The November 1 contract feeding frenzy is just around the corner and for 12 particular players, the upcoming Pacific Championships is the perfect opportunity to prove their value.
From November 1, players that are coming off contract at the end of 2024 are free to negotiate with rivals for 2025 and beyond.
Clubs have rushed to lock in their big-name players to ensure they can’t hit the open market in two-and-a-half weeks time, but there’s still some exciting talent that look set to become available while featuring in the Pacific Championships.
Roosters and New Zealand superstar Joseph Manu headlines the list of players which also includes his club teammate Terrell May, veterans Kieran Foran and Jack de Belin, as well as Dally M Rookie of the Year Sunia Turuva.
Here are the players featuring in the Pacific Championships that will become free agents from November 1.
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JOSEPH MANU
It feels like just yesterday that Joey Manu was up for grabs but his future will once again become a hot topic in rugby league in the coming weeks. The Roosters extended him in December 2021, but only on a two-year deal, which expires at the end of next season. There was talk a couple of months ago that incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was keen to throw big money to lure him to the Red V but while Roosters coach Trent Robinson expects a lot of interest in the Manu, he declared “he’ll be here, I’d say, at the end of his career.” Manu’s worth to the Roosters has arguably gone up since Joseph Suaali’i signed with Rugby Australia. The club will no longer be forced to pick who will take over James Tedesco’s No.1 jersey one day — the Chooks are all-in on Manu. He may get the chance to play fullback again for New Zealand in the upcoming Pacific Championships, but regardless of where he plays rival clubs will be watching on closely getting their chequebooks ready.
KIERAN FORAN
The veteran playmaker is unlikely to see much time in the halves given he’s behind Dylan Brown and Jahrome Hughes but his selection alone proves he’s still got plenty to offer. Foran, who could feature off the bench for the Kiwis, will be 34-years old by the time his current contract expires. He admitted on the Fox League Podcast earlier this season that “age isn’t on my side” but said “I’d be a brave man to write myself off.” And that’s true. He’s pushed through several career-threatening injuries to play 282 NRL games over 15 seasons. He knows it’s a “results-driven business” though and “need to be getting results and having the impact” to keep his career alive. If he can do that for the Kiwis, incoming Titans coach Des Hasler could very well see the worth in extending him — especially given their history together at Manly and the Bulldogs. This tournament could put also him on the radar of rival clubs that are interested in signing a very experienced five-eighth.
SUNIA TURUVA
It’s been a big 12 months for Sunia Turuva. He was a breakout star of last year’s Rugby League World Cup, was this season’s Dally M Rookie of the Year and won a premiership with the Panthers. No doubt his value has already skyrocketed since re-signing with Penrith in June 2022, but another couple of big performances for Fiji — whether they be on the wing or at fullback — could have cashed up rivals lining up for his signature. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was so impressed with Turuva this season that the 21-year-old is likely a priority re-signing before November 1. But if the club can’t get that deal done before he hits the open market he’ll have the Pacific Championships to up his price even more.
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TERRELL MAY
Terrell May is set to make his international debut for Samoa in a fitting reward for his breakout season with the Roosters. May nailed down a spot on the bench this season and by the final few weeks his time on the field increased to around 50 minutes per game. In his last six games of the season he averaged 135 running metres and 26 tackles a game — he only missed a total of four tackles over that period too. No doubt just his efforts for the Tricolours alone would’ve caught the attention of rivals, but now he has an opportunity to woo potential suitors even more when he features in the upcoming Pacific Championships. While May has played his best footy since joining the Roosters’ system two years ago, a change might be something he’ll have to consider given Spencer Leniu’s arrival next season might see his game time decrease.
JACK DE BELIN
It’s been a good six years since Jack de Belin was on the open market but that’s where he’s heading if the Dragons don’t lock him in before November 1. The 32-year-old has spent his entire career in the Red V, playing 205 games since his NRL debut in 2011. The club stood by him when he was accused of sexual assault and he repaid the faith — and patience — when he knocked back a big-money offer from the Warriors in 2020 to re-sign with he Dragons in 2021. He’ll turn 33 in the opening rounds of next season so perhaps a new contract isn’t even in his plans. But the fact he put his hand up to represent the PNG Kumuls after turning down the opportunity in last year’s World Cup, suggests he still has more in the tank.
