Former Origin middle Corey Horsburgh sent shockwaves through the NRL landscape by requesting a release from the Raiders this past week.
The 26 year-old firebrand has endured a horror season which has included injury, NSW Cup duties and a long suspension for a moment of madness.
That said, this is still a very capable footballer and one who should draw plenty of interest from across the competition.
With that said, below are five potential landing spots for Corey Horsburgh:
The Dragons are shaping as the most likely destination for the wantaway Canberra prop turn lock.
Shane Flanagan has overseen a massive rebuild and is years ahead of schedule. That said, a lot of the remaining issues for those in the Red V comes in their lack of punch in the middle.
Corey Horsburgh, at full flight, would instantly improve the Dragons engine room.
Shane Flanagan is a coach who leans heavily on discipline and accountability. That probably sounds ironic considering his past, but no one has taken more accountability than Flanagan himself.
Horsburgh needs a coach like Flanagan.
Truthfully it looks like Ricky Stuart doesn't have the patience for Horsburgh. I don't blame him for a second. He has a side that should be capable of contention. He doesn't need the distraction.
Meanwhile, Flanagan is looking to add the final pieces to the puzzle of a side returning to Finals football.
Horsburgh shapes as key to that.
Again, it'll take a fully fit, focused and firing Horsburgh. I genuinely believe Flanagan is the man to bring that out of Big Red.
The Dolphins are losing a stack of experience, and bodies at the end of the season.
Jesse Bromwich is retiring at year's end while Tevita Pangai Jr looks as though he's Redfern bound. Unfortunately Tom Flegler's short-term career is in severe doubt.
This leaves the competition's new boys relying on second rowers turn middles.
No team on this list needs an Origin level prop/lock in their ranks more than the Dolphins.
There are some super, young talents on the Dolphins roster, but they need a pack leader. Horsburgh could be that pack leader, in the right situation.
Trusting his career to a rookie coach, Kristian Woolf in this case, is a big risk but it certainly provides Horsburgh with a big opportunity.
Horsburgh has the size, aggression and runs on the board to walk into the Dolphins lineup and become a big time player.
Whether or not he has the temperament for such a situation is the big question.
The Cowboys are a side that could welcome the QLD representative with open arms.
Jason Taumalolo (31) and Jordan McLean (32) are both solid options but neither are near the players they were at their peak. Griffin Neame looks a talent but no one else on the roster has the upside of Horsburgh.
The Cowboys are in a spot where they're one or two players away from a genuine tilt at the top four and maybe more.
Risks need to be taken.
Horsburgh is a risk. He has only himself to blame for that, but we've seen him prove he can be a genuine game-changer.
I have no idea of the Cowboys cap situation, but they have seen Chad Townsend exit and are open to the idea of letting Valentine Holmes walk.
You'd have to imagine that there is either money there or will be very soon.
Horsburgh may or may not be on the radar, but he should be.
There are talks that the Eels are shopping Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Junior Paulo was even linked with the exit at one point.
Jason Ryles needs a squad refresh. Ryles and the Eels desperately need some aggression in the pack.
That would arrive in spades in the form of Corey Horsburgh.
There's a very easy like-for-like switch here in RCG or Matterson for Horsburgh. I think Stuart would take either option at this stage.
I'm not sure how they work it out salary cap-wise, but there's always a way.
Horsburgh needs a fresh start, Ryles needs some new blood, and the Eels need a reason to think 2025 will be different.
2024 Horsburgh won't provide that excitement, but the form of the firebrand from years gone by certainly fits the build.
It may be a tough sell to Eels fans but Jason Ryles will be looking for go forward, not social media popularity.
The fact that Wayne Bennett is all but confirmed to be bringing Tevita Pangai Jr to the Bunnies with him next year shows that he is not averse to taking risks.
Thomas Burgess is heading back to England at year's end while the Souths middle have been routinely rolled in 2024.
Tevita Tatola will return in 2025, while the addition of TPJ and Davvy Moale looks a real prospect.
The addition of Corey Horsburgh would form a fearsome middle rotation.
Especially with Cam Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi in there at lock or out wide.
Souths have landed a halfback for next year and will welcome back Campbell Graham. His centre combination with Jack Wighton is frightening.
If Bennett is able to add the fearsome presence of Big Red to the forward pack, Souths could be anything.
Horsburgh needs an experienced coach like Bennett.
Whether or not Souths need Horsburgh is debatable but that could be a match made in heaven, if everything goes to plan.