The South Sydney Rabbitohs enter the new free agency period with a roster that is already burning a hole in the pocket from the top heavy contracts.
All of Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Keaon Koloamatangi, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Tevita Tatola, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton have either re-signed, or joined, on big money.
That is going to leave the Rabbitohs next to no wiggle room, and, if reports are to be believed, that could be about to become even tougher with Jai Arrow closing on a new deal.
Where money will come from for players outside the club is unclear, but what is clear is that the Rabbitohs can't be totally comfortable at this stage with the bones of the squad they have put together for 2025.
Players ageing, and others in spots without the runs on the board to suggest they should be the number one option will leave coach Jason Demetriou with plenty of work to do from November 1.
Zero Tackle run the rule over the South Sydney Rabbitohs November 1 targets as part of a series where we take a dive into every club's state of play for 2025.
Current squad for 2025
Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Siliva Havili, Jacob Host, Lachlan Ilias, Alex Johnston, Sean Keppie, Keaon Koloamatangi, Haizyn Mellars, Latrell Mitchell, Davvy Moale, Tyrone Munro, Cameron Murray, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Tevita Tatola, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton
Current best 17 for 2025
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Campbell Graham
4. Jack Wighton
5. Tyrone Munro
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damien Cook
10. Sean Keppie
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Jacob Host
13. Cameron Murray
14. Siliva Havili
15. Davvy Moale
16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
17. No player signed.
Players not in 17: Haizyn Mellars (wing),
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Jai Arrow, Thomas Burgess, Michael Chee-Kam, Jye Gray, Dean Hawkins, Josiah Karapani, Ben Lovett, Peter Mamouzelos, Taane Milne, Shaquai Mitchell, Isaiah Tass, Leon Te Hau, Izaac Thompson
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Rabbitohs could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
This could be a very difficult sell for the Rabbitohs, purely because they may not be able to match the financials that some other clubs will be able to throw the way of Saifiti.
But they need to make a play nonetheless and see if they can't talk him into heading to Redfern.
The end of 2024 is likely to spell the end of Thomas Burgess' time as an NRL player, and that means the Rabbitohs will have a whole lot of experience walking out the exit gates.
It also means they need a strong replacement in the front row to continue kicking and building that momentum they have done so well in recent times.
Saifiti hasn't been the most consistent player at the Knights, but when he is on, he is more than equal to anything his brother has been able to produce.
Ultimately, there is a reason Jacob Saifiti has been an Origin player, and with the lack of real top-tier props on the market, I expect plenty of clubs to make a play for him.
Even if the Rabbitohs do manage to sign Saifiti, there is a fairly strong argument to be made that one prop being an addition to their 2025 side won't be enough.
The second prop doesn't neccessarily need to be starting quality, but would need to be able to handle himself at NRL level.
That's where Michael Molo comes in.
He is yet to cement a spot in the Dragons' side, although it feels like he could get a lot closer to doing just that under Shane Flanagan's first season as coach.
Despite that, he is off-contract at the end of this campaign, and arguably, has shown more potential, and actual on-field results matters of fact in recent times, than his brother Francis who has played for Queensland.
Michael would come to any club that chase him, and I suspect there could be a few. He is one the Dragons need to lock up in a hurry.
It is incredibly difficult to see the Rabbitohs being able to re-sign Peter Mamouzelos at the end of 2024.
If they fail to - and it'll be all down to Damien Cook playing until the end of 2025, as well as the blanket refusal from coach Jason Demetriou to give him playing time off the bench - then the club are going to need a back-up option, but also someone who can take over when Cook finally elects to hang up the boots ahead of the 2026 campaign.
There are very few dummy halves who are about to hit the open market that fit that description, but international debutant Gordon Chan Kum Tong is one of them.
He has fast become a cult hero at the Sea Eagles following his NRL debut, but the club might well have a battle on their hands to retain his services once the clock ticks over to November 1.
A crafty number one with a good eye for the game, it's very realistic that Manly have also identified him as their long-term number nine.
Expect this to be one of the battles of free agency this campaign given the lack of up and coming dummy halves on the market.
The Rabbitohs might be sold on Jack Wighton playing in the centres for the next two years, and they might not be, but either way, they need an insurance policy.
Euan Aitken is far better than an insurance policy of course and would push for a starting spot in his own right if he made the move to South Sydney, but of all the players on the market with the ability to play on the edge, Aitken fits the bill for South Sydney more than any other.
The bottom line is that Wighton played minutes in the centres for the Raiders before his departure from the club and frankly, struggled.
That is not going to get any better in the years to come as age catches up with him, and his best role in actuality might be one through the middle third of the park where he can have more influence and hands on the footy.
That would open up a centre spot, and Aitken would suddenly become a must sign for South Sydney.
Whether the Rabbitohs need a second-rower might depend on whether they are able to lock up the likes of Jai Arrow, but even then, you could argue he has become more and more of a middle third in recent times, and the Rabbitohs should be chasing an edge forward regardless.
At the present time, their depth for 2025 on the edge is skinny, and Jacob Host is yet to cement himself as a starter at the club, despite the numerous good games he has had.
That said, the Rabbitohs could do a lot worse than looking across town at their arch rivals and swooping over there.
Sitili Tupouniua was a cemented starter at the Roosters prior to his season-ending injury early in 2023, but it's that injury which could well reduce the number on his next contract.
At his best, he is an excellent ball runner, reads the game well and can make some bone crunching tackles. His defensive reads at times aren't up there with the best, but the positives far outweigh the negatives in his scouting report.