The NRL's top free agents
One club is already eyeing a $5m offer for our No.1. Who else is on the market?
By Dan Walsh
OCTOBER 31, 2023
November 1 – surely the most-commonly cited date in the rugby league calendar – is all but upon us again, with a few tweaks and twists to the best playing talent going up for grabs.
The NRL says it’s serious about a strict “no talkies” rule between an interested club and a potentially interested, soon-to-be off-contract player before November 1.
Before, it was really more of a guideline. An incumbent club will now have 10 days and last rights to negotiations with a player – think Penrith tabling one last salvo to keep Jarome Luai.
And rising stars with less than six NSW Cup or NRL games to their name can’t be approached until mid-May, so none of them are duly included in the below epic.
It’s a market not as chock-full of marquee stars given the influx of long-term, big-money deals in the past year – spurred on by a rising salary cap as clubs tie up their best players.
But as always, there are bargains to be found, a market to be played, money to be spent and careers to be made.
Players such as Jai Arrow (extended by South Sydney and due to be announced early next month) and rising Rooster Siua Wong (re-signed for two more years in recent days) no longer feature.
Nor do players with mutual options for 2025 when the nature of that agreement between club and player is unconfirmed – such as Jack Bird at the Dragons, or it keeps them off the market until later in the year, like Stefano Utoikamanu’s exit clause at Wests Tigers if they miss the finals again.
Otherwise, the top 50 – plucked from around 170 November 1 free agents in total – are ranked based on their genuine worth in the market, taking in future potential, how long they’ve got left in the NRL and demand for their skill set – especially important in a market short on halves, hookers and front-rowers.
50. Daine Laurie
CLUB: PENRITH
AGE: 24
GAMES: 52
Returns to Penrith on a little more than $150,000 next season, less than half the Tigers were paying him this year, having travelled in the opposite direction. Has the potential to be a real strike weapon as a utility and a prime candidate to turn his career around as plenty have done over the course of Penrith’s premiership three-peat.
49. Tyson Gamble
CLUB: NEWCASTLE
AGE: 27
GAMES: 49
Turned a half-opportunity as a Knights depth signing into a run into the second week of the finals, doing so initial deal worth less than $200,000. Triggered an upgrade beyond that figure by playing almost every game last season and represents serious salary cap value. In line for a healthy bump-up but Newcastle are working through several negotiations at the moment.
48. Chad Townsend
CLUB: NORTH QUEENSLAND
AGE: 32
GAMES: 242
Enters the last season of a reported $700,000-a-year deal in Townsville after steering the Cowboys’ stunning 2022 campaign. Came back to the field last season and will turn 33 in January, though has the smarts to engineer another late-career revival like many of his playmaking cohort.
47. Shawn Blore
CLUB: WESTS TIGERS
AGE: 23
GAMES: 33
Has his fans around the game, not least Craig Bellamy, with Melbourne keen on the Tigers back-rower for some time now and entertaining a potential swap deal that sends Justin Olam to Concord to get their man. Blore has endured a wretched run with injury but at 190cm and 108kg, there’s plenty to like given the aggression and skill he can play with.
46. Reimis Smith
CLUB: MELBOURNE
AGE: 26
GAMES: 105
Took a pay cut to join Melbourne initially before an upgrade to his current deal. Was in and out of the Storm’s top 17 late in the season as Craig Bellamy tried to fix his team’s defensive issues on the edges. Preparing for his seventh full season of NRL and offers versatility and size out wide.
45. Moses Suli
CLUB: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
AGE: 25
GAMES: 118
Enters the final year of an estimated $1.7 million, three-year deal that brought him to the Dragons from Manly. Shane Flanagan is keen to get his hands on the 25-year-old centre – at his best he’s among the game’s most destructive outside backs but lacks consistency.
