It's November 1st! It's officially NRL's silly season!
When the clock ticked over into the new month, literally tens of millions of dollars of NRL talent became off contract for 2025.
This means that the NRL vultures are circling as these superstars become fair game.
Player agents mobiles will be ringing off the hook today as struggling sides, and sides looking for the final piece alike, try to get their grubby hands on prize assets from all round the competition.
Narrowing it down to just ten was very difficult.
The below are the top ten players I believe would be in demand as of right now.
Not necessarily the best. For instance Shaun Johnson is coming off a 10/10 season. There's also no chance he leaves the Warriors.
Taken into account are players ages, their expected salary, their role, talent and potential availability.
With that said, below are the top 10, in demand and off-contract stars right now:
24 year-old Terrell May is going to be one of the most sought after players from today onward.
He's young, a physical monster, has shown he loves digging in, has Finals experience under his belt, and comes at a very reasonable price.
I could name six or seven clubs who are screaming out for a massive middle presence, with money to spend.
May could honestly make the short trip to Cronulla and become their number one prop. Look at the Dragons, Canberra, the Dolphins and the Cowboys to be talks if the Roosters can't get it done ASAP.
Connor Tracey has been magnificent for the Sharks in his role as a jack of all trades. He's too talented to not be a regular first grader.
The Sharks don't look as though they can offer the centre, winger, fullback and sometimes half the spot he requires so a move looks on.
The Eels were reportedly keen for an immediate move, why I understand the Dragons are looking very closely at the situation.
Given he can fit in pretty much anywhere, there will be a host of clubs in the Tracey sweepstakes right now.
Every club needs a Max King. A player who can just go about his job, well, with a minimal of fuss.
Competitions are won with players like Max King holding up positions to support the superstars. I'd also argue that he needs a move away from the Dogs to make the most of his talents.
King, at 26, will be the apple of many teams eyes as they chase him at either lock or at prop.
Canberra are losing a mountain of size and experience at years end, while the Sharks need an aggressive middle. The Dragons and Dolphins will be in here also.
It's not often that an Origin prop in the prime of his career becomes available. That is the current situation as Jacob Saifiti is now available for 2025.
Newcastle simply won't want to let one of their monster twins leave, but money talks elsewhere.
The Sharks need a big middle to push for that genuine top four spot. The Storm need a refresh. Every struggling club will also be looking at him.
I'm actually shocked Newcastle haven't made an announcement yet but if they don't get it done ASAP, Saifiti's set to become a very in demand big man.
Let me say straight up, Mam would be the number two option here if not for the fact I simply cannot see him signing for anywhere other than the Broncos.
I would not be shocked if his re-signing has been announced by the Broncos by the time this publishes, or very soon after.
The current Dally M five-eighth of the year has a monster career ahead of him after the mother of all breakout seasons in 2023.
Until Nathan Cleary's 20 minutes of immortality, Mam was the best player on the field in the Grand Final and was 90 seconds from a Clive Churchill.
I haven't heard him linked to signing anything other than a long, lucrative Brisbane contract. If he were to become available, I have no doubt six to eight clubs would be in the market immediately.
Chrichton's a name we wouldn't have expected here until very recently.
He looked set to return to the other code but supposed issues with where he would be based ultimately kept him in the NRL.
The Roosters don't look in a position where they can keep him due to the fact he looked set on a return to Rugby.
Watch for a number of clubs to pounce. Especially considering Crichton had a "down year" and would have to adjust his demands accordingly.
Tom Dearden is in a fantastic spot right now. The Cowboys, are not.
Both the North Queensland halves are off contract. Dearden is younger, and with the greatest of respects, more sought after, than his partner in Chad Townsend.
He could realistically name his price or the Cowboys will have to start again.
There are a number of Sydney clubs linked to his services, while I believe Canberra would be monitoring very closely.
2023 was the year where Bradman Best well and truly delivered on his undoubted promise.
He broke through to Origin after breaking the hearts and spirits of opposition centres, and their fans.
The timing is perfect as Best enters his prime. At 22 year's of age, he surely has his very best footy ahead of him.
It would be quicker to name the teams who wouldn't welcome a player of his talents, age and value. Come to think of it, it's tough to name any.
My general feeling is that Manu is a Rooster for life. That said, money and opportunity talk.
With James Tedesco re-signing with the club, Manu is being forced to wait for the fullback spot he so obviously covets.
There are a host of teams who would fall over themselves to add Manu to their roster. Whether that be at centre or fullback.
I dare say it's going to take a million-dollar offer, plus a guaranteed number one jersey, to gain his attention. I think it'd be worth every cent and then some.
Canberra famously missed out on a superstar Roosters number one in the past. Could they get it done here? The Dragons will have something to say about that.
Luai is set to become the most chased player in the NRL. His signature is literally club and future shaping.
Penrith have offered huge money, although the feeling is he is looking to test his value on the market. At least to see what he's worth.
The Dogs, Tigers, Dragons, Phins and Raiders are thought to be going in huge. I would be shocked in the Roosters and Sharks aren't also having a peak.
Luai is in a great spot where he can take his time. He knows there will be a million dollar offer there when he's ready.
I expect him to re-sign at Penrith but the cap can only be squeezed so far. This could be a long, drawn out affair.