Papua New Guinea will become Team 18 in the NRL at the start of the 2028 season, and while they can't sign anyone for the next 24 months unless there are rule changes, attention will quickly turn to the off-contract market.
There has already been talk that rule changes - allowing the PNG players to sign players before November 1, 2026 - could be enacted.
They weren't for the Dolphins when they joined the competition in 2023, and the NRL came under plenty of criticism as the 17th outfit attempted to build a competitive team for their first season in existence.
Already, financial incentives have been confirmed for players, coaches and administration staff who sign on with the team, allowing them to pay no tax on their income.
Zero Tackle will have a full squad builder article on site in the coming days based on the current situation of contracts and local players.
In the meantime, here are the top five options, in no specific order, that should be on the Papua New Guinea team's wishlist from Day 1 of their initial recruitment run.
2. Corey Horsburgh (Canberra Raiders)
Big Red.
It has been a slightly wild last year or so for Corey Horsburgh at the Canberra Raiders.
In 2023, he had turned into one of the best middle forwards in the competition. In 2024, that went out the window as injuries and suspensions hampered his progress.
At one point, he had requested a release from the Raiders and had been believed to have met with a number of rival clubs, only for that to be shut down by a dramatic about-face as he elected to stay in Canberra.
He is on contract with the Raiders until the end of 2027, and when the PNG side goes looking for some aggression to start their life in the NRL, Horsburgh should be one of the players on the list to chase.
The trouble with signing a player 12 months out is that in those 12 months he may lose form, succumb to a long-term injury, or just grow old.
Signing two years out will exacerbate those uncertainties. Increasing that further, and it will just be a crap-shoot what the players are going to be like when they eventually rock up at the new club.