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.
Manly Sea Eagles
Current 2027 squad
Josh Aloiai, Luke Brooks, Ethan Bullemor, Clayton Faulalo, Jamal Fogarty, Hugo Hart, Lehi Hopoate, Caleb Navale, Haumole Olakau'atu, Taniela Paseka, Jason Saab, Ben Trbojevic, Corey Waddell, Joey Walsh, Onitoni Large, Navren Willett
Current 2027 best 17
1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Navren Willett
3. Clayton Faulalo
4. No player signed
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Taniela Paseka
9. No player signed.
10. Ethan Bullemor
11. Ben Trbojevic
12. Haumole Olakau'atu
13. Caleb Navale
Interchange
14. Joey Walsh
15. Hugo Hart
16. Josh Aloiai
17. Corey Waddell
Not in 17: Onitoni Large
End of 2025: Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Matthew Lodge (player option), Dean Matterson, Aaron Schoupp, Tommy Talau, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
End of 2026: Nathan Brown, Paul Bryan, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Tolutau Koula (player option), Simione Laiafi, Jake Simpkin, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Zaidas Muagututia
What needs doing
The biggest names who mainly need answers on are Tom Trbojevic and Tolutau Koula.
Currently, they are completely hamstrung in offering upgrades to other players or entering the open market on November 1, as they simply don't know where their salary cap will stand.
Jake and Tom Trbojevic have both been in the news lately, and while neither is likely to want to play against Manly, decisions need to be made for the good of the club's recruitment strategies, rather than actively stopping rivals from being able to launch a poaching raid on the brothers.
Tolutau Koula is the other big name currently without a deal for 2027, although all he has to do is accept a player option.
That seems unlikely on the surface, though.
The value of his contract last time he put pen to paper, you'd assume, is significantly smaller than what he would get if he signs a new one with any NRL club right now.
It probably means the Sea Eagles need to rip up the player option and offer a new deal without breaking the bank - something they'll struggle to get done.
Reuben Garrick is another player who has been in the headlines, with the outside back reportedly set to test the open market from November 1.
With none of the 2025 off-contract group standing out, Manly's effort should already be aiming towards taking players out of the clutches of rivals from November 1, with the likes of Paul Bryan, Jake Simpkin, Lachlan Croker, and Simione Laiafi also off-contract at the end of next season.
Sharks also have the (perennially injured) Kade Dykes off contract at the end of 2025