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DAEJARN ASI
A big opportunity awaits Daejarn Asi, who has been named at halfback in Toa Samoa’s clash with the Kangaroos. The 23-year-old joined the Eels on a two-year deal as a handy utility that could cover just about anywhere in the backline and ended up starting in 10 NRL games, switching between five-eighth, halfback and centre. Asi’s form in the halves, while filling in for either Mitchell Moses or Dylan Brown, was enough to convince new Samoa coach Ben Gardiner to give him a shot in the No.7 jersey. It will be his international debut and the tournament could be a launching pad for a new deal with the Eels — or interest from rivals.
NAUFAHU WHYTE
The towering Rooster was tipped by some to have a big 2023 season but instead got limited opportunities in NRL. Selection in Michael Maguire’s New Zealand side for the Pacific Championships is, however, the biggest opportunity the 21-year-old has had to date and he’ll officially make his debut on October 21 when the Kiwis’ ‘A’ side takes on Samoa’s ‘A’ side at Eden Park. At 192cm tall and 106kg, Whyte cuts an imposing figure and his presence was hard to ignore in New South Wales Cup this season averaging 212 running metres and 29 tackles a game. He may have to stay patient at the Roosters given he’s stuck behind the likes of Lindsay Collins, Terrell May and the incoming Spencer Leniu. Or he could use this tournament as chance to showcase to rival clubs exactly what he can offer.
TAANE MILNE
It’s unlikely the Rabbitohs will be in any rush to lock in Taane Milne before November 1. He’s been a reliable member of the Bunnies’ squad for the last three seasons but struggled to nail down a spot in the 17 this year. With Jack Wighton joining the club next season, Isaiah Tass contracted until the end of 2024 also and the rise of 18-year-old rookie Tyrne Munro it’s hard to see Milne breaking into South Sydney’s backline. The 28-year-old has proven he’s a handy back-up but a clearer path to first grade could be elsewhere. Milne has been selected in Fiji’s Pacific Championships squad after 10 previous appearances for the nation. It’s a relatively inexperienced squad so it could be the opportunity for Milne to take on an unofficial leadership role and then woo rival clubs on the field.
Edwards among debutants for Kangaroos | 00:52
STEFANO UTOIKAMANU (Mutual option for 2025)
The rising forward has the option to stay at the Tigers beyond next season provided both he and the club are on board. However even if the Tigers activate their side of the deal, it was recently reported that there’s a get-out clause that allows Utoikamanu to leave if the team misses the finals next season. But in a major boost for the back-to-back wooden spooners, the 23-year-old told News Corp“I’ll be at the Tigers… I want to stay there.” Utoikamanu’s value has already increased this year after he made his State of Origin debut and now with a Toa Samoa debut just around the corner he could be in line for a healthy pay rise.
HEILUM LUKI (Player option for 2025)
Injuries have cost Heilum Luki a lot of footy but an international debut for Toa Samoa this weekend is something worth cheering about. He suffered a season-ending ACL injury last June then three games after returning earlier this year he picked up a hamstring injury. He later missed seven weeks due to a facial injury. But the 22-year-old turned heads for all the right reasons when he was on the field this season with his form even sparking talk about a State of Origin debut. Luki, who can negotiate with rivals from November 1, has been named on the bench for Tonga’s clash with Australia on Saturday. He holds the power for his next contract move given the option in his contract is in his favour and a big tournament could see cashed-up rivals swoop in to give him plenty of options.
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SUALAUVI FA’ALOGO (Club option for 2025)
The 20-year-old’s exciting debut in Round 27 was enough for the Storm to want to lock him in. While no official announcement has been made, the club told News Corpthe option in their favour in Sualauvi Fa’alogo’s contract for 2025 will “definitely be exercised.” It’s a good thing the Storm have made their intentions known because the talented rookie will be on the international stage in the upcoming tournament after being named at fullback for Samoa in what will be his representative debut.
JUSTIN MATAMUA (Club option for 2025)
The promising forward was upgraded to the Wests Tigers’ Top 30 last November and locked in until the end of 2025 — however the catch in his contract is that the final year is in the club’s favour. The 20-year-old only got limited options in first grade this season, playing just five games off the bench, but he’s landed a spot in Toa Samoa’s squad for the Pacific Championships. He didn’t make the 17 for the team’s first clash against the Kangaroos but is almost a certainty to make his international debut when Samoa’s ‘A’ team take on New Zealand’s ‘A’ team in week two of the tournament. That will be his chance to show the Tigers — or a rival — that he’s worth signing for 2025 and beyond.
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