The reports this week that Israel Folau was first in talks with the Wests Tigers, then had three or four interested clubs, came as one of the bigger rugby league shocks of the year.
There is no doubting the talent of Folau at his prime.
Maybe one of the most gifted athletes the sport has ever seen, the outside back scored 36 tries in 52 games for the Melbourne Storm, and another 37 in 39 games for the Brisbane Broncos before departing for the AFL at the end of 2010 as a marquee recruit for the GWS Giants as the sport looked to establish a stronghold in Western Sydney.
That two-year stint was an abject failure, but his time in rugby union afterwards between 2013 and 2019 wasn't, with the fullback, wing and centre scoring 60 tries in 96 games for the Waratahs, and 37 in 73 Tests for the Wallabies.
Controversy followed the end of his time in rugby union, and while he then had a short stint with Catalans and Japanese rugby, it was thought Folau's professional sporting career - now at the age of 37 - was done and dusted.
But reports he is looking for an NRL opportunity are a shock.
The thing is though, from a club's point of view, it could be almost a risk-free punt on a guy who played five State of Origins for Queensland and eight Test matches for Australia by the time he left the NRL at the age of 21.
A train and trial deal doesn't cost a club a roster spot, it doesn't cost a heap of money, and could provide some back-up if he works out starting in the NSW Cup.
If it doesn't, then there is nothing lost, they cut ties at the end of the year and move on in their own respective directions.
So, which clubs could conceivably be in the mix for Folau?
5. Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have been one of the 2026 campaign's biggest disappointments - of that there is no doubt.
The blue and white, a side who should have kept improving from last year's top four finish, have slumped in a big way.
There will be plenty of reasons given, but the truth is, all of them have played some part. From their spine, to their forwards, to their attack. It has been an unmitigated disaster when their season is viewed in its totality.
Their outside backs have also struggled though, and with Jonathan Sua and Marcelo Montoya unlikely to be at the club beyond the end of the year, and the Bulldogs current outside back stocks raising plenty of questions in terms of who should be selected - and not for good reasons - they could well take a risk-free punt on Folau.
