The NRL's "silly season" is nearing full swing.
In just over two months, every player off-contract at the end of 2026 will be able to negotiate with rival clubs.
The ever-changing landscape of NRL contracts, with players signing with rivals or negotiating with them, means that we could well see players changing clubs in November for 2027, despite a full season still to run on their current deals.
That is simply the nature of the beast.
We have run the rule over where every club stands ahead of November 1, their current 2027 squads, the players they need to lock up, and the players who are likely to hit the open market.
With the Perth Bears to enter the competition as well, hitting the open market with a blank cheque book and 30 spots to fill, it's going to be the biggest free agency scramble since the arrival of the Dolphins.
Here is the rundown for your club's needs over the next ten weeks.
You can use the drop-down menu to navigate by club.
North Queensland Cowboys
Current 2027 squad
Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Robert Derby, Scott Drinkwater, Coen Hess, Zac Laybutt, Heilum Luki, Reed Mahoney, Jeremiah Nanai, Jason Taumalolo, Viliami Vailea
Current 2027 best 17
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Robert Derby
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Viliami Vailea
5. No player signed.
6. No player signed.
7. Tom Dearden
8. Reuben Cotter
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Coen Hess
11. Heilum Luki
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14. No player signed.
15. No player signed.
16. No player signed.
17. No player signed.
Off-contract players
End of 2025: Harrison Edwards (club option), Jamal Shibasaki, Semi Valemei
End of 2026: John Bateman, Braidon Burns, Tom Chester, Jake Clifford, Zac Herdegen, Mason Kira, Kaiden Lahrs, Karl Lawton, Sam McIntyre, Thomas Mikaele (club option), Griffin Neame, Kai O'Donnell, Jaxson Paulo, Jaxon Purdue, Murray Taulagi
What needs doing
The Cowboys have an enormous number of players off-contract at the end of 2026 at this stage, and their run to November 1 may well be put on hold if there are genuine questions around whether Todd Payten will be coaching next year, let alone in 2027.
Assuming their coach situation, though, is as the club says publicly - that Payten isn't going anywhere - then they need to get cracking on contracts in a hurry.
Jaxon Purdue, rated by most as the future of the club, is probably the most pressing.
He will, make no mistake about it, be a target for the Perth Bears if he lands on November 1 still uncontracted.
Elsewhere, Queensland State of Origin winger Murray Taulagi is likely a player they want to secure before he can test the open market, as his value is expected to increase if he does.
The jury may still be out on the likes of John Bateman, Jake Clifford, Karl Lawton and Sam McIntyre, but they are all handy squad players who could do a job elsewhere.
Their young talent, outside of Purdue, is likely the other pressing need to secure for the Cowboys.
Those youngsters are going to become increasingly popular around the competition as values rise for players and the salary cap becomes even tighter with the addition of an 18th club (and then a 19th in 2028) arriving on the scene.
Zac Herdegen, Mason Kira and Kaiden Lahrs are the three the Cowboys will want to see remain in their colours, so deals being worked out there are imperative and time-sensitive.
Griffin Neame is another player the jury is out on, but his form this year, and at times his lack of selection in Payten's 17, suggests the Cowboys could be more than happy to see him leave.
Sharks also have the (perennially injured) Kade Dykes off contract at the end of 2025