the 2024 season, and has made a real difference for the Canberra Raiders across his two years in lime green to date.
Off-contract at the end of 2026, the 25-year-old has upside and likely more improvement left to offer the NRL.
His contract situation has been an intriguing one to follow, with a new deal between the Raiders and forward semeingly done months ago, only for the Raiders to come out and put a New Year timeline on it, and things to go quiet since.
Smithies, it would seem, is still most likely to remain in Canberra, but his ranking on a list like this isn't unearned. He is good enough to make a difference on a number of sides around the competition, and the delay on signing means there could be a few interested.
Could Perth lure him across the country? Not out of the question, you would think.
























Some interesting reading there, particularly in the way you have rated them.
I wouldn’t have expected Purdue to be #1, or Taulagi at #4
To me it’s all about potential upside… What does a player provide over the terms of their next deal. Can’t see too many doing more than Purdue on this list.