John Sutton set to re-sign with South Sydney Rabbitohs but many NRL stars still on open market

IF you cobbled a team together based on all the NRL stars still off-contract at the end of 2017 you would have a squad with some serious talent... and salary cap issues. This is what it would look like.

Star off-contract players would make quite the team.

JOHN Sutton will get the chance to become the first Rabbitoh to play 300 NRL games at the foundation club with the veteran set to sign a contract for 2018.

Already South Sydney’s record holder for most matches, Sutton racked up his 276th outing in Friday night’s loss to Cronulla and is set to ink a new deal this week which will give him a shot at the exclusive triple-century club.

SEE WHAT A TEAM OF UNCONTRACTED PLAYERS WOULD LOOK LIKE BELOW.

The Bunnies’ 2014 premiership-winning captain is one of many stars still on the open market.

With just 101 days until the 2018 pre-season officially begins, six players who competed in this year’s State of Origin series remain unsigned as the long-running saga of the new collective bargaining agreement continues.

Star off-contract players would make quite the team.

The Sunday Telegraph has assembled a team of free agents that would challenge for an NRL title with Melbourne stars Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater headlining a list of unsigned talent worth an estimated $7 million.

Cronk remains the No.1 recruitment target for a trio of cashed-up rival teams — one of which could make a double play to lure him and Slater from the Storm in a package deal.

“It is certainly flattering to have that type of interest,’’ said Slater’s manager George Mimis.

“But Billy has a purple heart. I couldn’t see him playing for anyone else other than Melbourne. And Cooper has asked not to negotiate with anyone until he makes a decision on his future. But that certainly hasn’t stopped the phone calls.’’

John Sutton is set to become the first Rabbitoh to notch 300 matches.

Darius Boyd is a surprise big name still on the list with several clubs unaware the Brisbane ace was even on the market amid speculation he has made a handshake deal with coach Wayne Bennett to remain a Bronco.

Roosters winger Blake Ferguson, Storm prop Nate Myles and Warriors forward Jacob Lillyman are the other Origin players yet to ink a deal for 2018.

Souths are likely to offload veteran prop Dave Tyrell to keep Sutton a one-club man while several teams will be keen to land Broncos centre James Roberts.

The unprecedented July list of off-contract players has been blamed on the CBA with the NRL and the RLPA still at loggerheads over the salary cap increase.

Nate Myles is still without a club for 2018.

“It has been a buoyant market considering we are coming to the end of the current collective bargaining agreement,’’ Mimis said.

“But that said the uncertainty over the future CBA has created some impediments around getting timely outcomes for some contract negotiations.’’

A new salary cap figure — tipped to be $9.5m — is expected to be announced as soon as next month but the NRL and RLPA are still fighting over the union’s claim for a 29 per cent revenue sharing model.

THE BEST TEAM YOUR MONEY COULD BUY

If you were to put a team together based on all the players still off-contract at the end of 2017 then it would have quite a few marquee stars. This is the best team money could buy right now...

Clubless wonders

Jersey	Name	Price
1	Billy Slater	$1m+	Likely to stay at the Storm. Has a deal waiting for him when he is ready.
2	Darius Boyd	$1m+	Has a handshake deal to continue at the Broncos. A number of clubs are hoping he has an unlikely falling out with Wayne Bennett.
3	Blake Ferguson	$500,000+	Set to be offered a revised deal at the Roosters. Likely to hit the open market.
4	James Roberts	$400,000+	Wants another deal at the Broncos. There will be no shortage of suitors should he test his worth.
5	Will Zillman	$150,000	On the outer at the Titans. Looking for a new home.
6	John Sutton	-	Set to sign a one-year deal to finish his career at Souths.
7	Cooper Cronk	$1m+	Being hunted by Cronulla, South Sydney and Canterbury. The ball is in Cronk’s court.
8	Nate Myles	$250,000+	He is hoping to earn a new deal after a mid-season switch to Melbourne for the rest of this year.
9	Michael Lichaa	$150,000	On the open market and little chance of staying at Canterbury.
10	Tim Grant	$250,000	Considering joining the Super League but a number of NRL clubs interested in the big Tiger.
11	Jacob Lillyman	$250,000	Might retire. Might go again. He hasn’t made a call.
12	Bodene Thompson	$200,000	Likely to field offers.
13	Pauli Pauli	$250,000	Will be open to offers to leave Newcastle.
14	Lachlan Fitzgibbon	$200,000	A must for the Knights to re-sign.
15	Tony Williams	$150,000	Said to have had interest from two NRL clubs.
16	Jai Arrow	$350,000	In the sights of the Titans.
17	Tyrone Roberts	$200,000+	Likely to hit the market.

Originally published as John Sutton set to re-sign with South Sydney Rabbitohs but many NRL stars still on open market