Cronulla are bracing for a poaching raid on some of their biggest stars as more than a third of all NRL players become free agents next week.
The November 1 transfer deadline ticks over on Friday, allowing all players not contracted beyond 2025 to test their market value with rival clubs. It will be a critical time for some of the highest-profile clubs, particularly Parramatta, Brisbane, Canterbury and Wests Tigers, who each have 14 players from their top-30 roster on the open market.
However, no franchise will feel the heat from rivals as much as the Sharks, who have a host of top-liners ready to be picked off.
While the club is close to brokering an extension with inspirational captain Cameron McInnes, most likely on a two-year contract, they will need to fight hard to keep other high-profile targets in the Shire. In all, Cronulla have 10 players off contract, including McInnes, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Ronaldo Mulitalo, William Kennedy, Daniel Atkinson, Kade Dykes, Samuel Stonestreet and Teig Wilton.
“I didn’t realise it was that many,” says premiership-winning Cronulla captain Paul Gallen.
“I’m sure the Sharks have sat down and prioritised who they want to keep, but they want to test themselves on the open market and see what sort of money they think they’re worth and what the Sharks are willing to pay.
“I don’t know what their priority list is, but I’d imagine guys like Ronaldo Mulitalo, Teig Wilton and Brit Nikora are right at the top of the list.
Some of Cronulla’s biggest names are coming off contract.Credit: Getty Images
“You can keep them all, but when you’ve got guys like Trindall and Atkinson jockeying for the same positions – and not on the money they could demand going forward – to keep all of them will be pretty hard.
“They’re building a pretty good culture at the Sharks, they all want to be there. They all love each other’s company; they’ve got a great connection with each other.
“Hopefully that counts towards something and they want to stay together, create a bit of history and do something down there.
“That will hold a fair bit of weight with a lot of their decisions, so we have to wait and see what they want to do.”
With 181 of the top 510 NRL players about to become available, there is no shortage of big names about to hit the market. Ryan Papenhuyzen, James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans, Reece Robson, Adam Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo, Xavier Savage, Leo Thompson, Davvy Moale and Fonua Pole will command interest, while Parramatta stars Dylan Brown and Will Penisini have options in their favour. Another integral member of the side, captain Clint Gutherson, may have played his last game for the blue and golds, despite being contracted for next season.
Can the Storm hang on to Ryan Papenhuyzen at a time when young gun Sualauvi Fa’alogo is committed to the club until the end of 2028?Credit: Getty Images
Some of the other big-name Eels about to become available include Shaun Lane, Ryan Matterson and Bryce Cartwright.
All will be keen to impress new coach Jason Ryles and prove themselves worthy of another deal.
“Obviously with new coaching staff coming in, everyone’s going to be looking to put their best foot forward, and first impressions are everything,” Eels co-captain Junior Paulo says. “You can already imagine that it’s going to be a big pre-season.
“When you’ve got that many guys off contract, everyone’s going to be willing to play for that next one.
“But more so we owe it to the club for the past couple of seasons after what we’ve been putting in. We want to win. No one wants to be returning back to pre-season this early; you just want to be playing footy during September-October. It’s everything for us.
“That’s all you do as a footy player, you want to win. You want to be able to play in finals and for us, that hasn’t been the case the last couple of seasons.
“Every time you head into a pre-season you keep that in the back of your mind; it becomes a goal for what you want to achieve throughout the year.”
For some players, the November 1 deadline will be an opportunity to cash in on good form. Newcastle forward Leo Thompson, who is in camp with New Zealand’s Pacific Championships squad, could earn more than $800,000 from his next deal, twice what he is on now. Newcastle, former club Canberra, Canterbury and the Dolphins are watching the situation with interest.
Newcastle’s Leo Thompson could double his salary.Credit: Getty
It is also an intriguing time for Melbourne as they attempt to re-sign Papenhuyzen, at a time when young gun Sualauvi Fa’alogo is committed until the end of 2028.
Sam Walker, meanwhile, has agreed to remain at the Roosters, an ACL injury coming at a time when rivals were lining up for his services.
While all eyes are on the big market moves for 2026, some players are yet to find a home for next season. Just a few years ago, Anthony Milford was a $1 million-a-season player with clubs clamouring for his signature. The Samoan international made just two appearances for the Dolphins last season, but incoming coach Kristian Woolf is prepared to offer him another contract.
