NRL social media was sent into a frenzy after news broke that Payne Haas had requested an immediate release from his Broncos contract.
Arguably the best middle forward in the game, and undisputedly in the top few, Haas has already been linked to every professional sports team in the country and beyond.
Although the Broncos have reportedly denied the request, we all know that means very little in the modern day.
Here are five potential landing spots for the man sure to be the most in-demand player in the sport, should the Broncos eventually allow the release to happen.
2. New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors are heading back home next year. Can you imagine if they did so with Payne Haas on their roster?
Matthew Lodge has exited the club with immediate effect while Euan Aitken is bound for the Fins in 2023. You have to believe there's a spot for Haas.
As good as Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris are, the Warriors lack the punch in the middle that they have historically built their game on.
Haas would immediately make them a force to be reckoned with.
Whether or not a side in a rebuild can afford to invest a million dollars per season in a middle forward is a big question.
The other big question is whether Haas would be willing to uproot and move across the Tasman?
The Warriors are surely one of the sides that have been on the phone already given they lost a big money forward within the past week.
After long-term deals with Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan ($850K apiece) both of which delivered limited on-field value, Cronulla will be still smarting. In addition, they are probably intelligent enough to see that Payne Haas will have a negative impact on the culture they are trying to build.
Heโs big and greedy. Heโs already told the Broncs that he is bigger than club. Heโs high maintenance. He is not a player any club should want to sign.
The Sharks are not desperate enough to need to buy him. The Titans and Warriors may be desperate, but I canโt see Payne being prepared to give up all his friends and contacts to go to Aukland to play for a struggling side.
I think he will stay near Brisbane and thus end up at the Titans or the Dolphins, next season.
If the Broncs agree to his request and kick him out now then he will earn nothing or not much for the rest of this season. So, if he is on $850K he will lose nearly $300K (for Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep).
Sitting out the rest of the season might bring him back to earth with a bump, when he realises what his actions have cost his hip pocket.