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.
New Zealand Warriors
Current 2027 squad
Mitchell Barnett, Jett Cleary, Erin Clark, Wayde Egan, Kayliss Fatialofa, James Fisher-Harris, Jackson Ford, Morgan Gannon, Leka Halasima, Samuel Healey, Jacob Laban, Ali Leiataua, Jye Linnane, Haizyn Mellars, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Motu Pasikala, Adam Pompey, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga, Jett Cleary
Current 2027 best 17
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Haizyn Mellars
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Motu Pasikala
6. Jye Linnane
7. Jett Cleary
8. Mitchell Barnett
9. Wayde Egan
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Leka Halasima
12. Morgan Gannon
13. Erin Clark
Interchange
14. Samuel Healey
15. Jackson Ford
16. Jacob Laban
17. Demitric Vaimauga
Not in 17: Kayliss Fatialofa, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off-contract players
End of 2025: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tanah Boyd (mutual option), Morgan Harper, Chanel Harris-Tavita (mutual option)
End of 2026: Rocco Berry, Kurt Capewell, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (mutual option), Kahu Capper (club option)
What needs doing
The Warriors are looking relatively solid heading towards the 2027 free agency window.
You'd argue their most immediate concern is Luke Metcalf and their halves.
While the forwards look relatively stable for the foreseeable future, Luke Metcalf is off-contract at the end of 2026, and both Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita have mutual options in their deal for 2026, let alone being signed beyond that.
Te Maire Martin is also off-contract at the end of 2026.
Metcalf was in stunning form before he went down with an ACL injury, and it does appear he is the future of the club's number seven jersey.
The Warriors do find themselves in a tricky spot given their options, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak also having a mutual option for 2027, otherwise set to be off-contract at the end of 2026.
They will also need to wait for decisions on the future from Kurt Capewell and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Capewell is at the back-end of his career, while Tuivasa-Sheck has openly admitted that he could be tempted with a switch back to rugby union when the Saudi Arabian-backed Rugby 360 competition begins.
Most of the other players off-contract at the end of 2026, the Warriors can afford to be patient on. In the case of Rocco Berry, they will be waiting to see, no doubt, whether he can string some games together without injury, while Marata Niukore is the other name who will be able to hit free agency on November 1 as it stands right now.
Sharks also have the (perennially injured) Kade Dykes off contract at the end of 2025