For literally months now we have heard speculation in the Hunter that Daniel Saifiti may be secretly being shopped to other clubs.
With the club's sensational late-season run, the talk seemed to go away. Perhaps a "isn't broken, don't fix it" mentality?
Now that the season has ended though, the rumours have seemingly been turned up to eleven, with the Origin prop again linked with a move.
With Newcastle potentially looking to move him on, below are five alternate, and likely destinations for the monster prop:
I'm very much on record as saying that the Sharks are an Origin-level prop short of a genuine crack at anything worthwhile.
They don't have an obvious pack leader. Toby Rudolf is a strong option as your second prop while the likes of Hamlin-Uele, Finucane, Hunt and Kaufusi all seem way too similar.
The Sharks should be the first team on the phone should Saifiti become available.
He immediately walks into the Sharks starting line-up as their pack leader and improves their engine room.
The only issue here could be lack of cap space. The Sharks went in big in upgrading all of their off-contract stars.
They are seemingly actively trying to move Matt Moylan on while Connor Tracey is constantly being linked with a move with regular First Grade in mind.
While Jesse Colquhoun presents as a magnificent prospect, he is still a year or two away. He also lacks that pure size that Saifiti would bring.
I would be shocked if the Sharks aren't in this discussion.
If they're not, I would be hugely disappointed after seeing the pack dominated routinely at the business end of the season.
It is no secret that the Dogs are in the market for pretty much any player in any position.
Having lost Tevita Pangai Jr and Luke Thompson, suddenly the stocks in the middle are looking a little lite on.
Saifiti is exactly the kind of player they need to bring in. I dare say he's a little more consistent than the other two he would effectively be replacing.
Gus Gould has shown no hesitation in opening the chequebook to quickly reshape the squad for Cameron Ciraldo.
Some of his signings haven't made sense to the outsider, but I'm sure he and Ciraldo have a plan.
A Saifiti signing would make the world and sense and go a long way to securing the middle for the Dogs. A middle that they seem lose far more often than not.
Given the amount of spending they've enjoyed, coupled with two rep forwards leaving, you'd have to imagine the money is there.
If the Dogs go all in, I can't really seeing anyone matching what they can offer in a salary capacity.
Whether or not Saifiti would be willing to move to Sydney to a rebuilding side is another question altogether.
It was reported that the Roosters were about to sign Luke Thompson, indicating that the Chooks are in the market for a middle man.
Saifiti could fall right into their laps.
Without making the obvious joke, the Roosters always seem to find cap space to sign the players they want. Saifiti would surely be no different.
With Angus Crichton seemingly on his way to the 15 man code, Saifiti shapes as a straight swap, albeit in a different capacity.
With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sitting at 34 year's of age, surely there has to be a look to the future. Daniel Saifiti, at 27, fits that bill perfectly.
The only thing holding the Roosters back here is the emergence of Terrell May, Naufahu Whyte and Siua Wong.
For the cap space you'd have to lay out for Saifiti, you could arguably re-sign two of the aforementioned.
That is a very serious decision to weigh up as I have a feeling all three are headed for a huge and very bright future.
The Dragons will be linked with every off contract player for the next season-or-so. Rightfully so too.
Daniel Saifiti is a player the Dragons should be all in on.
Blake Lawrie played a lone hand in the middle far too often in 2023. He sure could use some help making metres and making tackles.
Ben Hunt and the incoming Kyle Flanagan need a far superior platform laid by their big men this season. A repeat of 2023 will surely lead to yet another bottom half finish.
I can't see cap space being an issue. I don't know where that Dragons side could even approach the cap. If they are under stress, players can be moved on en mass.
A starting middle of Saifiti and Lawrie looks far more intimidating than any combination the Dragons ran out in 2023.
The Dragons need two things right now. Ben Hunt to commit to the club and a big name signing to get fans excited for, hopefully a brighter future.
My worry is that the Dragons will overpay for bit-part players out of necessity but a signing of Saifiti's quality immediately sends a positive message.
Despite another top four finish, the Storm had a very disappointing Finals campaign.
They were battered by the Broncos, scraped past the depleted Roosters and then were played off the park by the Panthers.
Up front, they were comprehensively handled.
For the undoubted intimidation Nelson Asofa-Solomona brings, he is hardly predictable. He can turn up and be the best player on the mark or a liability.
The Storm's forward stocks were gutted by the Dolphins. They need to replenish.
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Adding Saifiti to a NAS, Welch and Tui Kamikamica engine room would be a huge positive. His experience, size and calm head would all be big pluses.
Craig Bellamy has made a career out of dragging the very best out of his new recruits.
Can you imagine what he could do with a rep quality prop such as Daniel Saifiti!?