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.
Newcastle Knights
Current 2027 squad
Matt Arthur, Bradman Best, Dylan Brown, Mat Croker, Phoenix Crossland, Lachlan Crouch, Peter Hola, Cody Hopwood, Fletcher Hunt, Matthew Hunter, Asu Kepaoa, Dylan Lucas, Jermaine McEwen, Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Pasami Saulo, James Schiller, Fletcher Sharpe, Wil Sullivan, Dominic Young
Current 2027 best 17
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Fletcher Hunt
3. Bradman Best
4. James Schiller
5. Dominic Young
6. Fletcher Sharpe
7. Dylan Brown
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Matt Arthur
10. Pasami Saulo
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Jermaine McEwen
13. Mat Croker
Interchange
14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Cody Hopwood
16. Peter Hola
17. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Not in 17: Lachlan Crouch, Matthew Hunter, Asu Kepaoa, Wil Sullivan
Off-contract players
End of 2025: Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Mason Teague
End of 2026: Taj Annan (club option), Thomas Cant, Jack Cogger, Wilson De Courcey, Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai, Tyson Gamble, Brodie Jones, Francis Manuleleua (club option), Greg Marzhew
What needs doing
The Knights already have a stunning 21 players signed for 2027, leaving them with little in the way of wiggle room when it comes to a new coach looking to shape the squad to his own liking.
This is rugby league, and plenty can happen. You wouldn't put money on Kalyn Ponga being there at the start of next year, let alone the following one, but the Knights will need to do plenty if they want to change their underperforming squad, who will likely only just avoid the wooden spoon in 2025.
The fact that the currently off-contract group at the end of 2025, led by Adam Elliott and Jackson Hastings, will all be let go frees up some money.
Most of that will be claimed by the arrival of Dylan Brown from the Parramatta Eels, but the Knights are confident it's a step in the right direction, salary cap and roster balance-wise, given they also let go of Daniel Saifiti to the Dolphins prior to the 2025 season commencing.
Of the players off-contract at the end of 2026, they may be able to sit on their hands for a while.
Tyson Frizell and Dane Gagai might have been pursued straight away five years ago, but it's unclear whether either will play on beyond the end of 2026 now, while Greg Marzhew is the best of the rest.
The lack of pressure, other than potentially creating some roster spots for a new coach, will allow the Knights to ease their way towards November 1 and then begin formulating a plan on how they want to utilise their remaining nine spots for 2027.
Expect to see them hit the open market in a big way.
Sharks also have the (perennially injured) Kade Dykes off contract at the end of 2025