There are 40 players with NRL experience who are currently without a contract for 2024, including some former Test and Origin stars.
A host of high-profile players are still without a deal locked in for 2024 as clubs finalise their top 30 rosters.
Most will have to take a pay cut to earn another deal while others won’t even be offered that and will be forced into retirement.
Here foxsports.com.au looks at the players on the open market right now and where they could be playing in 2023.
BILLY SMITH
Age: 23
Position: Centre
2023 club: Roosters
Experience: 27 NRL games
The Roosters centre enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 that culminated with Smith playing 38 minutes with a broken jaw in their elimination final.
The 23-year-old suffered a fractured jaw when he was cleaned up by Sharks prop Tom Hazelton early in the second half of the first week of finals.
But Smith soldiered on and even kicked a crucial conversion in the 70th minute to lock up the scores, but he was ruled out the following week against the Storm.
Smith didn’t feature for the Roosters until Round 10 this year but played 15 games to finish as one of the Tricolours’ best and will have attracted the attention of rival clubs.
Verdict: Re-signs a two-year deal with Roosters
CONNOR WATSON
Age: 27
Position: Utility
2023 club: Roosters
Experience: 125 NRL games
Analysis: Watson didn’t play this season after suffering a knee injury in the pre-season, but that hasn’t stopped three clubs bidding for his services in 2024.
The Roosters, Bulldogs and Tigers are all keen to sign the utility who made his NRL debut at the Tricolours in 2016.
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has held meetings with Watson and it’s unlikely the Roosters will be able to match their incoming offer.
Verdict: Signs a two-year deal at Bulldogs
AARON WOODS
Age: 32
Position: Prop
2023 club: Sea Eagles
Experience: 267 NRL games
Analysis: The former Kangaroos and Blues prop is keen to go around again but it’ll likely be on the smallest salary of his decorated career.
The Sea Eagles signed Woods from the Dragons after Round 6 and the 32-year-old played 15 games for the club.
However, it looks like there won’t be space for Woods in Manly’s top 30 and if the veteran wants to extend his career into a 14th season it’ll have to be on a train-and-trial deal.
Verdict: Re-signs with Manly on train-and-trial deal
COREY WADDELL
Age: 27
Position: Backrow
2023 club: Bulldogs
Experience: 95 NRL games
Analysis: Waddell missed just two games for the Bulldogs this season but he’s still without a deal locked in for 2024.
The backrower has improved his discipline since being suspended for five games last year for eye gouging, but remains a divisive figure.
Canterbury’s rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo is clearly still undecided on whether the 27-year-old will continue to play a role in the club’s rebuild.
Verdict: Re-signs a one-year deal at Bulldogs
NATHAN BROWN
Age: 30
Position: Lock
2023 club: Roosters
Experience: 148 NRL games
Analysis: Brown played in the 2022 grand final for the Eels before signing with the Roosters on the eve of the 2023 season.
The lock played 15 games, mostly off the bench, and his season ended when he was sent off in Round 23 just one minute after coming on for a high shot on Manly’s Ben Trbojevic.
Brown has 148 NRL games in stints at the Tigers, Rabbitohs, Eels and Roosters, while also playing two games for NSW in 2020.
The 30-year-old might be at the end of his NRL career and could be headed for a final payday in the Super League.
Verdict: Super League
BRENKO LEE
Age: 27
Position: Centre
2023 club: Dolphins
Experience: 88 NRL games
Analysis: The journeyman centre was contracted at the Dolphins next year before the club abruptly released him last month.
Lee has never played more than 20 games for a club during stints at the Raiders, Bulldogs, Titans, Storm, Broncos and Dolphins.
The 27-year-old did make one appearance for Queensland in 2020 but is now linked with an imminent move to the Super League.
Verdict: Super League
CHARLIE STATINES
Age: 23
Position: Winger
2023 club: Tigers
Experience: 47 NRL games
Analysis: Staines burst onto the NRL scene when he scored four tries on debut for the Panthers as a 19-year-old back in 2020.
