It is becoming clear that Canterbury Bulldogs forward Josh Curran will not be at the club beyond the end of his current contract.
The forward, who was one an outsider for the State of Origin selection discussion during his time at the New Zealand Warriors, can play in the middle or on the edge, and moved to Belmore ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Now with 106 NRL games under his belt, his role actively seemed to go backwards at Belmore during 2026, and with a host of young forwards both in the middle and on the edge pushing through the system, there is a good chance the club simply won't have the capacity or need to extend his contract.
The four-time Indigenous All Star is talented and experienced though, so will likely have no shortage of suitors on the open market should he look that way for 2027.
Here are the most likely landing spots for the forward.
2. St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons have made it abundantly clear that, despite a strong crop of emerging talent in the forwards, they are still targeting a few experienced faces for 2027.
That emerging talent is across both their middle third and edge.
Dylan Egan, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, the Couchman brothers and Hamish Stewart, as well as Jacob Halangahu and Nick Tsougranis, are the names who immediately come to mind.
There is little doubt that if the Dragons can retain that nucleus for the coming years, they will be in a strong spot.
But they need players to help shape and guide that talent on the tricky road forward that is an NRL career.
It's little wonder they have been in the mix for both Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Keaon Koloamatangi, but Curran's versatility and work rate would make him a great signing without the seven-figure price tag.