44. Daniel Tupou
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 32
GAMES: 241
A Roosters favourite and duly extended for 2024 when many figured Dominic Young’s arrival would force the veteran flyer out. His management entertained Super League and overseas interest briefly at the time – again these are the most likely options if this is to be Tupou’s last season for the Tricolours.
43. Bailey Simonsson
CLUB: PARRAMATTA
AGE: 25
GAMES: 85
Has been a regular fixture out wide for Parramatta since arriving from Canberra and was extended for 2024 in June. Solid and capable of playing anywhere in the back five, holding fire on his future and aiming for a strong start to the season – upping his market value – could well be the play.
42. Jackson Ford
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 25
GAMES: 57
One of the low-key finds of 2023 after the Warriors identified an 80-minute workhorse in the South Coast junior. Due for a healthy upgrade after signing on a modest two-year deal and establishing himself as the club’s fittest player. A retention priority for the Warriors – Josh Curran’s release to Canterbury was made with an eye to the club’s other back-row options, Ford chief among them.
41. Max King
CLUB: CANTERBURY
AGE: 26
GAMES: 97
Highly regarded at Canterbury, particularly by head honcho Phil Gould, and has barely missed a game after flirting with early retirement due to complications from ankle surgery. The type of middle forward every club needs and won’t break the bank.
40. Jazz Tevaga
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 28
GAMES: 119
Has battled injury the past two seasons and now looks set for a bench impact role in Andrew Webster’s forward rotation. A popular figure at the club and one of their longest-serving players, Tevaga would prefer to remain in Auckland, especially given the Warriors' trajectory. Canterbury did come calling the last time he was off contract.
39. Zac Woolford
CLUB: CANBERRA
AGE: 27
GAMES: 38
Nailed down Canberra’s starting hooker role after emerging from stable work at Randwick racecourse and the Newtown Jets in 2022. Woolford is content at the Raiders and it would take a significant offer to shift him given Canberra’s plans for a new contract beyond 2024.
38. Isaiah Tass
CLUB: SOUTH SYDNEY
AGE: 24
GAMES: 39
Arrived at South Sydney on a minimum-wage deal two years ago and earned himself an extension through until the end of 2024. Jack Wighton’s arrival and potential to play left centre casts a shadow on Tass’s future beyond that, though given he’s proven himself too good to play as a back-up or fringe first-grader.
37. Mitch Kenny
CLUB: PENRITH
AGE: 25
GAMES: 83
Underrated hooker in a market hardly overflowing with them, Kenny helped ensure Penrith didn’t miss a beat when Api Koroisau shifted to the Wests Tigers. Suits the Panthers to a T and hard to see him being lured away.
36. Tom Burgess
CLUB: SOUTH SYDNEY
AGE: 31
GAMES: 225
One of several big men synonymous with only one set of club colours, Burgess inked a significantly reduced one-year extension in March for 2024 after pushing for an extra 12 months in the contract. Has spoken openly of a Super League swansong and the stars could align at the end of next year.
35. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 34
GAMES: 298
Extremely long odds to leave his current nest given Waerea-Hargreaves had been eyeing 2023 as his final season until playing like a man with another year left in him. Will play his 300th NRL game at the start of 2024 and is expected to bow out at season’s end.
34. Jaydn Su'A
CLUB: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
AGE: 26
GAMES: 114
One of the Dragons’ highest-paid forwards but regularly linked to an early exit during his two years to date at the club. Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett is an unabashed fan but Su’A needs an upswing in form to justify his current price.
33. Josh Papalii
CLUB: CANBERRA
AGE: 31
GAMES: 282
Hard to see the big man in anything but lime green, but 2025 is a mutual option between Papalii and the Raiders – believed to be triggered by him playing a certain number of games over the past few seasons – and stranger things have happened. He and his family are settled in Canberra but the veteran prop has spoken previously of returning to his native Queensland in retirement. Passing the 300-game mark as a one-club player looms for Papalii late next season.
