Players off-contract at the end of 2022 have been able to negotiate for three months as we hit the end of January, and already plenty of big names have re-signed or moved clubs.
The Dolphins have thrown a new air of intrigue over this yearโs off-contract player list, with the expansion club adding six players to their top 30 roster for 2023, including five with first-grade experience.
The Melbourne Storm have been hit hard, losing Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi to the new club, while Brandon Smith was the most publicised signature of the off-season so far before agreeing to join with the Sydney Roosters for 2023.
Itโs been a revolving door at dummy half, with Reed Mahoney going from the Eels to the Bulldogs, Josh Hodgson from the Raiders to the Eels, and Apisai Koroisau from the Panthers to the Tigers.
Junior Paulo and Clinton Gutherson agreed to remain with the Eels after plenty of speculation, but as it stands, there are still over 100 players without a home locked away for 2023.
Today, we build a 17-man team of those players, noting that we have only considered each player for one position.
FULL OFF-CONTRACT LIST FOR 2023 TEAM-BY-TEAM
7. Second-row
Players still off-contract: Billy Burns, Michael Chee-Kam, Angus Crichton, Andrew Davey, Matt Doorey, Mitchell Dunn, Tom Eisenhuth, Adam Elliott, Luke Garner, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jackson Ford, Wade Graham, Jack Gosiewski, Corey Harawira-Naera, Chris Lewis, Heilum Luki, Ryan Matterson, Jack Murchie, Briton Nikora, Keenan Palasia, Pride Petterson-Robati, Kevin Proctor, Tariq Sims, Joe Stimson, Sauaso Sue, Jackson Topine, Kelma Tuilagi
The first off-contract second-rower named to this team is also the easiest selection out of the whole lot. Angus Crichton is a weapon for the Sydney Roosters, a certified Origin player, and will again take that role in 2022.
He is one of the best edge forwards in the game, and it will be starting to make Roosters fans very nervous that they haven't locked him down long-term yet.
The other spot could go to a number of genuine starting options. Adam Elliott, Luke Garner, Wade Graham, Corey Harawira-Naera, Ryan Matterson, Briton Nikora, Kevin Proctor or Tariq Sims would make excellent signings for many clubs across the competition.
Graham and Sims probably lead the queue, however, with Graham's injury history recently, it would be an almighty risk for another club to take him off the Sharks' hands for 2023. Ryan Matterson is in a similar boat given his concussion history.
Nikora has also been a consistent performer for the Sharks, however, doesn't quite some in ahead of Sims.
Corey Harawira-Naera seems to be the player who could challenge the Dragon, who will be let go at the end of 2022.
The Raiders' second-rower is a ball of muscle and has size to go with his footwork and ball-playing ability, but just misses out on the side.
