Things are going from bad to worse for the St George Illawarra Dragons with Tuesday afternoon's revelation Loko Pasifki Tonga has put in a request to leave the club.
The rising star is rated as one of the best young forwards in the game, and with good reason.
His engine, leg drive and size gives him uncoachable attributes - attributes which have been clear throughout his progression.
The Dragons have a host of young forwards, but Pasifiki Tonga, who played for the NSW under 19 side two years ago and was part of St George's drought-breaking SG Ball Cup in the same year, has been rated as the best of them.
His numbers at reserve grade level have made it bewildering that he hasn't seen more than the ten games in the NRL he played last year, and maybe his release request - which came after what Zero Tackle believed to be weeks of disgruntlement - maybe doesn't come as a huge surprise.
Plenty of clubs are in needs of forwards immediately or otherwise in the long-term, and while it's unclear whether the Dragons will soften their stance and grant him an immediate out from the club, here are the likely contenders for his signature.
5. South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs do look a little short in the front line depth department.
Payne Haas arrives next year, but he will simply take over the jersey of Keaon Koloamatangi as he heads to the Dragons.
Beyond that, there is of course Tevita Tatola, but then things drop away quickly. There is no guarantee Jai Arrow will ever play again, while the likes of Sean Keppie, Liam Le Blanc and Lachlan Hubner are all in a fight for minutes in the middle third.
It's clear that Pasifiki Tonga probably wouldn't start at Maroubra, but he sure would be next cab off the rank and getting consistent minutes for Wayne Bennett's outfit.
And just quietly - a player of his potential being coached by Bennett. You do the maths.
It equals scary.
