The futures of more than 150 NRL players are up for grabs from November 1 with all 17 clubs facing big decisions on some of their best players in coming months.

CANBERRA RAIDERS

Free agents: Ata Mariota, Elliott Whitehead, Harley Smith-Shields, Jamal Fogarty, Josh Papalii, James Schiller, Jordan Rapana, Nick Cotric, Pasami Saulo, Peter Hola, Trey Mooney, Zac Woolford.

The Raiders have a rather long list of players off-contract at the end of next season. Papalii headlines the group, but he and the club have a mutual option to extend to 2025 so the prop should be retained. Coach Ricky Stuart revealed 2024 would be the final season for veterans Rapana and Whitehead. Fogarty is expected to extend his stay in the nation’s capital for at least another season.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Free agents: Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Delouise Hoeter, Jordan Riki, Kurt Capewell, Martin Taupau, Brendan Piakura, Corey Oates.

Grand final star Mam is a top priority, but the Broncos are confident he will agree to terms. Captain Reynolds is set to sign a one-year extension. Brisbane are likely to lose one of their three back-rowers, Capewell, Riki and Piakura after 2024.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Free agents: Hayze Perham, Jackson Topine, Liam Knight, Max King, Reece Hoffman, Toby Sexton.

Without any big names coming off contract, the priority should be scoping out targets as part of the long-term overhaul of their squad. Keeping Knight should be a priority, along with Sexton if he finds form.

CRONULLA SHARKS

Free agents: Braden Hamlin-Uele, Connor Tracey, Jack Williams, Matt Moylan, Mawene Hiroti, Oregon Kaufusi, Toby Rudolf.

Could face a challenge to hold onto Tracey given what he has shown with limited chances at fullback. Would want to keep Hamlin-Uele and Rudolf, but it’s hard to see Moylan staying.

DOLPHINS

Free agents: Anthony Milford, Edrick Lee, Euan Aitken, Jarrod Wallace, Jesse Bromwich, Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls, Tesi Niu, Valynce Te Whare.

The value of utility Nikorima was reinforced this season and he should be a priority. Prop Wallace had one of his best years and is likely to get a new deal. Lee and Te Whare will need strong starts to 2024 to be re-signed.

GOLD COAST TITANS

Free agents: Isaac Liu, Joe Stimson, Kieran Foran, Klese Haas, Tom Weaver, Treymain Spry.

Veteran Foran will reunite with old coach Des Hasler next year and that could be the catalyst for the playmaker getting another season. Half Weaver is a local junior who the club rate highly and the Titans must decide whether he is worth backing long-term.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Free agents: Ben Trbojevic, Christian Tuipulotu, Corey Waddell, Karl Lawton, Ray Tuaimalo Vega, Zac Fulton.

The Sea Eagles are reasonably stable with big money tied up in their top-end players. Attention has already turned to keeping Haumole Olakau’atu beyond 2025.

MELBOURNE STORM

Free agents: Nick Meaney, Reimis Smith, Marion Seve, Aaron Pene.

Meaney has been a revelation at fullback in the absence of Ryan Papenhuyzen and is likely to get a new deal. The Storm lacked punch in the centres this year and have a decision to make about whether Smith or Seve are the answer given Justin Olam is on the outer.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Free agents: Bradman Best, Dane Gagai, Enari Tuala, Jacob Saifiti, Mathew Croker, Simi Sasagi, Tyson Gamble.

Face a genuine battle to hold onto both Best and Saifiti, with Wests Tigers circling Best and Saifiti one of the best forwards on the market. A call must also be made on the club’s long-term five-eighth, between off-contract Gamble and recruit Jack Cogger.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Free agents: Tom Dearden, Chad Townsend, Tom Chester, Semi Valemei, Kyle Feldt, Jake Granville, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Heilum Luki, Sam McIntyre, Coen Hess.

Five-eighth Dearden is tipped to test the market on November 1 and the Cowboys will need to pull out all stops to keep him with veteran half Townsend nearing the end of his career. Luki will play for Queensland in the near future and the Cowboys can ill afford to lose him.

PARRAMATTA EELS

Free agents: Bailey Simonsson, Daejarn Asi, Jirah Momoisea, Makahesi Makatoa, Morgan Harper.

With no big-name talent off contract, the Eels can set their sights on the open market. They have long had a desire to lure in a star fullback or outside back, with Joey Manu, Nick Meaney and Bradman Best the top options.

PENRITH PANTHERS

Free agents: Daine Laurie, Jarome Luai, Luke Garner, Matt Eisenhuth, Mitch Kenny, Paul Alamoti, Sunia Turuva, Taylan May, Tyrone Peachey, Zac Hosking.

Face the biggest challenge of any club to keep star five-eighth Luai. Luai has admitted he faces a decision between money and more success, with the Panthers only able to offer him $850,000 a year and rivals likely to go beyond $1.1 million. Penrith must also make a call on their long-term backline with both Turuva and May off.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Free agents: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Cody Ramsey, Francis Molo, Jack de Belin, Jaiyden Hunt, Jaydn Su’A, Mat Feagai, Max Feagai, Michael Molo, Moses Suli, Paul Turner, Talatau Amone, Tyrell Sloan.

Have the most free agents, giving Shane Flanagan a chance to overhaul the roster. De Belin and Su’A could both face pay cuts, while calls must also be made on Amone and Sloan. Ben Hunt’s contract remains a talking point.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Free agents: Ben Lovett, Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Tass, Izaac Thompson, Jai Arrow, Michael Chee Kam, Peter Mamouzelos, Shaquai Mitchell, Taane Milne, Tom Burgess. 

Burgess is the biggest-name Rabbitoh off contract, and while it’s hard to see him going to an Australian rival the club could face a fight to keep him from joining the Super League. It’s also entering now-or-never territory for the club with rising half Hawkins.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Free agents: Angus Crichton, Brandon Smith, Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Manu, Luke Keary, Nat Butcher, Sitili Tupouniua, Terrell May.

Have the best class of talent off contract of any club and something will have to give. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s exit frees up some cap space, while questions will linger of Tupou and Waerea-Hargreaves’ future. Need to keep Manu, while Keary could be in demand if he opts to play on.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Free agents: Rocco Berry, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jazz Tevaga, Luke Metcalf, Freddy Lussick, Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris, Taine Tuaupiki, Jackson Ford.

Winger Watene-Zelezniak had a career-best season and is a player the Warriors should look to re-sign, while five-eighth Metcalf is set to attract plenty of interest after shining alongside Shaun Johnson. War horse captain Harris is 31, but he was one of the NRL’s best forwards in 2023.

WESTS TIGERS

Free agents: Adam Doueihi, Aidan Sezer, Asu Kepaoa, Jake Simpkin, Junior Tupou, Shawn Blore, Sione Fainu, Stefano Utoikamanu, Triston Reilly.

The club will want to see how Doueihi recovers from a third ACL rupture before re-signing him. By then, the Tigers will know whether they have lured Luai to Concord. Could also face competition to keep Utoikamanu.