By Dan Walsh
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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.
The Roosters have moved quickly to take Siua Wong off the open market before November 1.Credit: NRL Photos
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.
As always, be sure to let us know just how wrong we’ve got it in the comments.
Shaun Johnson would be at the pointy end of this list if he was a genuine chance of leavng the Warriors again.Credit: NRL Photos
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