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.
1. Gold Coast Titans
Given the Titans currently have almost $2 million invested in their middle forwards this could be a stretch. That is until you are reminded of rumours that Wayne Bennett wants David Fifita at the Dolphins.
If the Titans are willing to give up on their monster money investment and allow Fifita to head ever so slightly north, then they suddenly become the front runners here.
It would be an almost straight swap in terms of money and impact.
Hand on heart if you offered me both Fifita and Haas on the same money, I'm taking Payne Haas. Whether the Titans agree with that is the literal million dollar question.
The Titans have a roster chock full of weapons but have massively underdelivered in 2022 thus far.
If they want to shake it up and move forward then one of the best forwards in the game is a fair to decent step forward.
I can't see any way they're even in the conversation without moving Fifita on so this is unlikely but those reports of Fifita being linked to the Dolphins just won't go away.
Coincidentally Payne's younger brother Klese Haas signed a two-year deal with the Titans yesterday. If I'm the Titans I'm encouraging younger bro to put in a good word.
Verdict: The Roosters will do literally anything to get their man. They hold the trump card in having Luke Keary on a contract that will surely entice Haas and can decide to move him if required.
Roosters are the current favourites but if the Dolphins go all in, he's staying in Brisbane.
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.