32. Shaun Johnson
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 33
GAMES: 252
Would be much, much higher up this list after almost claiming this year’s Dally M medal, but he has made it clear he doesn’t want to leave New Zealand again. Knocked back lucrative interest from the Tigers – worth about $600,000 a year – to do exactly that. The Warriors can’t say no to him playing on in his current form, though it may have a knock-on effect with one of the younger halves waiting in their wings.
31. Kurt Capewell
CLUB: BRISBANE
AGE: 30
GAMES: 139
A critical senior figure in Brisbane’s resurgence and has delivered exactly what they brought him up from Penrith for. Wants to stay at the club and the feeling is mutual. A deal may take some time though and the expectation is both parties will wait until Capewell takes the field in 2024 before sitting down to talk turkey.
30. Terrell May
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 24
GAMES: 26
The Roosters have made moves to extend the 24-year-old, who enjoyed a breakout year on about $200,000 this year. Angus Crichton’s future is the unknown in those discussions, though. Showed plenty of upsides as an emerging front-rower in a market clamouring for exactly that.
29. Nick Meaney
CLUB: MELBOURNE
AGE: 26
GAMES: 113
One of several moving pieces in Melbourne’s intriguing fullback scenarios, with a shift to centre on the cards at some point given Ryan Papenhuyzen and Sua Fa’alago’s fullback claims. Meaney has been one of the Storm’s best – at good value as well – since arriving at the club two years ago and they don’t want to lose him.
28. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 28
GAMES: 190
Found career-best touch this year under Andrew Webster and hard to see him anywhere but Auckland. Much of his Warriors contract has been heavily subsidised by Canterbury though, inflating his wage beyond what any club can realistically pay for a winger.
27. Brendan Piakura
CLUB: BRISBANE
AGE: 21
GAMES: 15
Serious interest from Canterbury when Piakura was still just 18 pushed his current three-year deal up toward $400,000 a year. Began to show why as 2023 wore on, forcing his way into Brisbane’s 17 enroute to the grand final.
26. Luke Metcalf
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 24
GAMES: 19
One of the value-for-money signings of 2023 after his salary came in at under $300,000 last year. Metcalf arrived from Cronulla and punched above his weight until a hamstring injury ended his season, and the Warriors are keen to keep him. However, they do have plenty of halves scrapping to partner Shaun Johnson next season.
25. Dane Gagai
CLUB: NEWCASTLE
AGE: 32
GAMES: 268
Yo-yoed between concerning and top-flight form, just like the rest of Newcastle in 2023, but now enters the final season of a three-year deal worth around $1.5 million in total. Turns 33 midway through the year and has fallen out of Queensland Origin reckoning but is a valued senior voice in the Hunter.
24. Braden Hamlin-Uele
CLUB: CRONULLA
AGE: 28
GAMES: 99
Regarded as a senior forward leader at Cronulla, Hamlin-Uele turns 29 in the new year and is potentially in line for his last major contract. The market is short on front-rowers and when fully fit, Hamlin-Uele can hold up a middle at a good price.
23. Connor Tracey
CLUB: CRONULLA
AGE: 27
GAMES: 66
Another with serious financial upside given Tracey’s proven ability to play anywhere in the backline, to the point Cronulla are now struggling to keep him as a back-up. Expected to test the market in pursuit of a starting spot and Dragons are ready to try and prize him out of the Shire. It’s unlikely they will be his only admirers.
22. Adam Doueihi
CLUB: WESTS TIGERS
AGE: 25
GAMES: 87
Suffered a devastating third ACL rupture in April, just six weeks after inking a one-year Tigers extension and foregoing the pursuit of a longer deal, backing himself to earn a better contract on the paddock. Isn’t expected back from injury until midway through the season but offers quality and versatility in a market short on playmakers, albeit with the obvious questions over his future.