The speeder won the 2022 premiership with Penrith and even scored a try in the grand final, but was then traded to the Tigers on a swap deal for Tyrone Peachey.
Staines played just nine games in 2023 following an injury-ravaged campaign but could now be on the lookout for a third club in three years.
Verdict: Re-signs a one-year deal at Tigers
WAQA BLAKE
Age: 28
Position: Outside back
2023 club: Eels
Experience: 164 NRL games
Analysis: Blake joined the Eels from the Panthers in 2019 and has made 76 appearances for Brad Arthur’s side, but he’s fallen out of favour at the club.
The outside back played just seven games for Parramatta in 2023 and he was dropped for the final time after Round 22.
Blake appears to be on the lookout for a new club to re-establish himself as a regular first-grader and he could land at the Warriors or Cowboys.
Verdict: Signs with Warriors or Cowboys
JORDAN MCLEAN
Age: 32
Position: Prop
2023 club: Cowboys
Experience: 201 NRL games
Verdict: Re-signs a one-year deal at Cowboys
Analysis: McLean finds himself without a contract for 2024 despite the veteran prop making the NSW squad just last year.
The veteran prop was picked to make his long-awaited Blues debut before a hamstring injury cruelly ruled him out just days before Game III.
McLean played 22 games for the Cowboys this season, the second most of his 11-year NRL career, and looks like he’ll go around again in Townsville.
Verdict: Re-signs a one-year deal at Cowboys
COREY ALLAN
Age: 25
Position: Outside back
2023 club: Roosters
Experience: 62 NRL games
Analysis: The Roosters are set to offload this one-time Maroons representative, with Allan’s stint at the Roosters lasting just 12 months.
Allan made his NRL debut at the Rabbitohs in 2019 before joining the Bulldogs in 2021 and then linking up with the Roosters this year.
But a fourth club beckons for the outside back and it could be at the Dolphins under Wayne Bennett who coached him in Origin in 2020.
Verdict: Signs a two-year deal at the Dolphins
EVERY NRL PLAYER WITHOUT A DEAL FOR 2024
Broncos:
Jordan Pereira (45 NRL games)
Bulldogs:
Corey Wadell (95 NRL games)
Declan Casey (6 NRL games)
Samuel Hughes (5 NRL games)
Dolphins:
Brenko Lee (88 NRL games)
Poasa Faamausili (43 NRL games)
JJ Collins (19 NRL games)
Kurt Donoghoe (7 NRL games)
Titans:
Joseph Vuna (15 NRL games)
Sea Eagles:
Aaron Woods (267 NRL games)
Morgan Boyle (48 NRL games)
Storm:
Tepai Moeroa (130 NRL games)
George Jennings (56 NRL games)
Dean Ieremia (21 NRL games)
Grant Anderson (10 NRL games)
Jordan Grant (7 NRL games)
Knights:
Hymel Hunt (113 NRL games)
Fa’amanu Brown (81 NRL games)
Brodie Jones (53 NRL games)
Jack Johns (16 NRL games)
Cowboys:
Jordan McLean (201 NRL games)
Ben Hampton (117 NRL games)
Brendan Elliot (72 NRL games)
Mitch Dunn (58 NRL games)
Gehamat Shibasaki (29 NRL games)
Eels:
Waqa Blake (164 NRL games)
Rabbitohs:
Richard Kennar (38 NRL games)
Panthers:
Eddie Blacker (2 NRL games)
Dragons:
Tautau Moga (87 NRL games)
Tyrell Fuimaono (66 NRL games)
Billy Burns (41 NRL games)
Roosters:
Nathan Brown (148 NRL games)
Connor Watson (125 NRL games)
Jake Turpin (75 NRL games)
Corey Allan (62 NRL games)
Billy Smith (27 NRL games)
Tigers:
Charlie Staines (47 NRL games)
Alex Seyfarth (47 NRL games)
Brandon Wakeham (40 NRL games)
Tukimihia Simpkins (5 NRL games)
