Harry Newman has already become the first high-profile off-contract centre to sign with a new club for 2027 but there are a number of others who could follow, with plenty more also off-contract.
Newman, who is only contracted to the end of 2026 with Leeds Rhinos, will sign with incoming NRL side Perth Bears for 2027 with the England international one of the first big dominoes to fall in the Bears’ recruitment strategy.
His confirmed exit is a reminder to all other Super League clubs of the new transfer deadline with the May 1st date no more, and rival clubs instead allowed to negotiate with off-contract players from December.
With Newman and Catalans half-back Toby Sexton already having signed elsewhere for 2027, Super League clubs may be reminded of their need to tie down their star players and in the centre position, they’re are a host of top talents off-contract across the competition.
We’ve picked out the five best centres who are free to negotiate with rival clubs for 2027.
Who are the best Super League centres off-contract in 2026?
Oliver Gildart (Hull KR)
Gildart signed a three-year deal with Hull KR ahead of the 2024 season and he’s made a big impression in both campaigns, despite injury impacting him late in 2024 and midway through 2025. After missing the 2024 Grand Final, he bounced back well in 2025, starting the season in lightning form and then recovering from injury to feature at Old Trafford. Still only 29, he’ll be in high demand, either from KR or from rival clubs.
Umyla Hanley (Leigh Leopards)
A Dream Team centre in 2025 and he’ll look to build on that in this contract year with Hanley arguably the most exciting name on this list given the fact he’s still only 23. Despite debuting in Super League in 2020, it wasn’t until these past two seasons that he truly emerged but now he has, he’s bagged 27 tries in 57 games.
Zak Hardaker (Hull FC)
Hardaker hardly played centre last year and that is perhaps why he’s such an interesting player on this list with his versatility making him the standout player of the season at Hull FC in 2025. The veteran played almost every position outside of prop and hooker and despite being 34, Hardaker will surely be worth a one-year extension with the Black and Whites, or a new deal elsewhere.
Peta Hiku (Hull KR)
Another of the Hull KR treble-winning team who is off-contract with Peta Hiku approaching the end of his three-year deal. The former New Zealand international, who has just turned 33, was signed as a full-back but he’s established himself as a standout centre in Super League scoring seven tries in the league in 2025 after bagging 15 the year prior.
Toby King (Warrington Wolves)
King has never quite found the form that he showed when on loan at Wigan Warriors but his 2024 and 2025 seasons have still seen him bag 20 tries in 46 games. With Josh Smith and Albert Hopoate signed for 2026, it’s unclear how much of a role he’ll have at the Halliwell Jonex next year.
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