NRL free agents: Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Reynolds, Gareth Widdop headline next wave

A HOST of stars coming off contract at the end of 2017 means the NRL’s multimillion-dollar player signing frenzy has only just started following the James Tedesco/Kieran Foran/Aaron Woods bombshell.

• TRANSFER CENTRE: Every NRL player move, deal
• EXCLUSIVE: The transfers that will rock the NRL

THE NRL’s multimillion-dollar player signing puzzle has started to take shape following the triple bombshell involving James Tedesco, Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods.

With Foran and Woods off to the Bulldogs in 2018, and Tedesco joining the Roosters, there is no rest for NRL clubs as they scramble to sign — and re-sign — a host of stars coming off-contract at the end of the 2017 season.

Already the next wave of signings has begun, with The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield reporting that premiership-winning Cronulla halfback Chad Townsend has agreed to a new three-year contract.

Chad Townsend has signed a new deal with the Sharks. Picture: Gregg Porteous

While that’s one more name to strike from the off-contract list, there are plenty more players still yet to decide where they’ll be playing in 2018.

We look at the next big free agents to fall.

PHIL ROTHFIELD: How the triple signings fell into place

FRUSTRATION: Why Woods finally gave up on Tigers

ANALYSIS: NRL triple signing winners and losers

WILL HOPOATE (BULLDOGS)

Sidelined with injury, the former NSW State of Origin back is one of the Bulldogs in the firing line following the signings of Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran. Hopoate has a clause included in his contract that ­allows him to skip Sunday games for spiritual reasons, which may also affect his hopes of securing a new deal.

Canterbury will only keep him if they can get him on a cheap deal.

MICHAEL LICHAA (BULLDOGS)

On decent money and down on form, the former Sharks hooker shapes as a likely candidate for a Bulldogs exit. Des Hasler has the option of moving Moses Mbye to dummy half, which worked in last week’s win over South Sydney, to accommodate a Kieran Foran-Josh Reynolds halves pairing.

Bulldogs seem unlikely to keep him but he’ll find a start elsewhere.

Josh Reynolds looks to have salvaged his spot with the Bulldogs. Picture: Gregg Porteous

JOSH REYNOLDS (BULLDOGS)

Looked on the way out of the Bulldogs after an indifferent start to the season but his stocks have risen with star showings in recent weeks. The former NSW No. 6 has been linked with a move to the Sharks, while Gorden Tallis says the cashed-up Wests Tigers should come calling for Reynolds and his Bulldogs teammate James Graham.

Expect him to combine with Foran in the halves next year at the Dogs.

DANE GAGAI (KNIGHTS)

The Newcastle star has an option to stay but St George Illawarra and the Roosters are circling the 26-year-old. Knights coach Nathan Brown, having already missed out on several marquee recruits, will be desperate to retain the Queensland State of Origin attacking ace.

Happy at Newcastle, strongly tipped to stay.

JOSH DUGAN (DRAGONS)

The Dragons are trying to low-ball him as a centre but he wants top dollar as a fullback. St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor wants to keep him in the No. 1 jersey. It’s a mess and the Tigers and a few other clubs are ready to pounce.

Dragons need to get their act together or the international could walk.

Josh Dugan is poised to move on if the Dragons don’t lift their offer. Picture: Getty Images

DANIEL TUPOU/SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL/AIDAN GUERRA (ROOSTERS)

The Roosters need to make salary cap room for James Tedesco’s arrival, and outside backs Tupou and Kenny-Dowall, along with Queensland Origin forward Guerra, loom as the most likely casualties. Kenny-Dowall has been linked with a move to Newcastle.

Not all of them will be in red, white and blue in 2018.

BLAKE FERGUSON (ROOSTERS)

With Michael Gordon off contract and set to retire, the Roosters have just one player in their backline — young gun Latrell Mitchell — signed for next season. Ferguson has hardly set the NRL alight in 2017 but was the Kangaroos’ best player at last year’s Four Nations and will be their top retention target following the Tedesco signing.

Expect him to stay but won’t get superstar wages.

