The second the clock ticks over into November first, millions of dollars worth of rugby league talent officially become off-contract.
The end of 2024 list (who can be contacted as of November 1st, 2023) is stacked with talent.
Jarome Luai and Tom Dearden are the two obvious club changing talents, but there's another player I expect to become the hottest talent on the market.
South Sydney's Keaon Koloamatangi.
The 25 year-old is, without a doubt, one of the elite second rowers in the competition, and has a multitude of rep footy ahead of him.
Below are just five clubs I believe will be right in the discussion, and therefore the five most likely landing spots for 2025 and beyond:
5. Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks are a game-winning forward away from a genuine title tilt. They just can't match it with the big boys up front.
Keaon Koloamatangi is very much that game-winning forward.
Teig Wilton and Briton Nikora form a quality back-row combination but Wilton's future looks to lay in the middle as a lock.
Matt Moylan's contract would have ended by then while Dale Finucane's fourth year is a very club-friendly wage.
With the club likely to push forward with either Braydon Trindall or Kade Dykes as the halves partner of Nicho Hynes, there will be cap space to invest elsewhere.
As a Sharks fan, I would almost be personally offended if Craig Fitzgibbon and co don't at least make that phone call.
Ok, they won't have the likely cap space to compete with the Dragons, but with a squad that should be hitting peak by 2025, there is a lot to offer for a potential shift to the Shire.
