Millions of dollars worth of NRL talent is about to hit the open market, as clubs prepare to raid their rivals and put up their defence walls on their own playing rosters.
November 1 marks the date where players off-contract in 2020 are free to negotiate with rival teams, making it fair game for stars such as Valentine Holmes, Dylan Walker and Luke Brooks.
The rumours and whispers will spill into the season and take up a chunk of energy, with Des Hasler’s return to Manly proving anything is possible in rugby league.
MORE: Canterbury CEO clears up David Klemmer rumours | The replacements Canterbury have put a target on to replace Klemmer
Sporting News has discussed every star’s prospects of leaving from all 16 clubs, outlining which teams are interested and where they are likely to land.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Alex Glenn
The rise of Brisbane’s young forward pack may place the club’s priorities in their youth, with Jaydn Su’A and Tevita Pnagai Jnr. – if he chooses to eventually recommit – both capable partners of Matt Gillett. Brisbane’s current negotiations with Corey Oates, where players have selflessly asked to sacrifice part of their own salary to keep him, suggest there are salary cap limitations at Red Hill and Glenn may not fit into their plans. He could follow Josh McGuire out the door in the coming weeks as the Gold Coast Titans chase the New Zealand international.
Joe Ofahengaue
One of those priorities from the Broncos’ forward pack is Ofahengaue. There are massive raps on the 23-year-old who was on the brink of an Origin debut this year, finally rewarded with a Tongan calling against the Kangaroos. The club will do everything in their power to keep him on board.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jordan Rapana
The try-scoring machine looks comfortable in the nation’s capital and looks likely to develop his combination with centre partner Joey Leilua.
Joseph Tapine
Tapine signed a four-year extension with the Raiders, which provides a massive boost to a forward pack that recently lost Shannon Boyd (Titans) and Junior Paulo (Eels).
Ata Hingano
With Blake Austin in England, Hingano will fight it out with Sam Williams for a spot in the halves although he appears to be trailing in the race. If the limited opportunities continue, Hingano could instruct his agent to put out the feelers.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Rhyse Martin
Martin rejected a number of rival offers to prove himself on a one-year extension at Canterbury. He is by no means a certain starter with Corey Harawira-Naera arriving at Belmore, while Raymond Faitala-Mariner looms as another threat. Goal-kicking is a card up his sleeve, but if Martin feels he isn’t getting the time he deserves, or he doesn’t live up to the hype, there is every chance he may be in new colours in 2020.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Valentine Holmes
Star fullback Valentine Holmes is reportedly set to quit rugby league in order to pursue a career in the NFL. The 23-year-old has also been strongly linked with a move to North Queensland for 2020 to be with his family. It’s why the Cowboys only offered Ben Barba a one-year deal, but that also works in the Sharks’ favour with a like-for-like player swap being a high possibility - given that Holmes doesn't make a move to the United States.
Wade Graham
Touted as the next long-term captain to succeed Paul Gallen, Graham would have ambitions of ending his career as a Shark.
Sosaia Feki
Feki was given permission to talk to rival clubs earlier in the year as Cronulla needed to free up more money to sign Aaron Woods. That may be a sign they feel he is replaceable with Sione Katoa in the ranks and they may not be able to afford his next contract demands.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Ryley Jacks
Gold Coast have given Jacks one season to prove he is the right fit for Ashley Taylor in the halves. The former Storm pivot attracted plenty of interest as he searched for more playing time, recently leaving a bitter taste in Canberra’s mouth after he informed them of his new deal with the Titans after verbally agreeing to move to the nation’s capital.
Brenko Lee
The departure of Konrad Hurrell to Leeds provides Lee with tighter job security, but the presence of Dale Copley does pose a threat. Lee has moved between three clubs in three seasons, so a fourth isn’t out of the picture.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Trent Hodkinson
Manly’s plans for Hodkinson remain unclear after he was demoted to a bench role in the back end of the season, proving he wasn’t the answer to their halves woes. Durability is a huge concern for the luckless playmaker who is battling a chronic knee injury. Offers from England could be on the cards with his career reaching its twilight years.
