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.

3. Cody Walker: South Sydney Rabbitohs

Some players fade. Cody Walker refuses to.

At 36, he's still the spark in South Sydney's spine. The instinctive playmaker who sees things others don't. But the question isn't talent. It's time.

Injuries have crept in, particularly over the last two seasons, and while Walker insists this has been his best preseason yet, the reality is unavoidable: how much longer can his body keep up with his vision?

There's one thing missing—a premiership.

If South Sydney makes a run this year, it wouldn't just be a fairytale. It would feel like destiny. And for Walker, it could be the perfect moment to walk away.