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
As we hit November 1, there is little doubt the Dragons need to find themselves re-enforcements in the halves, at both five-eighth and halfback.
There are three top-line five-eighths coming off-contract, being Jarome Luai, Ezra Mam and Tom Dearden.
Any of those options would realistically suit the Dragons just fine, but what they need more than anything is the experience of a winning culture joining the club.
Luai, for all his off-field antics, brings just that with him. He has played an enormous role in the Penrith system over the last four years, which has resulted in four grand finals and three premierships.
Those who call Luai a passenger or Nathan Cleary's sidekick within that side simply don't get it though - Luai is an excellent club level player, even if he hasn't been able to carry that across to the Origin arena.
His running game is a real strength, and whether it's partnering Ben Hunt or not, the Dragons must move mountains to sign Luai.
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.
The Dragons need a star in the backline. That goes without saying.
They have plenty of questions to answer as it stands - the Feagai brothers, both Mat and Max, are off-contract at the end of 2024, while Tyrell Sloan is also up for grabs to rival clubs.
But none of those players currently at the struggling joint-venture should be anywhere near the priority. Instead, it must be bringing in a player of Joseph Manu's calibre.
Whether he has any inclination to leave the Roosters is another thing - all reports suggest the Roosters are confident of retaining him, but the fact they haven't been able to do so prior to the November 1 deadline means there could be a real search of the open market for the star.
We know Manu wants to be playing fullback or five-eighth. It's not something he is going to do at the Roosters anytime soon, but he could have his pick of the positions at the Dragons.
Watch this space.
Speaking of Roosters players, the Dragons need forwards. That goes without saying as well to be perfectly honest. The Dragons struggled enormously to gain metres and defend in 2023, with their forwards regularly being chewed up by opposition packs.
But coming into the November 1 signing period, the Red V have the chance to make waves on the market and bring in plenty of new faces.
One of the targets should be Nat Butcher.
He might be yet to debut in the State of Origin arena, but the forward, who can play on the edge or in the middle was in the discussion last year and is sure to be again in 2024.
He brings versatility, but also agility, speed and aggression. He is one of the Roosters' most important players, and while the talk is that he is about to put pen to paper on a new deal at Bondi, November 1 has now ticked over, so rival clubs must make a play.
While Butcher is more suited to a role on the edge than in the middle, there is also no doubt the Dragons need to turn around and snap up a few handy middle third players.
There are few targets with experience worth the time of day coming off-contract at the end of 2024. Jacob Saifiti is certainly one of them, and it wouldn't surprise to see the Dragons have a play for him either.
But Rudolf is the guy the Dragons need.
Agile and fast-footed, he has an offload and a passing game at the line that allows him to become an extra playmaker. He defends strongly too, and will come out of Craig Fitzgibbon's fitness regime that has seen him increase his minutes and overall production.
The Dragons are one of a host of clubs I expect to be in with a play for Rudolf.