It may be September, and the final round of the NRL regular season, but clubs are still shaping their rosters for 2025 and beyond.
More-so than ever we are seeing players either request releases or be tapped on the shoulder.
This week the name being bandied about in the media is that of Newcastle Knights middle Adam Elliott.
Elliott, arguably having a career best season, is reportedly being shopped as the Knights attempt to balance their books and allocate funds elsewhere.
While they seem to be struggling to move on Daniel Saifiti, at an inflated cap hit, I don't believe they'll have any issues moving Elliott on, if needed.
Below are five potential landing destinations for a player sure to be in demand:
What a story this would be. The forgotten son returns to the capital to the place where he ... played ok.
With the greatest of respects to Elliott's former stint in green, he would return a much more complete player and a massively reformed one.
Eliott's off field antics seem a thing of the past while his playing style has also matured.
With Elliott Whitehead retiring and Corey Horsburgh set for an exit, the Raiders are crying out for recruits in the engine room.
Elliott would offer a ball playing option they lack right now, while bringing a big body in the middle to help Tapine and co.
I'm not going to stand here and claim to have intimate knowledge of the Raiders salary cap position but just by looking at the comings and goings, surely there is room here.
Horsburgh and Elliott look as close to a straight swap as possible, money-wise, while I'd say Elliott would present an upgrade at current in terms of ability.
There is a lot to like here.
Reports were that the Dolphins were set to add Daniel Saifiti to the ranks until his $800,000 salary became an issue.
With Newcastle unwilling to tip in what the Dolphins requested for Saifiti, perhaps Elliott's name could come up from both sides.
Elliott wouldn't be on the $800,000 and while he wouldn't come with the Origin pedigree of Saifiti, the trade off would be more than worth it.
Jesse Bromwich is retiring, Jarrod Wallace and Tevita Pangai Jr are heading to heading and Euan Aitken is following Wayne Bennett to Souths.
Adding Finefeuiaki and Elliott to the ranks would add some youth and size they need considering the losses.
Again, I haven't studied the positioning of the Dolphins cap situation, but if they were in for Saifiti, there's every chance they'd be in for Elliott.
He's a different option but with Tom Gilbert set to return in 2025, they could form one monster one-two punch in the middle.
The Tigers are going to be linked to every off contract player for many years to come. Elliott though is a link I could seriously see happening.
They've lost Stefano Utoikamanu and Isaiah Papali'i from their already thin forward stocks.
David Klemmer is actively being shopped and although they've added Royce Hunt, there is a lack of creativity there.
Elliott would walk into the Tigers starting side. I'd be looking at him in a ball playing lock role.
The Tigers have some brilliant youngsters coming through, especially in the second row, but they need a pack leader to step in and lead the way.
They're linked to Jack Bird but I'd be putting those talks aside and having a chat with Adam Elliott right away.
The Tigers have recruited well, with two Premiership players en route, but they're still lacking up front. Elliott's signing would add size and talent right away.
The Roosters are losing literal millions of dollars of talent come the end of the season.
Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are all exiting the club at the end of the year.
Brandon Smith's ACL injury means they'll be down another rep option in the middle.
I'd argue no team needs Adam Elliott more than the Roosters.
Make no mistake, this side is still stacked, even once they lose the aforementioned players. That said, they're going to run out of troops at some stage.
Truthfully I'm shocked that the Roosters haven't been more active in the player market. Surely they have the cap space to make a major move or two!
Despite being big spenders though, you can't really accuse the Roosters of panic buying.
Maybe it was a case of waiting for the right player to become available?
I'm here to suggest that Adam Elliott is the right player and he looks to be available.
This is, by far, the most "if this happens..." option here, but hear me out.
The Sharks currently have Jack Williams off contract. I had expected his contract to be extended in the pre-season.
For whatever reason, it hasn't been done.
There are links to Canberra but the feeling all year is that it was just a matter of time.
Well, it's not September and there is no deal done.
Perhaps the Sharks were looking for another option in the middle?
Perhaps the Sharks know they have a host of up and down forwards who run hard, but no one who can really shake things up with the ball like Adam Elliott can?
I'm just saying that the longer we go without Jack Williams putting pen to paper, the more we will speculate.
Elliott would fit into this Sharks side with ease, although he'd more than likely have to be willing to come off the bench.