NRL off contract 2022: How many stars can South Sydney afford to lose?

South Sydney have only just emerged from the Adam Reynolds talks but they are facing another challenging six months leading into November 1.

The clock is again ticking on South Sydney. Only a matter of months after the club endured the Adam Reynolds saga, the Rabbitohs are facing another salary cap fight as they attempt to retain some of their biggest names.

Souths have a handful of stars who will become eligible to sign with rival clubs on November 1, leaving the Rabbitohs with just six months to extend their deals or risk them heading to the open market.

The group is led by Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook and Cody Walker – the heartbeat of the side. Throw in Tom Burgess, Liam Knight, and young stars Lachlan Illias, Blake Taaffe, Davvy Moale and Terrell Kalo Kalo, and it represents the future of the club.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The Rabbitohs have a host of stars coming off contract shortly. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Rabbitohs have already begun talks with Ilias, having held initial discussions with his manager Braith Anasta last week. They have also held initial discussions with Moale. It was the beginning of what could be a long road.

They have plenty of work to do given Mitchell, Walker and Cook will eat up a sizeable chunk of their salary cap. Walker and Cook, in particular, are at interesting stages of their careers given they are 32 and 30 respectively.

Yet they are also at the top of their games, which suggests they won’t come cheap. Cook made it clear this week that he was committed to the club and was happy for discussions with his manager and the Rabbitohs to take part in the background.

Damien Cook wants to stay at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I love it here,” Cook said.

“A couple of the older boys I have played a lot of footy with – Cody and Alex Johnston. But then you have the likes of these young guys coming through – Lachie and Taaffe, Davvy Moale.

“It is exciting to watch the players train and you want to be part of it. To be honest I haven’t even spoken to my manager about any plans.

“I will try to limit my involvement in that. Being here a whole, I think I can leave it to him and the club to sort out in the background. I am sure they know I want to stay here.

“It’s in everyone’s best interests I supposed to have it done before then (November 1).”

The last thing the Rabbitohs need is another saga being played out in public. The Reynolds talks threatened to hijack their season last year but his departure created space for Ilias, who has stepped in and handled himself with aplomb.

That has created a problem in itself given his value has skyrocketed.

150 PLAYERS SET TO ENTER $50M NRL AUCTION

Matt Burton was heralded as the mega-signing that would inspire a Bulldogs revival but suddenly the club are bracing for the possibility that their star man will resist triggering an option in his contract to commit to the club long-term.

Pinched from Penrith’s premiership-winning side to spearhead Canterbury’s attack under Trent Barrett, Burton is among a group of high-profile playmakers who are up for grabs in a matter of months.

News Corp has done a deep dive into each of the 16 clubs and found that more than 150 players, valued in excess of $50 million, will enter the final year of their current deals on November 1, making them free to sign deals with rival clubs.

Bulldogs star Matt Burton will be free to test the open market from November 1. Picture: Scott Davis

It means Bulldogs fans are facing an agonising six-month contract marathon, with Burton free to test his brilliance — and current $550,000 value — with rival clubs from the start of November. It is six months and counting for clubs and players across the game.

Burton arrived at Canterbury on a guaranteed two-year deal worth about $1.1 million but he has a player option his way to extend his deal into 2024.

Since signing the deal, Burton has become a premiership winner and his worth has increased.

On the open market, he could easily command more than $700,000, and the Bulldogs will have to dip into their pockets to keep him away from rivals come November 1.

Despite the Bulldogs winning just one game this season, Burton is already in line for a massive contract upgrade.

It is understood Burton won’t take up his option but that does not mean his time at the club will end. It just means the Bulldogs will be at the mercy of their rivals’ cheque books when the day arrives that he can officially sign with a rival.

The Bulldogs have a handful of other stars who loom as potential targets — Corey Allan, Jake Averillo, Kyle Flanagan, Jack Hetherington, Josh Jackson, Jeremy Marshall-King, Brent Naden and Luke Thompson will be up for grabs from November 1.

The flipside of that is that the Bulldog will have flexibility with their salary cap, giving them the freedom to make some impact signings.

While the Bulldogs are trying to climb the ladder, some of the game’s power clubs are facing an arduous six months as they attempt to extend the deals of their players and prevent their rivals picking them apart.

Panthers stars Brian To’o, left, and Stephen Crichton, right, are among a host of NRL stars up for grabs from November 1. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Defending premier Penrith are facing another salary cap squeeze, leaving chief executive Matt Cameron to try to resolve the futures of stars Steve Crichton, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Izack Tago.

It is understood initial talks have been held between the club and leading agent Liam Ayoub, whose company that counts Crichton, To’o and Tago among its clientele.

To’o said Nathan Cleary’s decision to ink a long-term deal on a reduced wage could entice others at the club to do the same.

“Little things like that makes you want to stay,” To’o said.

“Being proud of playing alongside him, he’s my favourite player. It just shows what kind of player Nat is. He’s the heart and soul of this team, he’s always doing selfless acts, taking pay cuts to ensure what’s best for the club.

“He’s my No. 1 brother. I love that guy.”

Warriors fullback Reece Walsh is a top target for the Dolphins. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

While the Dolphins are widely-considered frontrunners to sign Reece Walsh as their fullback, a back-up plan should the Walsh deal fall through would be to try and woo Crichton by offering him the chance to transition from centre to fullback.

The further conundrum for the Dolphins is that they need talent for their inaugural season next year — 12 months before the likes of To’o, Crichton, Tago and Martin are available.

The best-case scenario for the Dolphins is that they secure their targeted talent for 2024, before pressuring for an early release of the player for 2023.

The Panthers will work overtime to ensure it doesn’t come to that.

The club has already felt the financial repercussions of winning a premiership — Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau will leave at the end of this season.

There is every chance that forward Spencer Leniu could depart as well given there is widespread interest in the front rower and his exit would help the Panthers’ salary cap situation, particularly with winger Taylan May yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.