Joel Thompson
The Sea Eagles lack depth in the second-row so Thompson’s signature could be on the top of their agenda. Thompson joined the club in the worst year possible, but he performed consistently and was never one to complain about the challenging situation that haunted Brookvale.
Dylan Walker
For years rumours have gone around that Walker wants to be back at Redfern, but he has emphatically denied it. One foot out or not, Des Hasler will no doubt unite the playing group and save a few signatures in the process, possibly having a powerful influence on the talented centre.
MELBOURNE STORM
Cameron Munster
With Craig Bellamy re-signed for four more years, Cameron Munster isn’t going anywhere. The clubs will line up down the street, but Munster knows the Storm will soon be his team to run and his relationship with his coach is too close to cut off.
UPDATE: As expected, Munster's signed a three-year extension with Melbourne.
Joe Stimson
The retirement of Ryan Hoffman has opened up a window of opportunity for Stimson and the future looks bright in a devastating back-row that is also led by Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Shaun Johnson
New Zealand’s million dollar man, no one has ever pictured Johnson in anything other than a Warriors jersey, however some pundits believe leaving the club could take his career to the next step.
Solomone Kata
Like Johnson, Kata appears to be committed to the Warriors and looks likely to remain their go-to weapon out wide for a few more years at the very least.
Issac Luke
If it weren’t for an off-season shoulder reconstruction, Luke could well be a Knight. Newcastle went cold on negotiations after learning about the surgery, clearing the way for New Zealand to take another chance on the dynamic hooker. The offers will flock in again if he can continue his form beyond 2018.
Agnatius Paasi
Paasi was one of the Warriors’ best forwards and the club will have plans in place to keep him on board. Paasi moved to New Zealand to be back home and there is no reason why he would return to Australia, unless a club can splash some serious dollars.
Shaun Johnson
Johnson has been granted an immediate release after the playmaker grew frustrated with the club's ''open-minded'' approach to the future, declaring the playmaker was free to test himself on the open market. Johnson is off-contract for next season and Cronulla appear to be in the box set to sign him.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Fitzgibbon repaid Newcastle’s loyalty with a thrilling season littered with tries and linebreaks, making his mark as a starter for the most part of the season. There were rumours he wanted out of his deal, but that is not the case and the Knights have every reason to table another deal.
UPDATE: Fitzgibbon rewarded with Newcastle contract upgrade and extension
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Given a second chance following a drug charge, Kenny-Dowall is loving life on the Hunter with his crew of former Roosters and has been a huge part of their recruitment strategies where he helped convince Mitchell Pearce, Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson to make the move.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ben Barba
A year after being crowned the Super League’s ‘Man of Steel’, Barba will make his long-awaited NRL return. The club has only offered a one-year deal with Valentine Holmes’ arrival in the picture, meaning Barba could soon find himself in Cronulla colours yet again.
Scott Bolton
The one-club hero lives and breathes North Queensland, but his court date over a sexual assault case could put him on the nose with the club.
Coen Hess
Hess is one of the club’s brightest young talents and while there will be wide interest across the competition, the Cowboys are in the box seat to re-sign him.
Gavin Cooper & Matt Scott
Cooper and Scott, both 33, are on the brink of retirement and may more than likely hang up the boots at the season’s end.
Ethan Lowe
Lowe recently re-signed on a one-year deal and will come off the bench this season, but the impending retirement of Cooper could see him return as a starter for years to come.
Te Maire Martin
Supposedly the heir to Johnathan Thurston’s throne, Martin will battle against Junior Kanagroos skipper Jake Clifford to be Michael Morgan’s sidekick. Martin could challenge for a starting role in most sides and if his opportunities are limited in Townsville, doors will open up elsewhere.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Mitch Moses & Corey Norman
Expect the pair to be shopped around the moment November 1 comes around, with Parramatta ready to cleanout their troublesome halves. There is no denying there is tension simmering between the duo and their persistence to own the team caused many cracks last season. One of, if not both of them, are a decent chance of finding a new club, depending on who is interested.
