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.
Canberra Raiders: Hudson Young
Already an Origin player, Hudson Young is one of - if not the - most important players in Ricky Stuart's squad out of the national capital.
He has aggression, but has tempered his discipline in recent years to become something of a complete second-rower.
Now a club leader, Young's abilities at both ends of the park make him a standout on the field, and the type of player who will be a walk-up starter in representative sides for years to come.
It was reported some months ago that negotiations were underway to keep Young in Canberra, but news has gone quiet.
Canberra need to rectify that in a hurry, because while there is other talent coming off-contract at the end of 2027, Young is by far the best.
Currently off-contract at end of 2027: Jayden Brailey, Corey Horsburgh, Sebastian Kris, Myles Martin, Matty Nicholson, Ethan Sanders, Xavier Savage, Tom Starling, Joseph Tapine (player option), Hudson Young
