As soon as the clock strikes midnight on October 31st into November 1st, a plethora of NRL talent becomes fair game.
Names such as Joseph Tapine, David Fifita and Cameron Munster will have clubs lining up for their services as they are allowed to discuss terms for 2024 and beyond.
Another player who will have no shortage of clubs interested in his services is Cowboys and Queensland second rower Jeremiah Nanai.
Having signed just the one-year extension back in April, he is eligible to talk to opposition clubs on November 1st for the 2024 season, and has recently indicated he is in no rush to confirm his future after taking a punt this time last year that his value would increase again - which it most certainly has.
We look at the five most likely destinations for Nanai come 2024. I initially shortlisted eight teams and could justify another two but the below five are those I consider the most likely to be leading the chase.
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Perhaps doing an injustice to the teams below, for mine the Cowboys are in the box seat to retain the young superstar.
Nanai has indicated he is in no rush to re-sign. This coupled with the fact he did only put pen to paper to a one-year extension does make me think perhaps he can be tempted away.
That said, Nanai grew up in Cairns and has burst onto the scene for Cowboys. He's been at the club since 2019. Sometimes when something is going well you should leave well enough alone.
I have no doubt that Todd Peyten will leave no stone unturned when it comes to tying Nanai down to a longer-term deal.
The Cowboys will have to pay up. With Scott Drinkwater, Reece Robson, Murray Taulagi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow off-contract, the Cowboys may have to make a tough decision somewhere.
I just can't see it being Nanai who is deemed surplus to requirements and I expect him to be re-signed on a big deal.
If the Cowboys can't get it done though before the end of October, expect the following teams to feast on the opportunity.
At the conclusion of the 2022 season the Melbourne Storm will lose both of their star backrowers in Felise Kaufusi and Kenneath Bromwich to the Dolphins.
With Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica and Josh King off contract at the end of next year, Craig Bellamy may be looking for a refresh.
The Storm are not a side who has needed to rebuild since ... well ever, so a signing of the quality of Nanai is right on point.
Melbourne don't typically go out and sign megastars. They sign players and make them better. Can you imagine if they did that with the try scoring second rower?
It would be a huge move for a young player but if Craig Bellamy has, as expected, re-committed his future to the Storm, then it would be hard to say no here.
Nanai's try scoring abilities are extremely well known. He has the ability to put on the flash play but working with Bellamy seems to improve everyone's game.
I would be shocked if the Storm aren't keeping a close eye on the situation hoping that Nanai holds out for another two-and-a-bit months.
Newcastle have endured a horror season and truthfully it is going to get worse before it gets better. To say they need good news is putting it lightly.
With Tyson Frizell being 30 years old at time of writing, and with David Klemmer and Lachlan Fitzgibbon both off-contract, there should be plenty of money available come 2024.
Newcastle simply have to target a marquee recruit to kickstart a rebuild. With 13 players off contract at the end of 2023, Dominic Young is the only player I would be in a rush to re-sign.
It's going to take a big offer to tempt Nanai away from similar surroundings and a side trending in the right direction. Newcastle should have that money available.
Most importantly Newcastle need a culture change. They're often in the papers for the wrong reasons and it must be tiring for fans.
I hope I don't eat these words but Nanai looks the kind of player to build a squad around. He's young, talented, seems up for a laugh and judging by his post game interviews, looks to have a smart head on his shoulders.
Whether or not the Knights could tempt Nanai away from a winning side to take part in a rebuild is the big question here. Money talks, so too opportunity.
Newcastle have to believe they're in the running for players of Nanai's quality. It only takes one signing to shift opinion, even if that one is paid massively over their market value.
Nanai grew up in Cairns but was born in Henderson in New Zealand. The Warriors have a history of bringing back locally born players on big money.
Tohu Harris is 30 and, despite his abilities suggesting otherwise, cannot play forever. Shaun Johnson is also off contract at the end of 2023. Reece Walsh is also off the books soon.
Another potential massive move for a young player but the Warriors should have the money and they'll certainly have the spot to at least be in the running here.
With Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf headed across the Tasman for 2023, the Warriors should enjoy some improvement next season.
With a big season of improvement and the ability to play next to Tohu Harris in perhaps his final season, and a decent contract, the Warriors should be in the running here.
They look to have their halves set for the next few seasons and a star fullback headed across. A classy, try scoring second rower would be much higher on the list here than at many other clubs.
The Tigers have two superstars en route to arrive in 2023 in Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali'i. With the greatest of respects to the squad, they cannot stop there.
Tim Sheens needs to keep building his side to hand over to Benji Marshall and partnering Nanai with Papali'i would allow the Tigers to boast one of the top second row combinations in the game.
They probably have bigger fish to fry with all three of their halves as well as their fullback off contract but with Brooks's ridiculous salary sure to be gone, Nanai should be within range.
Much like the Knights, the Tigers need a big name signing for 2024. The should be targeting a marquee half but failing that, Nanai is their man.
Unfortunately they have a long history of over paying for players, perhaps through necessity, but Nanai is the perfect middle-range player to target.
With their coaching structure set for the long-term, they do have stability. They should also see a big improvement in performances in 2023.
I could never argue that the Tigers are amongst the favourites here but if Nanai holds off into the new year I would be shocked if Sheens and Marshall aren't in his ear.
Prediction
Despite the opportunities that will be put before Nanai and his management, the Cowboys simply cannot let him slip away.
I fully expect Nanai to remain a Cowboy but if Craig Bellamy and the Storm come knocking then you have to believe he may take more than a sneaky look.
Cowboys for mine unless one of the other sides can come up with a mammoth offer than is simply too good to refuse.