You can\u2019t go a day without a player movement story in the NRL and things are only going to get wilder this month as a stack of superstars can be offered contracts from rival clubs while still having a year to run on their current deals.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t miss the Summer of the Century. Get 50% off Kayo Premium for 6 months. Min cost $23 for 1 month. New & returning customers only. Offer ends 31 Oct 2026. Sign up today.<\/a><\/p>\n The November 1 free agency window this year is the biggest yet thanks to the arrival of the PNG Chiefs, who will enter the competition in 2028.<\/p>\n There will be signings made in the coming weeks that will influence the futures of many clubs, both positively and negatively. <\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Foxsports.com.au talked to two of the game\u2019s biggest player agents, Steve Gillis and David Riolo, to get an inside look at how the next couple of months may play out as clubs battle to secure the best available talent on the open market.<\/p>\n THE CHIEFS ARE READY TO ROCK THE GAME<\/p>\n This year\u2019s November 1 open market window is no doubt the biggest the game\u2019s seen thanks to two things \u2013 the PNG Chiefs, and the recent broadcast rights deal.<\/p>\n The NRL this year announced a bumper $5.3 billion TV rights deal <\/a>with Foxtel Group and Channel 9.<\/p>\n Rivers of gold are set to flow through the game and the announcement has had a big effect on player contracts according to leading player manager Gillis.<\/p>\n He told Foxsports.com.au that the word \u2018ratchet clause\u2019 has been heard more due to the broadcast deal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, probably more than I can remember, there\u2019s a lot of high-profile players coming off (contract) which will attract the interest of multiple clubs,\u201d Gillis said. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it was done specifically, but I think the new television deal may have seen some agents advise players to pause and just see what happens before they strike.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ratchet clause gives players comfort, but I\u2019m sure players and agents would still prefer to know the number (salary cap) rather than rely on a percentage of something which we don\u2019t know what will be.<\/p>\n \u201cI think clubs and the NRL accept that because we don\u2019t know what their cap\u2019s going to be. The players are entitled to that clause and I think you\u2019ll find that the vast majority, if not all, anticipate that clause to be included.\u201d<\/p>\n Walker’s Roosters deal is dead | 01:23<\/p>\n MORE SAM WALKER NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018ALMOST INSULTING\u2019: The moment Robbo called Buzz… with \u2018staggering\u2019 Walker reveal<\/a><\/p>\n LANDING SPOTS: Huge twist in Walker sweepstakes after Bennett\u2019s big reveal<\/a><\/p>\n The inclusion of the PNG Chiefs from 2028 has got every other NRL club understandably concerned due to their advantage of being able to offer players tax-free contracts.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve already signed a host of stars <\/a>including Jarome Luai, Joey Manu, Brian To\u2019o, Connor Watson and Zac Lomax.<\/p>\n There will be several NRL clubs who are going to lose a star player over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not only due to tax-free money \u2013 the Chiefs have proven that they\u2019re well run and know how to make a noise that benefits them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Chiefs have clearly shown they\u2019re going to be competitive and aggressive in the market,\u201d Gillis said. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re run professionally and know what they\u2019re doing. They would have a hit list of players that after November 1 they\u2019re allowed by the rules to engage with.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be conversations between clubs and agents and players from that date.\u201d<\/p>\n Riolo told Foxsports.com.au that this November 1 free agency period is different from previous ones because of the threat of the Chiefs who are locked and loaded when it comes to offers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can put their tentacles out there a bit more and get more expressions of interest and actually start playing a little bit more aggressively,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gone over our lists and our players. It\u2019s an interesting project. It\u2019s not like going to a normal club.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the clubs at the bottom of the league, like clubs who are looking for a marquee, well, November 1 is important because it means they can actually get that deal done.\u201d<\/p>\n Titans extend Harrison up to 2029 | 00:28<\/p>\n Riolo also backed the opinion of Gillis regarding how well the Chiefs are being run when it comes to poaching players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Papua New Guinea team, they seemed to be very organised and very clinical in their approach to recruitment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve basically had all their ducks in a row and when they\u2019ve got people over there, they\u2019ve fired the shots and they\u2019ve pretty much got them.\u201d <\/p>\n Gillis said on his podcast, Chiming In, a few months ago that players he manages have been asking him about the Chiefs.<\/p>\n And he went one further last week when he told Foxsports.com.au: \u201cI\u2019ve had NSW Cup players ask me if the Chiefs are interested.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are players that will have a bit of a chuckle and say, \u2018make sure you get me to the Chiefs, I want a piece of the tax-free money\u2019,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n \u201cBut it only becomes real if the Chiefs have a genuine interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Strange not thinking of Roosters | 00:45<\/p>\n LONG-TERM STRATEGIES<\/p>\n Clubs haven\u2019t been able to talk to contracted players until Sunday, but it doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t a lot going on, legally, in the background prior to November 1.