Free agency for 2027 is in full swing, and while players sort their futures, plenty of eyes have shuffled to Townsville where rising star Jaxon Purdue is among the off-contract list.
At just 20 years of age, Purdue has already well and truly made his mark as an NRL player, whether that be in the centres or at five-eighth.
A player with all the talent in the world, he will also likely spend some time at fullback if there are issues with Scott Drinkwater, or halfback if need be, and there is little doubt he will eventually be an Origin player one way or another.
If he finds form in the next two months, there is no reason the Mackay-born utility couldn't be in the mix for Billy Slater's six-man bench this season.
Off the field, it has appeared he will likely stay with the Cowboys, but there are no guarantees there. The Cowboys salary cap doesn't have the wiggle room that some others do, and with an expansion side looming, it will add more pressure on Todd Payten and his recruitment staff to retain Purdue.
Here are the other clubs around the competition that could make a play.
5. Manly Sea Eagles
What is fairly clear is that if Purdue moves to Sydney's Northern Beaches, it won't be as a half.
While Luke Brooks currently partners Jamal Fogarty, that situation will only last for as long as Kieran Foran - or whoever takes over - believes Joey Walsh isn't ready for first-grade.
That surely isn't all that far away, and if Brooks' form continues on the slippery slope it has been on, then it might well be rushed even quicker.
Manly probably aren't a club in a psotion to be making big contract decisions right now given they are unsure who the coach will be long-term, but Purdue is the type of player they should be chasing.
The skinny of the situation is Reuben Garrick leaves at the end of the year. Purdue is a ready-made replacement in the three-quarter line.
It's as simple as that.
