We’re inching closer and closer to the most anticipated free agency feeding frenzy in NRL history.

Watch Australia’s Tour of South Africa Live & Exclusive on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | Get Kayo now >

A plethora of stars will be testing their value on the open market and could be on the move in what would be a mass roster shake-up across the league.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

While some clubs have more needs than others, we’ve picked out one player set to hit free agency that each team should target from November 1.

BRONCOS – Jack Howarth

It was a solid season from Howarth although perhaps, like many of his Storm teammates, it didn’t reach the heights of the 2025 campaign when Melbourne reached the grand final.

With that said, Howarth is a very promising player who has the versatility to play in the centres as well as the back row, although the backline is where he’s played the majority of his footy in first grade.

At this stage, Kotoni Staggs is the only recognised centre signed for 2028.

Gehamat Shibasaki is leaving while his replacement Dane Gagai has only signed a one-year deal for 2027.

Howarth is tough, plays with an edge and the sort of player Michael Maguire covets.

RAIDERS – Moses Leota

The Raiders have lost a fair bit of punch in the middle in recent seasons with Josh Papalii (retired), Corey Horsburgh (Perth) and Trey Mooney (Knights) all departing the club in the past 12 months.

What’s more, Hudson Young is more than likely on the way out as well at the end of next season after Canberra pulled a $4.4 million offer for him.

The Raiders have been linked to Leota and it would be a signing that makes sense.

He’s been a leading prop in this league for some time and alongside Joe Tapine, he’ll forge a fearsome 1-2 punch as well as be a great influence on the emerging forward talent coming through.

While Leota will garner interest from Canberra, Liam Martin will too after the Young development.

According to CODE Sports, the Origin back rower is already on the Raiders’ radar.

NZ thump Cook Islands after early scare | 01:11

BULLDOGS – Xavier Savage

It’s no secret the Bulldogs are lacking a bit of x-factor, particularly at fullback. Savage would certainly supply that.

Savage is a game breaker who possesses plenty of speed and has become a real weapon for the Raiders on the flank.

The 24-year-old has spent the last few seasons on the wing, but it was at fullback where he burst onto the scene in the NRL.

Savage’s form at fullback was excellent in his rookie year, helping Canberra to a semi-final in 2022.

However, since breaking his jaw in a pre-season game in 2023, Savage hasn’t started a game at fullback in first grade with Kaeo Weekes emerging as one of the NRL’s best at that position.

The Bulldogs have a talented side but might be a player or two short of seriously competing for a title.

Savage would be an upgrade on what they have at wing, but moving the speedster to the back could be a risk which pays off.

Connor Tracey is a serviceable player but limited and it’s hard to see the Bulldogs winning a comp with Tracey in the No. 1 jersey.

SHARKS – Cody Ramsey

After a nasty illness kept him sidelined for two seasons and almost derailed his NRL career, Ramsey reminded fans why he was so highly regarded.

After leaving the Dragons, Ramsey was given a lifeline by the Roosters.

He certainly took the opportunity with both hands and put himself in the shop window when filling in for an injured James Tedesco at fullback at times throughout the season.

While the Roosters will be desperate to hold onto Ramsey so he can replace Tedesco when the Chooks skipper retires, that might not be for another couple of seasons at least.

Ramsey will want to be loyal to the Roosters, but he’ll have plenty of interested teams wishing to talk to him.

Cronulla should be one of those teams.

Will Kennedy is serviceable but Ramsey possesses plenty of upside and he’d make the Sharks backline more dynamic.

Cody Ramsey will have his fair share of suitors. Will the Sharks be one of them?Source: Getty Images

DOLPHINS – Campbell Graham

It’s likely the Dolphins will need to replace one of or both Jack Bostock and Herbie Farnworth, given the pair will be hitting the open market.

Especially after Bostock’s breakout World Cup, it’s hard to see a scenario where the Dolphins keep both given they’ll command big money deals.

So, a slightly cheaper option presents in Campbell Graham.

A class outside back who has struck by the injury bug in recent times, Graham can play both wing and centre.

He’s also an elite defensive player which the Dolphins can always use.

It’s probably unlikely Souths let Graham leave, but there will be other clubs interested from November 1 and the Dolphins should be one of those if they lose either Bostock or Farnworth.

TITANS – Harry Grant

A huge development that dropped over the weekend was that the Titans gearing up for a mammoth play for Storm skipper Grant.

While the Titans have Oliver Pascoe, who just enjoyed a great season in the No. 9 jersey, for a club like the Gold Coast, if there’s an opportunity to add a Harry Grant, you swing for the fences.

