It’s officially only 11 days until more than $50 million worth of NRL talent will become free agents for rival clubs to try and make a play to land marquee signatures as of November 1.
For struggling clubs looking for a circuit breaker signature to try and snap the cycle of mediocrity, being able to officially table contract offers for players off contract at the end of 2023 is super important.
Can the Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans, St George Illawarra or Newcastle make some serious moves?
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We saw the Tigers sign Api Korisau and Isaiah Papali’i this time last year, can the new-look combination of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall land a premiership-winning forward like Spencer Leniu this time around?
What about the genuine chances of the Newcastle Knights signing the halfback they’ve spent 12 months chasing in Luke Brooks?
Can the Dolphins finally jag a marquee man in grand final five-eighth Dylan Brown?
Fox Sports has compiled a list of the ten biggest names who are free agents as of November 1 and where they could land.
LATRELL MITCHELL (SOUTH SYDNEY): It’s hard to see the champion South Sydney fullback leaving Redfern. At the same time money talks all languages and Mitchell’s history with supercoach Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins will mean the NRL’s 17th team are guaranteed to be asking the question. The Rabbitohs have been busily trying to lock down Latrell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook for the past six months and South Sydney remain confident.
Prediction: Remains at Souths.
DYLAN BROWN (PARRAMATTA EELS): The Kiwi Test five-eighth has put all talks on hold until the conclusion of his Rugby League World Cup commitments. Reading between the lines this should ring alarm bells for grand finalists Parramatta with the Dolphins circling off the back of Cameron Munster’s decision to remain at the Storm. Where the Eels will have a fight on their hands is if other NRL clubs also enter the equation and Brown’s asking price continues to get bumped up. The reality is Brown will in all likelihood become the NRL’s next $1 million-per-season player as of 2024. Game time for Parramatta management.
Prediction: Eels have got a red hot fight on their hands.
STEPHEN CRICHTON (PENRITH PANTHERS): The Panthers have quickly discovered the price of success. After claiming back-to-back premierships, there’s no question it’s going to be impossible for the NRL’s best team to retain all of their off contract players. Crichton, Brian To’o, Liam Martin, Spencer Leniu and Scott Sorenson are among a host of Panthers who are on the hit lists of rival clubs. Canterbury-Bankstown and the Dolphins are both in the queue to make a play for Crichton, which is going to put all sorts of pressure on Penrith to be able to retain him.
Prediction: Panthers can’t keep them all.
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VICTOR RADLEY (SYDNEY ROOSTERS): Fresh off winning man of the match for England in his international debut, Radley is one of the big names off contract who has flown under the radar. As the saying goes, the Roosters rarely lose a player they want to keep. So it’s very difficult to see the Tricolours local junior leaving the Moore Park-based club. At the same time if rival clubs are smart and they try and put pressure on the Chooks with a mega-offer it could make things interesting.
Prediction: Remains at Roosters.
MITCHELL MOSES (PARRAMATTA EELS): Despite all the hype around the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers being prepared to throw big money at the Eels no.7, surely Parramatta are in the box seat. The Eels have made it crystal clear retaining Moses and halves partner Brown is top priority and as soon as the World Cup is concluded the blue and gold need to be in position to announce at least one of them remaining at Parramatta. Newcastle could make things interesting given their continued pursuit of Luke Brooks. If that falls over, expect the Knights to quickly make Moses top priority.
Prediction: Remains at Eels.
CODY WALKER (SOUTH SYDNEY): Showed how valuable he is to the Rabbitohs on their run into September and despite turning 33 in January is still as quick and creative as ever. Extremely tight with Latrell Mitchell and given how important both players are to the Bunnies, South Sydney need to get both of these deals done. It might not be all smooth sailing because Wayne Bennett will undoubtedly come knocking but the Rabbitohs have put themselves in the box seat.
Prediction: Remains at Souths.
JEREMIAH NANAI (NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS): Talk about a fast take off into the world of the NRL. Aside from scoring 17 tries in 23 NRL appearances in 2022, Nanai also won a State of Origin series with Queensland and was named Dally M Rookie of the Year and Dally M Secondrower of the Year. Currently on tour with the Kangaroos and has done it all at the age of 19. The Cowboys will be doing everything possible to try and retain Nanai but it won’t be an easy assignment. Rival clubs are queued up with the cheque books waiting to try and have a crack at the attacking dynamo.
Prediction: Cowboys will need to sharpen their pencil.
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LUKE BROOKS (WESTS TIGERS): The Newcastle Knights are throwing all their energy into trying to convince the Wests Tigers to release Brooks for 2023. As it stands at the moment, the Tigers aren’t budging. That’s for next season. Where it gets interesting is while some Newcastle powerbrokers want Brooks, others are more interested in Tigers teammate Jackson Hastings. As for Brooks in 2024 a lot will depend on how he performs next season.
Prediction: Tigers in 2023, beyond that unknown.
BRIAN TO’O (PENRITH PANTHERS): Another major element of the Penrith jigsaw puzzle, the Panthers look set for a fight as they try and retain the NSW State of Origin winger. Aside from being adept at playing on the left and right hand side of the field, To’o also ranks among the NRL’s most dynamic yardage makers bringing the Steeden out of trouble. Rival clubs who need a class finisher will be in the queue to try and do what the Bulldogs did to Melbourne with Josh Addo-Carr. Simply blow them out of the water.
Prediction: Panthers can’t keep them all.
NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA (MELBOURNE STORM): Regarded as one of the genuine enforcers in the NRL, big NAS will only be 27 by the time he’s off-contract and coming into his prime. Rugby union has always been an option and there’s no question some of the less prominent NRL clubs will also try and make a pitch. Difficult to see him leaving the Storm although Melbourne have also consistently shown an interest in Panthers prop Spencer Leniu. The Wests Tigers are also making a major play for Leniu.
Prediction: Rugby union or remains at Storm.
