November 1 is less than four months away, with teams around the competition already well into forward planning over what their squad will look like for years to come.
Inevitably, November 1 is the day that will draw the most attention, with players off-contract at the end of the following year able to begin negotiating with rival clubs from then.
While some clubs hold off on making decisions as they weigh up a player's future, there are some players off-contract at the end of 2027 who will receive multiple offers - and big ones - if they are not re-signed by their current club before they can negotiate.
That situation is even trickier heading into next year given the PNG Chiefs enter the competition in 2028, and while they have already managed a handful of signings are various loopholes, most of their squad - and tax-free salary cap - will be available to be spent from November 1.
As it stands, here is the player every club in the NRL must lock down before we tick on into November.
St George Illawarra Dragons: Toby Couchman
There has been plenty made of the Dragons' future, which will be led by an excellent crop of young forwards on the way through the system.
The best of those, on NRL evidence right now, is Toby Couchman. He, his brother Ryan, Jacob Halangahu and Loko Pasifiki Tonga are all off-contract at the end of 2027.
There is next to no doubt the Dragons will want to re-sign all four, but if they are prioritising one, it's Toby Couchman.
His performances this year have grown almost week on week, and it would appear he has all the tools to be a future Origin player.
Currently off-contract at end of 2027: Hayden Buchanan, Ryan Couchman, Toby Couchman, David Fale, Kyle Flanagan, Clint Gutherson, Jacob Halangahu, Valentine Holmes, Josh Kerr, Lyhkan King-Togia, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Cryus Stanley-Traill, Moses Suli, Nick Tsougranis, Setu Tu