The Titans are a burgeoning side who improved under Josh Hannay this season but there are still some question marks.

Grant might not necessarily change the club’s fortunes straight away, but he brings big-game experience and will command excellence.

The Storm are probably still the favourites to sign Grant for 2028 and beyond, but if there was ever a time he’d decide to leave the club, it’d be now given Craig Bellamy’s career is winding down and Cam Munster also hitting free agency.

Harry Grant will garner plenty of interest, but the Titans are expected to put together an offer that could prove hard to resist.Source: Getty Images

KNIGHTS – Fonua Pole

Newcastle have a fair bit of coin locked up in their backline, so they could aim to splash some cash to upgrade their forward pack.

The Knights are stacked in the back row, so new head of recruitment Anthony Field and his team will be looking for a talented middle forward to join the fray.

Newcastle do have some good youngsters in the system, led by Cody Hopwood, but the club should be on the lookout for a star prop.

Tigers gun Fonua Pole fits the bill.

He’s tireless in the middle and will set a strong example for this young pack but he’s only 24 himself, so his best football is still ahead of him.

STORM – Matt Burton

It’s looking more and more likely that Cam Munster may depart the club.

Melbourne have some talented young forwards emerging but there are question marks around what their halves could look like beyond next season.

Jahrome Hughes is locked down until the end of 2028 so a complimentary five-eighth should be paired up next to him.

The Storm could do worse than to look at Matt Burton, who appears he’ll be set to be squeezed out of Belmore.

He and Hughes will form a dynamic halves combo as they both possess strong kicking and running games.

Moreover, Burton will be reunited with left side centre Bronson Xerri, with that pair forming a lethal pair at times at the Bulldogs.

Matt Burton would be a good fit at the Storm.Source: Getty Images

SEA EAGLES – Stefano Utoikamanu

Manly have a talented roster but it’s no secret they need a powerhouse middle forward.

While Caleb Navale is emerging and is set to replace Jake Trbojevic at lock forward this season or next, the Sea Eagles also need a gun prop.

Taniela Paseka is more than handy but a guy like Stefano Utoikamanu could take this pack up a couple of notches.

Utoikamanu is the pick of the bunch when it comes to off contract front rowers so it’s a no-brainer for the Sea Eagles to at least consider.

The Storm prop has already been linked to the Roosters so other clubs may be up against it to sign Utoikamanu but Manly should be preparing to make a play at the representative middle forward.

PANTHERS – Nat Butcher

The Panthers desperately need to bolster their middle forward stocks with Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen departing and Moses Leota’s future up in the air.

But with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo set for fresh deals, any signings the Panthers make will have to come at a reasonable price – and potentially can only happen if Leota leaves.

Therefore, Nat Butcher shapes as a solid option with the premiership-winner being floated in a potential swap deal for rising star Cooper Bai.

The Tricolours knocked back the Titans move, explaining they have no desire for Butcher to depart, with Lindsay Collins being the other player floated.

The Roosters are a true NRL powerhouse, so it could take another heavyweight club in Penrith to pry him away as well as a slight salary bump, given Leota’s cap space could be on offer.

COWBOYS – Tom Flegler

The Cowboys are set to experience somewhat of a ‘changing of the guard’ when it comes to their middle forwards in the coming years.

Both Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess come off-contract at the end of the 2027 season and it remains to be seen if that pair will play on.

Therefore, Todd Payten could look for middle reinforcements, with Tom Flegler shaping as a live option after returning from a long-term injury this season with a bang.

Flegler hails from Tully in far-north Queensland and the Dolphins are facing a salary cap crunch, with a host of big-name players coming off-contract.

The Cowboys could swoop in with a play for Flegler to partner Reuben Cotter as a dangerous middle forward partnership for 2028 and onwards.

Tom Flegler.Source: Supplied

EELS – Bradman Best

Bradman Best has been heavily linked with a move to the Eels, who have made it clear they will hit the open market to bolster their outside backs stocks.

Josh Addo-Carr’s future is up in the air, while Sean Russell has also departed for the Bears – meaning Best’s signing would be incredibly timely for the struggling Parramatta club.

The 25-year-old has cemented himself as one of the most dangerous outside backs in the NRL, proving his quality for the Knights, NSW and most recently the Kangaroos.

In negotiating a new deal with Newcastle, Best was reportedly lowballed – leading to his decision to hit the open market.

And that decision could prove fruitful with the Eels likely to weigh in with a significant offer for a player that shapes as a huge upgrade in the centres.

ROOSTERS – Herbie Farnworth

It’s the rumour that won’t go away.

Herbie Farnworth has been consistently linked to the Roosters, with the Sydney powerhouse said to be plotting a raid for the game’s premier centre.

