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.
7. Jake Trbojevic: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
This one feels less like a choice—and more like a question of how long the game will let him continue.
Jake Trbojevic has always been the heart of Manly. The effort player. The leader. The one teammates rally around.
But the conversation has shifted.
Concussions, repeated head knocks, and the growing awareness of long-term brain injury have put his future under a microscope. Three concussions in a single season is more than bad luck—it's a warning.
Even as he searches for solutions, including specialised headgear, the reality looms: some decisions are bigger than football.
If 2026 is his last, it won't just be about form or contracts. It'll be about health and knowing when to walk away on your own terms.