21. Taylan May
CLUB: PENRITH
AGE: 22
GAMES: 22
A forgotten man of sorts at Penrith after missing the entire season following a knee reconstruction, May is due to return for the pre-season and has bulked up during his rehab with an eye on Stephen Crichton’s vacant centre position. Jarome Luai’s next move will influence where May fits in the Panthers’ salary-cap reckoning.
20. Jack de Belin
CLUB: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
AGE: 32
GAMES: 205
Returned to form in 2022, to the point he was being considered as a shock NSW Origin selection. De Belin took up an option for the final year of his current deal – reportedly worth $800,000 – for 2024, and is in Shane Flanagan’s plans after an extension was first broached midway through the season. Facing a pay cut, though, to stay at the club, and everywhere else in the market too, given he turns 33 in March.
19. Sitili Tupouniua
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 26
GAMES: 85
On the comeback trail from a season-ending neck issue and part of a logjam of forwards at the Roosters – particularly on the edges with the Butcher brothers, Angus Crichton and Siua Wong all on the books. Is a favourite of Trent Robinson’s but has missed a lot of footy in recent years due to injury.
18. Toby Rudolf
CLUB: CRONULLA
AGE: 27
GAMES: 81
Cronulla are keen to hang onto one of the game’s biggest personalities and had flagged extension talks to keep Rudolf off the open market. Pulls in a decent wage north of $500,000 a year and, despite suffering the first long term injury of his career last season, is coming into his prime years as a front-rower.
17. Niwhai Puru
CLUB: CRONULLA
AGE: 21
GAMES: 0
One of the best young halves going outside the NRL. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you will soon enough. Cronulla pinched the 21-year-old out of Penrith’s vaunted pathways last year and have high hopes for him with Matt Moylan coming off contract as well this year. Puru’s 18 months in reserve grade across the Panthers and Cronulla’s feeder club Newtown make him fair game from November 1 despite not playing NRL yet.
16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
CLUB: NORTH QUEENSLAND
AGE: 19
GAMES: 12
An emerging forward of serious promise at North Queensland who has landed on the radar of several rival clubs, led by Canberra. Set for a significant payrise after starting 2023 on a development deal and the Cowboys are desperate to keep him, but there’s plenty of competition for an edge spot in Townsville. Only turns 20 in December.
15. Tyrell Sloan
CLUB: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
AGE: 21
GAMES: 36
Buckets of potential but the jury is still out, especially now new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has lost a hefty chunk of the pre-season to work out whether Sloan is his first-choice fullback due to injury. Will be watched with keen interest by plenty.
14. Heilum Luki
CLUB: NORTH QUEENSLAND
AGE: 22
GAMES: 38
The final year of Luki’s three-year deal is an option in his favour and the young back-rower showed why he’s so highly rated when he returned from an ACL tear last year. Has long been eyed in the same bracket as Jeremiah Nanai but the club does have a glut of X-factor edge men when Luciano Leilua and 19-year-old Finefeuiaki are also in the mix.
13. Jacob Saifiti
CLUB: NEWCASTLE
AGE: 27
GAMES: 142
Has risen to prominence since re-signing in 2021, playing for NSW twice and firing during Newcastle’s run up the ladder. Has been tabled an extension by the Knights with twin Daniel reportedly offering to take a pay cut on his own contract – worth about $800,000 – to help the club fit him in, but the move is not allowed under NRL rules.
12. Jordan Riki
CLUB: BRISBANE
AGE: 23
GAMES: 67
Produced career-best form during Brisbane’s run to the grand final and has made their rightedge his own. Has spoken openly of wanting to stay at Red Hill having been in the Broncos system since 15.
11. Sunia Turuva
CLUB: PENRITH
AGE: 21
GAMES: 29
The Dally M rookie of the year has already knocked back lucrative three-year offers from the Dolphins and Wests Tigers during his NRL rise, and has a Panthers premiership ring to show for it. His preference is to stay at Penrith and happy to do so as a winger for now, but came through as a fullback and is likely to attract offers well beyond what the Panthers can offer
10. Luke Keary
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 31
GAMES: 205
Coming to the end of his marquee Roosters deal and despite being regularly linked to retirement after next season, played every game in 2023 and fired as well as ever in the club’s late resurgence. Neither he nor the club have ruled out another season or two but plenty of water under the bridge and salary cap movement to happen before then.
