The Parramatta Eels will head to this year's edition of the November 1 free agency opening window with less questions than most clubs, although, also less answers.
The key answer for the Eels is why 2023 went as badly as it did. Coming off a grand final appearance in 2022, anything less than a top eight finish in 2023 was always going to be a dismal failure for the team in blue and gold, but that's exactly where the season ended up.
That has left Brad Arthur scrambling for answers and likely under plenty of pressure oif another similar campaign is to transpire in 2024.
Ultimately, there isn't many waves he is going to be able to make on the transfer market either. Parramatta already have 21 players locked in for 2025, and not a great deal of wiggle room on the salary cap given the amount of money they have invested into the likes of Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo and Ryan Matterson.
But there are some pressing needs they must attend to, mostly in the backline, and more importantly in the way they do their business.
Current squad for 2025
Dylan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Bryce Cartwright, Matt Doorey, Haze Dunster, Wiremu Greig, Clint Gutherson, Brendan Hands, Morgan Harper, J'maine Hopgood, Shaun Lane, Joey Lussick, Toni Mataele, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Moses, Joe Ofahengaue, Junior Paulo, Will Penisini, Sean Russell, Maika Sivo, Kelma Tuilagi
Current best 17 for 2025
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Sean Russell
3. Morgan Harper
4. Will Penisini
5. Maika Sivo
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Brendan Hands
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Ryan Matterson
13. J'maine Hopgood
14. Joey Lussick
15. Bryce Cartwright
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Wiremu Greig
Players not in 17: Matt Doorey, Haze Dunster, Toni Mataele, Kelma Tuilagi
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Daejarn Asi, Makahesi Makatoa, Jirah Momoisea, Ofahiki Ogden, Ky Rodwell, Bailey Simonsson, Blaize Talagi (player option)
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Eels could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
It's fairly clear that the jury is out on Parramatta's centres and wingers. While Maika Sivo and Will Penisini would just about walk into the starting side of any other side in the competition, the other two spots - one centre and one winger - are debatably up for grabs.
No one within Parramatta's squad has put their hand up to cement the spot, although youngsters Haze Dunster and Sean Russell continue on contract into 2025 and will be fighting hard.
Morgan Harper, who has played reasonably enough if he wasn't tasked with tackling Siosifa Talakai during his time at the Sea Eagles, will also be there.
But that still leaves the need for more depth, and frankly, a player who will put pressure on those players to stand up and play at a higher level.
Enter Taylan May.
He is about to return from an ACL injury at the Panthers and will switch into the centres. His hard-running, fast footwork and ability in defence should make the transition a smooth one.
Ultimately, his ability to play at both centre and wing could leave him a pretty handy target for much of the competition, which might bump his price well beyond what Parramatta can afford... but he is one they should be looking at.
On the topic of backs who can line up in multiple positions, but also backs who may not be worth quite as much on the salary cap, Tesi Niu would be a great option if May becomes too expensive or unavailable by signing elsewhere.
I'm fully expecting the Dolphins to try and lock Niu up, and frankly, in a hurry, but that doesn't mean they will.
Niu, who began his career at the Broncos, wasn't set to be a major player for the Dolphins in their inaugural season, but proved his versatility, spending a lot of time on the wing, finding the tryline regularly and improving his defence out of sight after the legendary mentorship of Wayne Bennett.
That doesn't mean he is suddenly the best winger in the competition, but he has made his mark, and with the ability and desire to be playing either centre or fullback - two positions he may not get much time in at Redcliffe - a move elsewhere could be on the cards.
Parramatta have often reportedly expressed their desire for an X-Factor player who can play fullback, potentially taking some heat off Clint Gutherson.
Niu can do that and more, and could be a very good option for Arthur's recruitment team.
Such is the need for outside backs at the Eels to put competition on for spots, I'm not sure one will do it. While they won't sign both of May and Niu, they could add Junior Tupou from the Tigers to whichever one they do sign, if they indeed go down this path to address an issue.
Tupou is more of an out and out winger, but has been impressive in a desperately poor Wests Tigers team throughout the bulk of his short career to date.
He knows how to find the tryline, defends well, and frankly, would be well ahead of Russell or Dunster for a spot in the side based on the efforts in a career to date.
He isn't going to be the gun walk up starter, but he would be a fantastic depth option who has proven he can handle himself at NRL level in a struggling side. That would make him even more dangerous at the Eels, and the added advantage of course is that he would come very cheaply.
Moving away from the outside backs, and it's fairly easy to suggest Parramatta might need some re-enforcements in the middle third after their disappointing 2023 campaign.
Both Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo are excellent and would walk into almost any other side in the competition, while J'maine Hopgood also had a (for the most part) splendid 2023 campaign following his switch from the Penrith Panthers.
But Tevaga brings more than just his middle third abilities.
He can also play dummy half.
That's not to say Joey Lussick and Brendan Hands won't be able to handle things as a combination going forward, but the idea of a third option who can serve another role within the team is about as important as it gets in the modern game.
Tevaga, outside of his versatility, is tough as nails and experienced. He would be excellent for some of Parramatta's juniors in the mentoring department, and brings more than enough off his own bat in the middle third to toughen the Eels right up after they struggled in patches doing just that in 2023.
Outside of an experienced forward to improve things on the defensive front for Brad Arthur's side, a prop who can add a mountain of impact in limited minutes might be the other requirement.
That said, Wiremu Greig started to slot into that role quite nicely in 2023 as he improved his fitness and NRL experience.
But, it goes without saying the jury is still out, and it goes without saying the Eels could do with another one.
They don't need a big minutes player on the bench, because both Paulo and Campbell-Gillard do that from the starting side.
What they actually need is a player to come off the bench, smash everyone in sight and hold things down with momentum while the starting props have their break.
Hamlin-Uele is just that. Run hard, tackle hard, and don't take big minutes to have significant output. He'd be a great signing for a number of clubs.