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.

4. Sydney Roosters

The Sydney Roosters are a club linked to every major star coming off-contract, and while they have plenty of faith in their youngsters on the edge, the club are also yet to replace the rugby union-bound Angus Crichton.

It has to be said Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi have done a brilliant job this year, but the club could still look for an upgrade.

Wong, contracted through to the end of 2028, has become a permanent part of Robinson's side, while the same can be said of Foketi in recent times due to Crichton's injury.

The money freed up by Crichton leaving, as well as the belief the Roosters still haven't properly replaced all the money going out the door in recent years, leaves them with a significant chance of being able to land a marquee signing in the coming months.

Just maybe, it's Nanai.

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