9. Bradman Best
CLUB: NEWCASTLE
AGE: 22
GAMES: 70
Was already set for a salary bump towards $700,000 in 2024 and has only sent his market value one way since a surprise - and stunning - NSW Origin debut. Best has repeatedly stressed his preference to stay with his junior club Newcastle but the Tigers are prepared to weigh in with a lucrative offer if Best hits the open market.
8. Angus Crichton
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 27
GAMES: 154
Talks with Rugby Australia unravelled spectacularly at the start of the month - the Roosters were open to the move because it wouldn’t benefit a direct NRL rival. The club had previously raised the prospect of an extension at Bondi, though there’s plenty of moving pieces in their salary cap. Crichton loves the place, but has plenty to offer a rival looking for a seasoned edge forward as well.
7. Adam Reynolds
CLUB: BRISBANE
AGE: 33
GAMES: 274
A one-year extension with the Broncos has been floated and viewed favourably by both parties, but Brisbane’s roster is already being squeezed. Reynolds is eyeing a move into coaching once he hangs the boots up. Club great Gorden Tallis raised eyebrows after the grand final when he suggested the club should hold fire on a new deal for Reynolds pending how he starts 2024.
6. Brandon Smith
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 27
GAMES: 128
Has a player option in his three-year, $2.4 million Roosters deal, and has until mid-next year to advise the club whether he is taking up the final season of it. In the meantime, he is technically fair game for rival clubs but after a rocky, injury-plagued start to his time in red, white and blue, began showing glimpses of his best form late in the season.
5. Tohu Harris
CLUB: WARRIORS
AGE: 31
GAMES: 220
Unlikely to leave New Zealand and has deservedly been made one of the highest-earning middle forwards in the game. Showing no signs of slowing down. As he turns 32 in January, he will probably be negotiating his last contract.
4. Tom Dearden
CLUB: NORTH QUEENSLAND
AGE: 22
GAMES: 80
Has had a three-year extension offer on the table from North Queensland for some time and the club is loath to lose one of the best young halves around given his potential and Chad Townsend (also coming off-contract) being at the back end of his career. Life out of the Sydney/Brisbane NRL fishbowl suits the 22-year-old, though, after he went through the wringer at the Broncos.
3. Ezra Mam
CLUB: BRISBANE
AGE: 20
GAMES: 38
In line for the biggest payrise across the game given his grand final heroics were delivered earning less than $300,000 a year. His price will almost triple given his age and potential. Brisbane have made him a retention priority but are juggling a significant upgrade for Reece Walsh as well among other salary-cap puzzle pieces. Mam’s management has been fielding interest from plenty of NRL rivals with Canberra keeping a close eye on proceedings following Jack Wighton’s exit.
2. Jarome Luai
CLUB: PENRITH
AGE: 26
GAMES: 107
Will test the waters come November 1 with the Wests Tigers considering a big-money play and connections at Canterbury making Belmore an obvious new home for the three-time premiership-winner. Penrith have tabled a two-year deal worth $850,000 per annum but Luai could land a much longer, more lucrative deal at market. His preference is to stay at his junior club but money talks and the Panthers are all but at their limit.
1. Joey Manu
CLUB: ROOSTERS
AGE: 27
GAMES: 158
It would take a small fortune to prise Manu out of Bondi, and even then it may not be enough given the esteem in which he holds the club and his insistence on staying for below market value his entire career. But given he’s already the best centre in the game and ranks among the best fullbacks as well, a rebuilding club would be mad not to offer more than $1 million a year to tempt the Kiwi star. His management has previously said there is no appetite to take Manu to market, but to date he’s still fair game.