COOPER CRONK (STORM)

The Queensland and Kangaroos star sent shockwaves through the NRL when he announced earlier this month that he was leaving Melbourne at the end of the season and moving to Sydney to be with his fiancee, Tara Rushton. Cronk has yet to decide whether he wants to play on next year, with the Eels, Sharks and Dragons seemingly the only contenders for his signature if he does decide to go around again.

If he plays on, it will be a with a contender. Bad luck, Tigers fans.

The Titans are confident they can keep Jarryd Hayne on the Gold Coast. Picture: Jerad Williams

JARRYD HAYNE (TITANS)

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry has given the greatest indication Jarryd Hayne will commit to the Titans. The former international has yet to activate an option to stay at the Titans in 2018, and has until May to decide whether he wants to extend his Gold Coast sojourn and Henry believes he will. “I think he will stay,” Henry said on Friday.

You can never be certain with the Hayne Plane but he’s unlikely to fly elsewhere.

BEN MATULINO (WARRIORS)

The powerful Kiwi Test prop has yet to be sighted this year after undergoing knee surgery, but is in line to return this weekend. Matulino, 28, has also previously been linked to the Tigers who now have a void to fill up front with Aaron Woods off to the Bulldogs.

A reunion with Ivan Cleary at Concord seems likely.

SHAUN JOHNSON (WARRIORS)

Wests Tigers have been linked with a move for the Warriors halfback, given his time under coach Ivan Cleary. But Warriors boss Jim Doyle is confident of holding on to the club’s star No.7. “I spent time with Shaun yesterday, I met with his manager this week. We’re pretty close. Shaun obviously wants to get success and he wants to help this club get success,” Doyle said.

The Warriors will throw the North Island and potentially the South as well to keep him away from Australian clubs.

In-demand Warriors half Shaun Johnson is in line for a lucrative payday. Picture: Getty Images

DARIUS BOYD (BRONCOS)

The big-money signing of Jack Bird for next season has complicated things in Brisbane somewhat as they continue a massive retention drive. The Brisbane captain says he is comfortable earning less money than Bird and Broncos teammate Anthony Milford, also off contract, and has declared “I will finish my career at Brisbane”.

Highly unlikely to go anywhere, especially while Wayne Bennett is coach.

ANTHONY MILFORD (BRONCOS)

Brisbane have tabled a $2.7 million deal to Milford — worth approximately $900,000 a season. However, he is yet to sign and this figure could be bumped up once the club receives a clearer picture on the 2018 salary cap.

Will become highest-paid Bronco of all time.

NATHAN PEATS (TITANS)

A pay dispute is complicating his future with the Titans. “I want to stay,” the NSW Origin hopeful said earlier this week. A victim of the Eels’ salary-cap crisis last year, Peats had been linked with a return to Parramatta but looks set to snub his former club.

Seems set to be staying in the lighter blue and gold.

Dragons must splash the cash to retain in-form Gareth Widdop. Picture: Toby Zerna

GARETH WIDDOP (DRAGONS)

The talented five-eighth is in great form and with Ben Hunt arriving on big coin next year, the Englishman should also be getting a lucrative deal. But whether the Dragons can cough up enough dough to keep him is unclear. The Storm and Tigers are the most likely to land his signature if he leaves Wollongong.

Far from a done deal, the Dragons would be mad to lose him.

JAMES ROBERTS (BRONCOS)

Roberts is set to extend his career at Red Hill with a new two or three-year contract — provided he maintains his off-field behaviour. Roberts has been under strict behavioural conditions this season, including a drinking ban, and monitored with a welfare program which is reaping rewards for the Broncos.

Would be earning more money if he had a clean record off the field.

JOHNATHAN THURSTON (COWBOYS)

Thurston is on the verge of inking his final NRL contract — a $1 million deal to finish his glittering career at the Cowboys. “I haven’t taken Johnathan to the open market. He will finish his career a Cowboy and so he should,” Thurston’s manager Sam Ayoub said earlier this month.

Will finish his career as a Cowboy.