Christmas has come and gone, the Boxing Day sales saw the shops as busy as they are all year, and the New Year is just around the corner.
That also means the return of rugby league is closing in.
In just six weeks, the first pre-season trials will be underway, and not too long after that, it will be off to Las Vegas to open another campaign.
A handful of big names have switched clubs for 2026, and are, of course, hogging most of the pre-season bandwidth, but there are plenty of signings who will add value to their teams without breaking the bank.
Here are the top ten.
7. Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm)
If there is a player on this list yet to recognise his potential at all, it's Davvy Moale,
Clearly falling out of favour at the Rabbitohs, he was granted permission to negotiate his future for 2027 early and signed with Manly, before being released to go to the Storm on a one-year loan deal.
The move from Melbourne comes at a time when they need reinforcements in the engine room, and Moale could take his game to a new level under the coaching of Craig Bellamy.
You only need to look at the improvement of Stefano Utoikamanu in 2025 after his move from the Wests Tigers - and others over the years - to understand what Bellamy can do for players.
Moale's year in Victoria could be the best decision of his career, and it would surprise if he doesn't play at a level well above what he is going to be paid.