<\/p>\n Riolo pointed out that players are signing with different clubs all the time, but why the November to December deals have more traction is because people are changing clubs when they\u2019ve still got a year to run on their current contract. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd that was obviously not always perceived well by fans and clubs,\u201d Riolo said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the modern game it\u2019s changed a bit now. Players are doing it more often and it\u2019s just a result of a professional game that\u2019s not as tribally based.\u201d<\/p>\n Every club would have a big whiteboard set up listing the players who are available to negotiate future contracts from November 1.<\/p>\n And the Chiefs would have more names than anyone on their list as they try and form an inaugural squad for the 2028 season.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve signed some handy backs but no forwards of note and have only been able to talk to a small pool of players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Chiefs have all the agents listed and they know exactly what they\u2019re doing and they would have lists of players in order that they might target and after November 1 they\u2019ll start to work through those lists,\u201d Gillis said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Chiefs want to secure and announce their signings and they\u2019re allowed to do it under the rules, so they won\u2019t be sitting on their hands, they\u2019ll be very proactive.\u201d<\/p>\n Player manager David Riolo is preparing to negotiate many contracts for his players this summer.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Riolo said plenty of homework has gone into what will happen in the next couple of months. <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget, players don\u2019t have to sit around waiting for November 1 to have a look at what their options may or may not be,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cPlayers, if they\u2019ve met with their agents, can say \u2018hey what do you think my options will be?\u2019 And it\u2019s not hard to speculate.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re in specific positions you can go through the rosters, and we do. Our job is to know who\u2019s coming off when.\u201d<\/p>\n Riolo said if one of his players came to him asking where his next home could be, if his current club doesn\u2019t want to extend his deal, it was easy enough to figure out possible targets. <\/p>\n \u201cFullbacks for instance, nearly every club has a marquee fullback, but some of them are at different ages and some of them are right in their sweet spots,\u201d Riolo said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re a young fullback at the Broncos, you\u2019re probably going to look at what your options are because Reece Walsh is in the Australian team and he\u2019s only in his mid-20s.<\/p>\n \u201cJames Tedesco gets better, he\u2019s like a bottle of red wine, but he\u2019s not getting younger, so there\u2019s a whole host of considerations to look at.\u201d<\/p>\n HOW QUICK CAN A DEAL BE MADE<\/p>\n In the old days of the June 30 window, when players could switch clubs before that date, there would often be deals announced literally on the morning of July 1.<\/p>\n Footy fans are no doubt eagerly waiting to see what happens in the player market post-November 1.<\/p>\n But they likely will have to wait a little longer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be shocked if anyone announced on November 2 or 3 that they\u2019ve signed at a club,\u201d Gillis said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt would be a little bit of a questionable process.<\/p>\n \u201cNo-one sets their alarm clock for midnight on November 1. It\u2019s not like duck season, here we go, it\u2019s a process.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I do expect some cards to fall at some stage late in November and throughout December.\u201d<\/p>\n DCE: ‘No one’s in the wrong!’ | 01:06<\/p>\n Riolo said while contract negotiations can go on for months, others can be settled \u201cstraight away\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cA player might have already decided that he wants to leave and a good deal comes in, and it\u2019s a gift horse,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Gillis tells a good story about how quickly a deal can be done.<\/p>\n When he managed State of Origin forward Beau Scott, he helped him move from St George Illawarra to Newcastle in the twinkling of an eye.<\/p>\n He met the late Peter Mulholland, the then Knights recruitment manager, in a Picton cafe in 2012 and negotiated Scott\u2019s deal to move to Newcastle within minutes. <\/p>\n \u201cPeter said, \u2018What do you want? I said, \u2018We want this\u2019 and he said, \u2018We can do that, you happy\u2019? I said \u2018Yeah\u2019, he said \u2018All right, I\u2019ll get the contract done\u2019 and that was the end of it,\u201d Gillis said. <\/p>\n \u201cSo it can be very short. That was a rare occasion. That was his preferred destination.\u201d<\/p>\n So expect the first deals to be announced fairly soon, especially for the likes of Sam Walker and Hudson Young who rival clubs have known for a fact that they\u2019ll be available. <\/p>\n But how cocky should star players be when negotiating their next contracts?<\/p>\n THE DANGERS OF KNOCKING BACK A CONTRACT<\/p>\n The Roosters and the Raiders both pulled offers to Walker and Young respectively <\/a>and while the Queensland halfback won\u2019t lose money when he signs with another club, the same can\u2019t be said for Young.