Clint Gutherson
Gutherson too could find himself on the open market in a number of weeks, failing to replicate his breakout 2017 season upon returning from an ACL injury. Brad Arthur sees Jarryd Hayne’s best position at fullback, and Gutherson doesn’t look comfortable as a regular centre.
Bevan French
French’s wish of playing fullback certainly won’t be upheld at Parramatta and his attitude last season left him on the out with Brad Arthur. Canterbury have been rumoured to have tapped him on the shoulder and are prepared to give him what he wants next year.
Daniel Alvaro & Manu Ma’u
Alvaro and Ma’u are two of Parramatta’s more consistent performers and have shown no signs of wanting out. Anything is possible at the Eels, but we expect this pair to re-sign.
Brad Takairangi
Arthur is confused around where Takairangi best fits into his line-up, using him at centre, second-row and off the bench at various points in the season. If there are major player movements from within the Parramatta camp this off-season, Takairangi is capable of filling in the gaps and it may provide him with greater job security.
Tim Mannah
The one-club skipper is Parramatta through and through.
PENRITH PANTHERS
James Fisher-Harris
Phil Gould is convinced locking up star halfback Nathan Cleary for the next six years will help the club retain and recruit players, and James Fisher-Harris is one of those names.
Sione Katoa
Following Peter Wallace’s retirement, Katoa became Penrith’s number one hooker and looks on track to keep his role after an impressive 2018 season.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
George & Tom Burgess
Sam Burgess signed his long-term, multi-million dollar contract to fast-track the negotiations of his brothers who are expected to keep the family together at Redfern.
However, the twins have recently declared their interest in returning home to the Super League. Canterbury could also soon enter the market for a replacement for David Klemmer, as South Sydney face salary cap pressure in the midst of negotiations with star hooker Damien Cook.
Damien Cook
Cook has publicly expressed his desire to recommit to the Rabbitohs and finish what they started this year, with a huge contract upgrade expected following his standout season.
However, amid the coaching chaos at the Souths Cook has delayed re-signing for 2020. Two Sydney teams and an unconfirmed interstate suitor – believed to be the Brisbane Broncos – are also reportedly interested in the 27-year-old.
Cameron Murray
Murray is a club junior who has no itch to try and play in any other colours besides red and green. The talented forward is one of the club’s future stars and after letting Angus Crichton slip, South Sydney won’t make the same mistake.
UPDATE: Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham stay loyal to South Sydney
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Matthew Dufty
Dufty is loyal to the Dragons after spending all of his junior years in their system, but his form in 2019 may test how loyal the Dragons are to him. In his first full season at fullback there were a number of pros and cons to take out of his game, but there are concerns over his defensive issues. The club’s recent pursuit of Jarryd Hayne suggests there may be a loss of confidence and time will tell if his future is certain.
James Graham
At 33 years of age with 15 years of professional football under his belt, it’s fair to assume next year may be James Graham’s last.
Tariq Sims
Sims will be hot property when November 1 hits, but the arrival of his brother Korbin suggests he’s here to stay.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mitch Aubusson
The one-club hero won’t think twice about re-signing with the Roosters.
Cooper Cronk
Retirement is on the cards, especially after his recent shoulder injury.
WESTS TIGERS
Luke Brooks
Nathan Cleary’s re-signing at Penrith gives Brooks room to breathe and after finishing third on the Dally M leaderboard, the club can feel confident in investing their future in the resurgent halfback.
Robbie Farah & Benji Marshall
2019 is likely to be their last season after pondering the thought of retirement last year before agreeing to one-year extensions.
Mahe Fonua
Fonua helped sparked a winning run for the Tigers last year and will be a regular first grader following the departure of Kevin Naiqama. If he can replicate his previous year, he will be a big part of their future. Expect their to be rival interest.
