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.
1. Lachlan Lam (Leigh Leopards)
We will finish this list with another Papua New Guinea-eligible (even if not born there) player Lachlan Lam.
He is currently plying his trade in the English Super League with Leigh, where he has been based since the start of 2022.
Before that, the now 26-year-old played 31 games with the Sydney Roosters to commence his career between 2019 and 2021.
Where this gets exceptionally intriguing is around his father. Adrian Lam is coaching Leigh, and could well be on the list of candidates to take the inaugural role when this team joins the competition.
You could almost bet if they want Adrian, they will have to sign Lachlan as well.
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.