“It’s not clear what is going on, but the goal is to keep on playing footy,” Milford says.
“I feel I can offer something; I’m open to options. I feel I still have a lot to give; I’m not finished quite yet.
“There have been a few teams [express interest] here and overseas. The goal is to finish the tour [with Samoa] and sort out my future after that.”
There will be no shortage of NRL players attempting to do just that from Friday.
The 181 players off contract from November 1
BRONCOS (14)
Adam Reynolds, Blake Mozer, Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Fletcher Baker, Israel Leota, Jack Gosiewski, Jaiyden Hunt, Kobe Hetherington, Kotoni Staggs, Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Tyson Smoothy, Xavier Willison
RAIDERS (8)
Albert Hopoate, Corey Harawira-Naera (PO), Danny Levi, Emre Guler, Jamal Fogarty (CO), Simi Sasagi, Tom Starling, Xavier Savage
BULLDOGS (14)
Bailey Hayward, Blake Taaffe, Bronson Xerri, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Drew Hutchison, Jaeman Salmon, Jake Turpin, Jordan Samrani, Josh Addo-Carr, Kitione Kautoga, Kurt Mann, Kurtis Morrin, Ryan Sutton, Toby Sexton
SHARKS (10)
Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Kade Dykes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Samuel Stonestreet, Teig Wilton, Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha, William Kennedy
DOLPHINS (7)
Connelly Lemuelu, Felise Kaufusi, Harrison Graham, Josh Kerr, Kenny Bromwich, Mark Nicholls, Sean O’Sullivan
TITANS (10)
Harley Smith-Shields, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Jojo Fifita, Josiah Pahulu, Ken Maumalo, Kieran Foran, Ryan Foran, Tanah Boyd, Tony Francis, Ben Liyou
MANLY (12)
Aaron Schoupp, Ben Condon, Brad Parker, Clayton Faulalo, Daly Cherry-Evans, Dean Matterson, Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Jake Arthur, Tof Sipley, Tommy Talau, Jazz Tevaga
MELBOURNE (10)
Bronson Garlick, Christian Welch (MO), Grant Anderson, Jonah Pezet, Josh King, Lazarus Vaalepu, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Trent Loiero, Tui Kamikamica, Tyran Wishart (CO)
KNIGHTS (12)
Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Jackson Hastings, Jayden Brailey, Kai Pearce-Paul, Leo Thompson, Matthew Croker, Paul Bryan, Riley Jones, Sebastian Su’a, Tyson Frizell (MO), Will Pryce
COWBOYS (9)
Braidon Burns, Harrison Edwards (CO), Jake Clifford, Reece Robson, Robert Derby, Thomas Duffy, Tom Chester, Viliami Vailea, Zac Laybutt
EELS (14)
Brendan Hands, Bryce Cartwright, Clint Gutherson, Joey Lussick, Dylan Brown ***Joe Ofahengaue, Kelma Tuilagi, Luca Moretti, Ryan Matterson (PO), Sam Tuivaiti, Shaun Lane (MO), Toni Mataele, Will Penisini (PO), Wiremu Greig
PANTHERS (9)
Asu Kepaoa, Brad Schneider, Daine Laurie, Harrison Hassett, Luke Sommerton, Mavrik Geyer, Preston Riki, Riley Price, Soni Luke
DRAGONS (13)
Ben Hunt, Christian Tuipulotu, Corey Allan, Dylan Egan, Jacob Liddle (MO), Kyle Flanagan, Michael Molo, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Ryan Couchman, Sione Finau, Toby Couchman, Viliami Fifita, Hamish Stuart
RABBITOHS (10)
Alex Johnston, Ben Lovett, Cody Walker, Davvy Moale, Haizyn Mellars, Jacob Host, Lachlan Ilias, Siliva Havili, Tallis Duncan, Tyrone Munro
ROOSTERS (5)
Chad Townsend, Egan Butcher, James Tedesco, Robert Toia, Sam Walker
WARRIORS (10)
Adam Pompey, Bunty Afoa, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Demitric Sifakula (CO), Dylan Walker, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tohu Harris, Tom Ale
TIGERS (14)
Adam Doueihi, Alex Seyfarth, Brent Naden, Charlie Staines, Chris Fa’agutu, David Klemmer (MO), Fonua Pole, Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua, Tony Sukkar (CO), Solomona Faataape, Reuben Porter, Heath Mason, Will Craig
PO – player option; CO – club option; MO – mutual option.