<\/p>\n The Raiders offered him $1.1 million a season, but which rival club will now match that? <\/p>\n Walker has been criticised for not accepting the offer from the Roosters considering what that club can do for players post-career. <\/p>\n Roos rally around under-siege Walker | 00:58<\/p>\n And it\u2019s the top players who should be worrying the most when it comes to saying no to what look like attractive contract offers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get into higher-end deals you\u2019ve got to be careful if you knock them back because there might not be that many other offers,\u201d Riolo said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like when you\u2019re selling a house, with those high-end houses, they don\u2019t have 20 buyers, but when you sell a cheap house you\u2019re in a Dutch auction.\u201d<\/p>\n Riolo and his star client Matt Burton are set to discuss a range of possible contract offers.<\/p>\n The Bears are reportedly set to offer him a mammoth $5 million deal<\/a> to come over and be their five-eighth.<\/p>\n It will be tough to knock back knowing it\u2019s unlikely that there will be another offer that lucrative.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got Matt Burton coming off. He\u2019s a star player but I haven\u2019t got 16 clubs wanting him. Some couldn\u2019t afford him,\u201d Riolo said. <\/p>\n \u201cMatt Burton wouldn\u2019t go to Newcastle, not because he doesn\u2019t like Newcastle, but they\u2019ve got money tied up in Sandon Smith, probably $500,000, they\u2019ve got $1.3 million in Dylan Brown as a No. 6 and $1.5 million in Kalyn Ponga at fullback.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir next deal for Fletcher Sharpe\u2019s going to be massive too. So they just couldn\u2019t afford him (Burton).<\/p>\n \u201cEven if they thought he was a great player, it\u2019s like going \u2018well I got a Porsche, I can\u2019t buy a Ferrari\u2019. It\u2019s not like anyone can get him now (that it\u2019s November 1).\u201d <\/p>\n It\u2019s why the likes of Burton, Cameron Munster, Sam Walker and Harry Grant need to be careful over the next couple of months when deciding what deal to accept.<\/p>\n Grant has surprised many by going on the open market <\/a>after many felt he would play out his career in Melbourne along with Munster. <\/p>\n Dolphins nail down superstar fullback | 00:32<\/p>\n Grant has been linked with Newcastle but Riolo explained why that would be near-impossible to happen based on their likely salary cap situation.<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t see how Harry can go to Newcastle. We don\u2019t know their cap but I can speculate pretty well and I can\u2019t see how Newcastle (can get him). Harry Grant is going to want over a million bucks comfortably,\u201d Riolo said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the best hooker in the game. He\u2019s not with me but I just can\u2019t see how they could afford Harry Grant.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s more probably his agent using the media to put his price up for Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go through the hookers in the comp, it\u2019s not always that easy. You go to the Sharks and Blayke Brailey\u2019s just made Origin and Australia and he\u2019s only young and he\u2019s the captain and he plays 80 (minutes) a week.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they\u2019re not even going to buy Harry Grant because they\u2019ve already got Blayke under contract for four years, even if they think Harry\u2019s better.\u201d<\/p>\n While clubs were not in the position to offer contracts to the likes of Walker, Grant, Burton and even Nathan Cleary, it doesn\u2019t mean they weren\u2019t working behind the scenes to see which players they can move on if a star is available. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s based on finances, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Gillis said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might see some clubs push to release some players for next season to free up some space, that could potentially happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Riolo also highlighted the situation at the Dolphins with two star backline players in Jack Bostock and Herbie Farnworth on the open market.<\/p>\n Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow re-signed with the club on Monday, which adds extra pressure on the club to retain the other two.<\/p>\n “Only place that can afford him!” | 12:08<\/p>\n Bostock and Farnworth have been linked with the Dragons and Roosters respectively.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Dolphins have got such a stacked backline and there\u2019s a lot of them off contract so that\u2019s going to be interesting,\u201d Riolo said. <\/p>\n \u201cThat could be pretty hot in November for the Dolphins.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve already lost Jake Averillo, they\u2019ve already moved on Kodi Nikorima, they\u2019ve bought the six (George Williams) from England, and they\u2019ve lost Jamayne Isaako.<\/p>\n \u201cSo they\u2019ve already lost three of their top eight backs and their two major ones (Farnworth and Bostock) are still off.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got two world-class backs who all have gone up (in value) from their last deals. That\u2019s going to be tough (to keep them all).<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if they do keep them all, well, there\u2019s a hole somewhere. What does that mean for (Tom) Flegler? What does that mean for the forward pack?\u201d<\/p>\n POWER SHIFT CHANGING?<\/p>\n The Hudson Young and Sam Walker contract pulls have been arguably the biggest news in the game this year.<\/p>\n The Raiders and Roosters decided to take control of the respective situations and actually made things difficult for the pair, particularly Young whose career is in a little bit of limbo right now.<\/p>\n Riolo said while many of the elite still have plenty of power at the negotiating table, it\u2019s more about who they\u2019re holding talks with.<\/p>\n Does Young want OUT of Canberra? | 07:30<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n