The top TEN NRL players without a contract for 2027

The year might be just a week away from ticking into August, but there are still plenty of players without a deal for 2027. Zero Tackle's NRL squad tracker currently has 121 spots available for 2027, and that means there are a host of players still to sort out their futures. We look at the top ten left available on the open market with plenty of clubs still on the lookout for talent to complete their rosters. A handful of players, like Daly Cherry-Evans who has an option at the Roosters, and Josh Papalii who will either retire or head to the English Super League, have been excluded. See every player without a contract for 2027 here. Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels) Paulo is widely expected to sign with the Perth Bears for 2027 and 2028 as he sees out the end of his career, but for now, he still doesn't have a deal locked in. A veteran of the middle third in the NRL, the prop leaving the Eels - if that is indeed the way he goes - will leave a big hole for the men from Western Sydney to fill. A spiritual leader of any team he plays in, he is a very good chance of becoming the Perth Bears' first skipper if he does head across the country. Sam Verrills (Gold Coast Titans) One of the more curious cases floating around this contract window is that of Sam Verrills at the Gold Coast Titans. Him falling out of favour at the Robina-based club may have come as something of a surprise originally, but it certainly isn't now given the immense form of Oliver Pascoe. What that all means is Verrills is looking for a new club to call home. At one stage, the Perth Bears seemed a no-brainer, but they have now signed Tyson Smoothy as he prepares for an NRL return, so it's unclear where Verrills will land. He was spotted during Magic Round in talks with Canterbury Bulldogs director of football Phil Gould, but nothing has eventuated there. Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels) Parramatta feature for a second time on this list with Will Penisini still off-contract at the end of 2026. A talented centre who maybe hasn't quite hit his potential in the NRL yet, he still has plenty to offer. If we had to guess, we'd expect the Eels aren't keen on letting him go, particularly with Sean Russell locked in to join the Perth Bears for their inaugural tilt at the competition. But for now, Penisini remains uncontracted. Watch this space. Luciano Leilua (St George Illawarra Dragons) Leilua has made it fairly clear he is not remaining at the St George Illawarra Dragons beyond the end of this year, and it's obvious the club have very little need for him. If there is one thing the Dragons have in spades, it's young forwards, with Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, Ryan Couchman and Jacob Halangahu as well as emerging talent Cyrus Stanley-Traill all able to play on the edge. With big money going to new recruits, and needing to be saved for upgrades of the young forwards, Leilua leaving was a no-brainer. He has been linked to both the Brisbane Broncos, who are desperate for second-rowers, and the Super League, but for now, no deal has been confirmed. Jamie Humphreys (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Jamie Humphreys became the highest profile player to backflip in a number of years recently when his contract with the Perth Bears which was reportedly all done bar the announcement was axed. It leaves Humphreys on the open market, and one of the best to be left there for 2027 and beyond. The Rabbitohs, in an ideal world, may want to keep Humphreys, but they are a club with a stretched salary cap and unclear idea on Latrell Mitchell's future at the moment, seeing them pause all negotiations recently. Humphreys seems at long odds to stay at the Rabbitohs, but just maybe, a club like the Canterbury Bulldogs will come knocking. He must have something lined up to snub the Bears. Expect an announcement sooner rather than later. Billy Walters (Brisbane Broncos) Billy Walters appears to be going back and forth with the Broncos over whether he will stay at the club, what his role would be, and what he is really worth. The bottom line is he may be surplus to needs at Red Hill. The Broncos have too many dummy halves, and not enough salary to justify a serious play for Walters if other clubs come knocking. As it stands, Walters wants to remain in Brisbane, but a desire to do something isn't always how it works. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters) Daniel Tupou is off-contract at the end of this year and currently deciding whether to add another year to his career or not. Trent Robinson confirmed this week that there hasn't been much in the way of contact yet, but that a decision is expected sooner rather than later. As it stands, Tupou has also reportedly suggested he would be willing to leave the NRL and join a club in England if he wants to play on and the Roosters don't come to the table. Given they are losing Mark Nawaqanitawase though, it's tough to see the tri-colours wanting to lose both of those guys in the same year. If Tupou plays on, it's a fair guess it will be at Bondi Junction. Shawn Blore (Melbourne Storm) Shawn Blore has been a likely candidate to leave Melbourne since late last year when it emerged he may have been feeling homesick. He has been able to negotiate with rival outfits since November 1 and is yet to put pen to paper. It was reported not all that long ago that the Wests Tigers, his former club, and the St George Illawarra Dragons were interested in Blore. But then it emerged he had toured facilities in Brisbane. That would fly in the face of the homesick argument, but there is little doubt the Broncos need second-row depth and re-enforcements. Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Cody Walker may be approaching the end of his career, but if you listen to those in the know including coach Wayne Bennett, he still has a year left. It's unlikely he will ever play against the Rabbitohs, but you just never know in the business that is the NRL. The club are working through whether to offer him an extension or not at the moment, with Ashton Ward their likely halfback next year, and Walker easily grabbing the five-eighth role if he stays on. It's a big if though. Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys) Murray Taulagi will depart the North Queensland Cowboys at the end of the year with a deal that was on the table from the club taken off it owing to the amount of time he was using to make a call on his future. The Cowboys winger being off-contract has allowed the Sydney Roosters to become his most likely new home, although at this stage, there has still been no announcement from either club. The Origin player will make the outside backs of any club he lands at better, and there is an obvious need at Bondi Junction with Mark Nawaqanitawase heading to rugby union at the end of the year, and Daniel Tupou currently weighing up whether he will play on.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	PEN	18	14	4	34	284
2	SYD	18	13	5	32	85
3	NZW	18	12	6	30	190
4	CRO	18	12	6	30	161
5	DOL	18	11	7	28	84
6	SOU	18	10	8	26	78
7	NEW	19	11	8	26	36
8	NQL	19	11	8	26	-28

The top TEN NRL players without a contract for 2027

Who will snap up these players?

8. Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)

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