The world of NRL contracts is a constantly evolving space, and while we are now more than four months into the 2027 recruitment window, there is little doubt the more than 130 players still off-contract at the end of the year will present plenty of storylines before the year is out.
While most eyes will focus on the top end of town, and the players who can change games immediately, there are also a whole host of younger players coming off-contract.
While young players have a track record of moving on too quickly at times, and not giving the system a chance to work, there is also no doubt that many are overlooked by coaches when they are ready for more minutes at the top end of town.
That is occurring again already in 2026, and with the Perth Bears to join the competition in 2027, there will be more spots on rosters, both in Top 30 squads and development lists, than ever before.
Here are the seven players who may well be set to switch clubs at the end of 2026 if they don't get more minutes from their current sides.
1. Heath Mason (Wests Tigers)
Mason, at 20 years of age, is in a tricky situation at the Wests Tigers, and whether he gets more minutes this year or not may be irrelevant to his future - although it would help.
At the moment, the best the fullback and half utility can probably expect is minutes off the bench.
There is no doubt Jahream Bula, Adam Doueihi and Jarome Luai have cemented themselves as the key players at fullback and in the halves.
But Mason is better than reserve grade, and has shown it over his 14 NRL matches to date. Last year, he was asked to play in the halves after Lachlan Galvin left the club mid-season, and did a tremendous job.
He is yet to feature this year at NRL level, and, surprisingly, played at centre for Western Suburbs in Round 2 of the NSW Cup, making eight tackle busts against the North Sydney Bears.
That could well be a little nod to how coach Benji Marshall plans to get him into first-grade, because if he doesn't, other clubs are going to come knocking for the prodigious talent.
