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?
2. Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has trashed rumours linking his joint-venture side to Folau, despite the narrative that he is the only named coach to have spoken with the outside back.
“No, we're not signing him,” Marshall said on Friday.
“I don't talk about recruitment publicly, but that's the furthest thing from my mind right now.
“I've seen there have been a lot of reports out there, but I need to get my team back on track. I need to focus on what's important right now, and that's us getting a performance we need this weekend, so I'm not even going to go down that path.”
But there is a world where it makes sense.
The Tigers are slowly getting their injured troops back, so there isn't much of an issue there, but the back five has been a bit of a revolving door at times this year for Marshall.
They have often paid the price after losses, indicating the coach is not all that confident in the players who are running out there.
Folau may not be the answer, but it's not hard to connect the dots.
