North Queensland Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai recently indicated he was going to hit the open market on November 1 in a bid to find out his value.

It's a major blow for the Cowboys, who would have been keeping a player who has become one of the game's elite second-rowers, particularly at the attacking end.

While there are question marks around Nanai's defence - a familiar theme around the Cowboys - there is little doubt about what he brings in attack, both in terms of his standard running game, and his ability in the air.

His attacking record, ability to try score tries, and create havoc for opposition defences will almost certainly have opposition teams sit up and take notice.

When you cast the eye over the way rugby league is going, it's all about points and being able to score.

That is true too in the second-row. The game's elite are no longer defensive weapons, but rather, players like Hudson Young, Jacob Preston and Manly wrecking ball Haumole Olakau'atu.

It means Nanai will be hot property, and with the rising salary cap, it's not hard to see him fetching seven figures if teams turn a blind eye to his defensive issues.

Even with those, he likely wouldn't miss the seven-figure mark by that far.

Should he decide to up sticks and leave the Cowboys, then these are the clubs who will be in the mix for his signature for the 2028 season and beyond.

5. Cronulla Sharks

If you listen to the noise coming out of the Sharks, the winds of change have arrived in the Shire.

It's going to be a slow process given how many of their squad have been locked in long-term, but it's something that is starting this year, with the club saying goodbye to Cameron McInnes and a host of others.

At the end of 2027, both Briton Nikora and Teig Wilton are off-contract, leaving big questions about how Cronulla will deal with it.

Wilton has already indicated that, like Nanai, he is going to attack November 1, while Nikora's future is clouded.

In short, there could well be a spot available in the Shire for Nanai, although money will likely be tight.

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