The 2026 NRL season isn't just another year; it feels like a crossroads.

With Adam Reynolds already confirming his departure, attention turns to a group of veterans whose futures are far less certain.

Contracts are expiring. Bodies are slowing. And in some cases, the game itself is moving on.

Only one of these men has secured a premiership ring, but their impact and success cannot simply be defined or measured by this singular achievement.

These aren't just experienced players; they're club-defining figures. And for each of them, 2026 shapes as more than a season. It might be the last time we see them put on the boots.

2. Josh Papalii: Canberra Raiders

We've heard it before, but this time, it might actually stick.

Josh Papalii has flirted with retirement in the past, only to come back stronger. Last year, he even rewrote his own ending, returning to Origin and leading Queensland to a series win many didn't see coming.

But that felt like a farewell tour.

Now 33, the Raiders' most-capped player has nothing left to prove. A one-club legend, a leader, and a tone-setter, Papalii has already authored one of the great Canberra careers.

And after helping deliver a historic minor premiership, 2026 could finally be the chapter where he closes the book for good.