However, according to Phil Rothfield, the Tricolours could lure the Dolphins gun away from the 17th franchise by promising him the No. 1 jersey once James Tedesco departs.

“They’ve basically got an open chequebook for him,” he said on Triple M, explaining that the club “see Herbie as a fullback”.

With the Tricolours losing Mark Nawaqanitawase and Daniel Tupou after their 2026 premiership, a marquee move for Farnworth makes sense given the Roosters are always active in the market.

Especially after pulling a mammoth extension offer to retain Sam Walker, salary cap space won’t be an issue and Trent Robinson could well get his man.

Roosters withdraw offer for Sam Walker | 05:19

RABBITOHS – Blake Mozer

The hooker position has been a headache for the Rabbitohs since the departure of Damien Cook ahead of the 2025 season.

Brandon Smith arrived at the club as his replacement while Peter Mamouzelos is the club’s other hooker option, although he featured sparingly in 2026.

Smith didn’t get through 80 minutes in the No. 9 jersey this season, and there’s an argument to say the former Storm gun and Kiwi international is better suited in the middle rotation.

So Mozer shapes as an interesting proposition for the Rabbitohs, with the talented 22-year-old being given permission to negotiate with rivals regarding an immediate switch after struggling for first grade minutes under Michael Maguire.

Mozer has long been touted as a future star and he could be the perfect player to rotate with Smith, providing a creative point of difference while also allowing Wayne Bennett to shift his current No. 9 to lock.

DRAGONS – Sam Healey

This move makes sense for all parties.

The Dragons need a new hooker following the departure of veteran Damien Cook and Healey has been given permission to explore his options for the 2028 season.

Jacob Liddle is a talented No. 9, but has struggled with injuries during his stuttering career, with Connor Watson arriving in 2027 to beef out the club’s dummy-half stocks.

With the Warriors reportedly not open to allowing the 24-year-old to leave with a year remaining on his deal, Healey’s arrival in 2028 would then come at the perfect time.

Across his 29 NRL appearances, largely off the bench, the talented rake has proven he is a creative threat from behind the ruck – but he can also get through his work in defence.

The former Sharks junior would also be moving considerably closer to his home town in the south of Sydney, with his Dad Mitch Healey being a Sharks great.

TIGERS – Sam Walker

A bombshell dropped on Monday night when it was revealed the Roosters pulled their offer for the superstar No. 7.

With Nathan Cleary more than likely staying put with Penrith, Walker becomes the most sought free agent over the next few months.

We’re not sure whether Walker would entertain heading to a team that have been starved of success for so long, but the Tigers need a leading man with Jarome Luai no longer at the club.

With Luai’s huge contract off the books, money won’t be an obstacle for the Tigers if they hope to lure Walker.

Javon Andrews is an emerging talent and he would form a dynamic halves pairing with Walker if he was to come to the joint venture club.

WARRIORS – Blaize Talagi

The Warriors’ roster is in a position of strength at the moment as they really don’t have too many holes.

Their forward pack has the potential to be the one of the best in the comp in the coming years, boasting the likes of boom young guns Jacob Laban, Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima as well as the experience of Erin Clark and Jackson Ford.

There’s plenty of emerging talent in the backline as well although an upgrade somewhere wouldn’t hurt.

While their halves overachieved in 2026, it’s fair to say the jury is still out.

Chanel Harris-Tavita was excellent in a prove-it year and earned not one but two extensions until the end of 2029. He’ll start alongside Tanah Boyd in Round 1 next year injuries permitting.

However, if a player like Blaize Talagi is available, the Warriors should show some interest.

Talagi is in a weird position at the moment. He was benched by Penrith this year and it’s clear he’s on the outer.

It’ll be surprising if he is re-signed so rival clubs will soon circle.

He can play in the centres as well so his versatility and youth will appeal.

PERTH BEARS – Cameron Munster

The Bears are in need of a marquee signing and Cameron Munster shapes as the perfect option.

Elite spine players are hard to come by, especially when they wear the No. 6 for the Kangaroos and captain their state.

Munster’s camp were reportedly confused with the Storm’s latest extension offer, which shaped as a significant pay cut at $750,000 per-season.

That sparked the 32-year-old’s decision to hit the open market, with his manager Justin Caines confirming his client was “open to all options” when speaking to Code Sports.

While a move to Sydney could be on the cards, the Bears will almost undoubtedly make a play for Munster who immediately improves the 18th franchise’s spine.

Not only is he a leader, but Munster also shapes as a potential drawcard for other players to follow suit and make the move to Perth while also being one of the game’s premier playmakers.