The St George Illawarra Dragons have more questions than you could poke a stick at as the clock ticks over to November 1.
The club currently have 16 players off-contract at the end of 2024 who can negotiate with rivals from today, and other questions over the future of captain Ben Hunt, who has requested a release ad-nauseum from the joint-venture.
That leaves Shane Flanagan with a tricky period ahead, but also one where he is going to be able to reshape the club as he sees fit given the number of spots available, and cash up the sleeve.
The Dragons must make a significant play - or plays - for a number of key players coming off-contract to rebuild the squad ahead of 2025.
In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every club's state of play for 2025, and the best targets they should be chasing from November 1.
Current squad for 2025
Jack Bird, Ryan Couchman, Toby Couchman, Dylan Egan, Sione Finau, Kyle Flanagan, Jacob Halangahu, Ben Hunt, Blake Lawrie, Jacob Liddle, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, Hame Sele, Hamish Stewart
Current best 17 for 2025
1. No player signed.
2. Mikaeale Ravalawa
3. Zac Lomax
4. No player signed.
5. Sione Finau
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Hame Sele
11. Dylan Egan
12. Jacob Halangahu
13. Jack Bird
14. No player signed.
15. Toby Couchman
16. Ryan Couchman
17. Hamish Stewart
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Talatau Amone, Josh Coric, Jack de Belin, Mathew Feagai, Max Feagai, Jaiyden Hunt, Francis Molo, Michael Molo, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Cody Ramsey, Jackson Shereb, Tyrell Sloan, Jaydn Su'A, Moses Suli, Savelio Tamale, Alec Tuitavake, Paul Turner
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Dragons could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
2. Jamal Fogarty
That all said, if I'm the Dragons, and Ben Hunt still wants to walk away from the club as 2024 rolls on, I'm letting him. Having your highest-paid player and captain forced to stay at the club won't be a good look or outcome for anybody involved in the joint-venture operation.
That would also however hinge on the Red V being able to sign a suitable replacement.
There are few on Hunt's level in the competition, let alone any on the open market, but Jamal Fogarty, if he was paired with a running five-eighth, would pose a fresh start for the Dragons, and more importantly, leave a fair chunk of Hunt's money in the kitty for other stars to come calling.
It would also allow the Dragons to have a longer-term plan in the number seven than they currently have with Hunt, whose contract expires at the end of 2025.
Whether the Dragons can find their way into signing Fogarty is another question - he may well have determined his future before the Dragons can work out whether they really want to release a Hunt.
