The Penrith Panthers will face one of the more intriguing free agency periods when the deadline for players off-contract at the end of 2024 to negotiate with over clubs ticks over on November 1.
While the bulk of their key players from the last three premierships are locked up, there are others that are going to be very difficult to retain.
Jarome Luai could be chief among them, with reports suggesting he could attract a million dollars per season or more on the open market. In the backs, young gun Sunia Turuva is off-contract, as is Taylan May, while the man rated as a future club captain in Mitch Kenny is another who is yet to be locked up.
That could spark alarm bells at the foot of the mountains, although alarm bells around contracts are not something that regularly keeps Penrith fans and their administrators up at night given the ridiculous talent production that continues out of their local juniors each year.
But there are enough situations and potential headaches at Penrith this year that suggest they will need to dip a toe in the water during November, even if that is for players at the bottom end of their salary cap.
In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every club in the game and identifying the five targets they'd love to have from the November 1 deadline.
Current squad for 2025
Nathan Cleary, Jack Cole, Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris, Mavrik Geyer, Liam Henry, Moses Leota, Soni Luke, Liam Martin, Jesse McLean, Brad Schneider, Lindsay Smith, Scott Sorensen, Izack Tago, Brian To'o, Isaah Yeo
Current best 17 for 2025
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Jesse McLean
3. Izack Tago
4. No player signed.
5. Brian To'o
6. Jack Cole
7. Nathan Cleary
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Soni Luke
10. Moses Leota
11. Liam Martin
12. Scott Sorensen
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Brad Schneider
15. Mavrik Geyer
16. Liam Henry
17. Lindsay Smith
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Paul Alamoti, Matthew Eisenhuth, Luke Garner, Zac Hosking, Mitch Kenny, Daine Laurie, Ativalu Lisati, Jarome Luai, Taylan May, Tyrone Peachey, Sunia Turuva
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Panthers could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
From the outside looking in, it appears more and more unlikely that the Panthers will be able to make any sort of deal enticing enough for Jarome Luai to remain at the foot of the mountains from the start of the 2025 campaign.
That means the club could be left scrambling for a new five-eighth with enough experience to fill the void.
The experience factor is important here because otherwise, Jack Cole would be more than ready to slot in and take over where he'd partner Nathan Cleary.
But given he has seemingly been looked over for the first reserve spot again in 2024 - Brad Schneider and Daine Laurie have both been signed by the reigning premiers as insurance policies - it seems unlikely he will have enough runs on the board to put his hand up for the six jersey in 2025.
Given his abilities to play multiple positions, a slow integration to first-grade off the bench seems the more likely option.
Instead though, Penrith may look to sign someone like Adam Doueihi for a cheap price early in the window. Doueihi's value is going to be undoubtedly down given the amount of time he has spent out injured, which means Penrith could make this a no-nonsense, no-risk signing.
Even if Luai does re-sign, Doueihi could easily shift to play in the centres. If Luai doesn't, well, Penrith have a ready made replacement ready to go.
The Panthers aren't generally in the business of breaking the bank for a veteran from outside the club, but this might be a time where they have to splurge a little on a one-year deal.
There is little doubt Daniel Tupou is in the back-end of his career, and yet, of every player off-contract at the end of 2024, he fits into Penrith's game plan more than any other.
This becomes a moot point if the Panthers have more faith in Jesse McLean, or if Sunia Turuva elects to re-sign, but both questions have the jury still out.
Turuva in particular - it would be a major surprise if a number of clubs don't go after him.
But the Panthers, if they don't manage to go into 2025 confident in their wingers, could swoop on Tupou. He won't come all that expensively, but fits in by way of his running metres.
He is one of the hardest-working wingers in the competition, which we know Penrith have become famous for. Both Turuva and Brian To'o were in the top ten for all running metres during the 2023 campaign.
The issue if they were to go with Daniel Tupou of course though is the salary cap problem. Penrith simply don't, and won't, have a lot of wiggle room.
So instead of Tupou, they may need to fire as much as they can at Turuva, and then play for a lower-priced option who can put the pressure on for spots.
Mathew Feagai would fit that mold nicely.
He has been solid in his first-grade appearances for the Dragons, particularly early on when he ran the ball strongly and was regularly crossing the 150-metre barrier.
Maybe equally as importantly is his versatility out wide. He, like his brother Max, is a centre by training, but has fit in nicely on the wing for the Dragons.
If the Panthers elect to go for a cheaper option in the halves - and potentially more reliable in staying on the field - than Adam Doueihi, then a player like Luke Metcalf could fit right in.
He has the ability to play either the six or seven importantly, meaning whichever options Penrith have in back up would be able to fit in if it was Nathan Cleary who needed replacing.
More importantly, Metcalf would complement Cleary's game like a glove. He runs the ball, has dazzling footwork, and a high rugby league IQ, but doesn't take over.
He has proven that playing alongside Shaun Johnson in 2023. The perfect complement for a star halfback.
It's something Penrith will desperately need to take into consideration if they do wind up needing to replace Luai - the type of player they sign must complement Cleary.
Metcalf wouldn't have a problem in that department.
If Ivan Cleary's side are going to sign any forwards, it will undoubtedly need to be on the cheap given the nature of their excessively stretched salary cap.
That's not to say Jackson Ford is the cheapest going around, but he gives a lot more output to a team than what he'd be playing for.
His next deal, wherever that may be, will see an upgrade, but I tend to think the Warriors will wind up doing themselves a disservice by not locking up this signature prior to November 1.
It could even be that they have tried, and Ford wants to return to Australia.
That is all speculation of course, but Ford has been excellent for Andrew Webster's side following his exit from the Dragons. A hard-hitting, powerful forward, he has previously shown talent in both the middle and on the edge, and would be a great option for the Panthers.