The North Queensland Cowboys have more players coming off-contract at the end of the 2024 NRL season than most others as we approach November 1, and have a lot of work to do on the roster front.
While Todd Payten's troops from Townsville endured through a disappointing 2023 season in attempting to back up their 2022 and may be looking to hold out to see if 2024 starts any better.
But the issue that, as it stands, 16 players are abou to become free agents to negotiate with rivals, and a number of them - most namely Tom Dearden - will be targetted by opposition outfits.
While the Cowboys are confident of retaining Dearden, it's unclear who they want to retain out of the rest, and there could be some retirements inbound as well, further complicating matters.
In this series Zero Tackle are running the rule over all 17 of the NRL's clubs and what they will be looking to do from November 1.
Current squad for 2025
Reuben Cotter, Scott Drinkwater, Tom Duffy, Jack Gosiewski, Valentine Holmes, Luciano Leilua, Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai, Griffin Neame, Reece Robson, Murray Taulagi, Jason Taumalolo, Viliami Vailea
Current best 17 for 2025
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Viliami Vailea
5. No player signed.
6. No player signed.
7. Tom Duffy
8. Griffin Neame
9. Reece Robson
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Jeremiah Nanai
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. No player signed.
15. Jack Gosiewski
16. Heiulum Luki
17. No player signed.
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Emarly Bitungane, Tom Chester, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden, Robert Derby, Kyle Feldt, Jake Granville, Coen Hess, Zac Laybutt, Sam McIntyre, Mia Pua'avase, Jamal Shibasaki, Wil Sullivan, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Chad Townsend, Semi Valemei
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Cowboys could target for 2025 and beyond.
One thing that became more and more clear as 2023 went on was that the Cowboys had issues in their edge defence - big ones.
A large part of that was down to the speed of the players defending, outside a rushing Jeremiah Nanai. With Nanai constantly making errors, it left Chad Townsend, Peta Hiku and Kyle Feldt to make up for things, that they simply couldn't do at the same level as they had done during the previous 12 months.
In attack, that side also struggled in various elements of the game.
Hiku has now exited, and both Townsend and Feldt come off-contract at the end of 2024. It's unclear if either wants to keep playing beyond that either.
It goes without saying however that the Cowboys need new talent in their outside backs, and Moses Suli could be something of a game-breaker for them if they can land his signature.
The powerful centre had a mixed 2023, but at his best, is among the best in the game and holds his own in defence. It's unclear whether he has any interest staying at the Dragons, but the Cowboys are one of a number of clubs who should be queueing up.
Sticking with the outside backs, and it's hard to justify any reason why the Cowboys shouldn't be making a play for Canberra Raiders winger Nick Cotric.
We have already touched on this within the series, but Cotric's age, at just 24, means he is actually entering his prime, and the talent he actually has is a lot more than he has been able to show in the last year or two.
Injuries and a failed stint at the Bulldogs haven't helped the winger who can also line up in the centres, but it must be noted he was a New South Wales Blues representative at one point.
That didn't happen by accident.
Powerful and knowing how to find the tryline, Cotric will also improve that edge defence that became such a worry for Todd Payten and his side last season.
The Raiders probably won't let Cotric go without a fight, but there are plenty of clubs who should be making a play here.
The Cowboys are reasonably well stocked in the forwards for 2025, particularly on the edge where Heilum Luki, Luciano Leilua and Jeremiah Nanai are all already re-signed.
In the middle, Jason Taumalolo's never-ending contract continues, and Griffin Neame should continue to improve to cement a starting spot over the coming 12 months.
Reuben Cotter is also signed, while I expect youngster Jamal Shibasaki to break through into first grade shortly.
But that doesn't mean they don't need re-enforcements, and the solidness of Max King could speak to the Cowboys who struggled in defence last year.
While their middle third was solid enough at both ends of the park, Jordan McLean is likely to retire at the end of 2024, and his experience, and defensive effort will be tough to replace.
King, if he has proven anything, has a will to make tackles and put in for his teammates. That is the sort of attitude the Cowboys need, so don't be surprised if they make a play for the forward who can play at either lock or prop and would make a great option either off the bench or starting.
While Chad Townsend had an excellent first season in Cowboys' colours, 2023 saw him hit the skids, unable to help the Cowboys back into the top eight.
His kicking game is still solid, but outside of that, he doesn't offer a great deal to the Cowboys.
North Queensland's great hope for the future is Tom Duffy, but it's a big risk putting such a high responsibility on an, as of yet, unproven rookie.
That may change in 2024, and it may have to as well with there being few halfbacks worth the Cowboys' time on the open market.
In fact, the only one they might find it worth making a play at is Jamal Fogarty, who has reportedly gone back and forth on whether he wants to stay in the nation's capital with the Canberra Raiders.
If he elects to leave, and given the lack of talent on the market, he could well sign a deal worth plenty, and if the Cowboys aren't sold on Duffy, then they must make a play for Fogarty.
In targetting a halfback, we are also assuming the Cowboys will win the race to re-sign Tom Dearden.
Back to the outside backs to finish for the Cowboys, and this time it's one of the game's brightest young talentes in Cronulla Sharks back Kayal Iro.
Able to play at centre, wing and fullback, Iro is an exciting prospect, who, according to all reports, will be on the way out of the Shire at some point in the next 12 months, if not earlier, given his lack of playing time in first-grade.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon will likely get a chance to rectify that this coming campaign if the Sharks don't release Iro, but there is no guarantee he won't have signed elsewhere by the time Round 1 rolls around, such is the ceiling of his talent and the number of clubs who would likely be interested.
The Cowboys simply must be one of those. Even if they re-sign a handful of players coming off-contract, their depth in the backs is going to be skinny, and the versatility of Iro being able to play three positions makes him a must-have for a number of clubs.
The biggest roadblock for the Townsville-based side might be just that - that they are based in Townsville. If it isn't though, they should be putting a big number on the contract offer to lock this signature up.