November 1 is just days away, and while all attention will turn towards those players who can officially sign with new clubs for the 2024 season, there are still a handful of players without a deal for 2023.
Among those players are a small list of players who the majority would view as something of a surprise to still not have a contract locked up for next season.
RELATED: Full list of off-contract players
Only the Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra Dragons have zero players remaining off-contract, although some players - such as Cooper Johns at the Melbourne Storm and Albert Kelly at the Brisbane Broncos - have been informed their services won't be required from 2022.
One of those players also features on this list, while the remainder are still fighting for their NRL futures.
Here are the top five players still off-contract for 2023 noting that, with November almost upon us and clubs required to have filled most of their roster in just a few short days, most talent has now been snapped up.
1. Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
The end of Taupau's time on the Northern Beaches may not have come as a surprise, but it did come in slightly messy circumstances.
Reports at one point suggested he wanted an early release - something the Sea Eagles were unprepared to provide as they fought for the finals.
Taupau revealed mid-season that he hadn't even had a bite come his way in terms of a new contract, with the Dolphins bringing on a host of other experienced forwards instead of firing a contract his way.
The Parramatta Eels were at one point revealed to be a suitor, but nothing has materialised there, while it would be almost unarguable that a host of other clubs could use someone of Taupau's talents in their own charge for success.
Taupau certainly fell out of favour in Des Hasler's side towards the back end of the 2022 season, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have plenty still to provide as an NRL player.
