How each NRL club's free-agent list looks for 2025

Scott Bailey and Jasper BruceAAP
Camera IconThe Roosters are keen to keep injured halfback Sam Walker who becomes a free agent on November 1. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

THE 189 FREE AGENTS WHO GO TO MARKET ON NOVEMBER 1:-

BRISBANE

Free agents: Fletcher Baker, Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Gosiewski, Kobe Hetherington, Jaiyden Hunt, Corey Jensen, Israel Leota, Blake Mozer, Cory Paix, Adam Reynolds, Tyson Smoothy, Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Willison.

The Broncos may need to decide which of their star outside backs they can keep as both Staggs and Cobbo come off contracts worth north of $600,000 per season. The juggling act is all the more difficult with the long-anticipated seven-figure Reece Walsh upgrade now complete.

CANBERRA

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Free agents: Albert Hopoate, Corey Harawira-Naera, Danny Levi, Emre Guler, Jamal Fogarty*, Josh Papali'i, Simi Sasagi, Tom Starling, Xavier Savage.

Papali'i is the biggest name on the Raiders' list, but that may be more a decision of whether he wants to play on. Savage will likely be a priority for the Raiders, while Levi is expected to depart.

CANTERBURY

Free agents: Josh Addo-Carr, Bailey Hayward, Drew Hutchison, Kitione Kautoga, Kurt Mann, Kurtis Morrin, Jaeman Salmon, Toby Sexton, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Ryan Sutton, Blake Taaffe, Jake Turpin, Blake Wilson, Bronson Xerri.

Likely to free up more money in their salary cap once the axe falls on Addo-Carr. Canterbury built much of this year's success on their mobile forward pack and a handful of those players are now in need of new deals. Bargain buy Xerri looks set to command a pay-rise as well.

CRONULLA

Free agents: Billy Burns, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Jayden Berrell, Kade Dykes, Niwhai Puru, Oregon Kaufusi, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazleton*, Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha, Will Kennedy, Liam Ison, Mawene Hiroti.

Have one of the most difficult tasks ahead of them. It's hard to see the Sharks hanging onto both of Trindall and Atkinson given the desire for halves on the market. Mulitalo will be a priority but is keen to test his market value, while Kennedy, Wilton, Nikora and Hazleton will likely attract interest.

DOLPHINS:

Free agents: Kenny Bromwich, Harrison Graham, Robert Jennings, Felise Kaufusi, Josh Kerr, Connelly Lemuelu, Mark Nicholls, Sean O'Sullivan.

New coach Kristian Woolf must decide whether the Dolphins have outgrown the veteran presences of Bromwich, Kaufusi and Nicholls. O'Sullivan's future could hinge on whether the Dolphins land Ben Hunt as the halfback targets an immediate return home to Queensland.

GOLD COAST

Free agents: Ben Liyou, Harley Smith-Shields, Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui, Jojo Fifita, Josiah Pahulu, Keenan Paliasia, Ken Maumalo, Kieran Foran, Ryan Foran, Tony Francis.

The biggest roster decision on the Gold Coast in the next 12 months will likely be whether Kieran Foran retires or plays into 2026. Fifita and Paliasia could become options for rivals if not re-signed quickly.

MANLY

Free agents: Aaron Schoupp, Aitasi James, Clayton Faulalo, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Jake Arthur, Tof Sipley, Tommy Talau, Jazz Tevaga.

The club will wait on a call from Cherry-Evans on whether he wants to play on - a decision that will have significant implications around their on-field future and salary-cap management. Manly's cap is likely to be tight for 2026, and Talau, Bullemor and Sipley will be priorities.

MELBOURNE

Free agents: Bronson Garlick, Christian Welch, Grant Anderson, Jonah Pezet, Josh King, Lazarus Vaalepu, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Trent Loiero, Tui Kamikamica.

Papenhuyzen headlines the list, with Sydney clubs expected to throw more at him than what the Storm are offering. Melbourne's other challenge is the rising price of several of their grand-final players, namely King, Anderson and Loiero.

NEWCASTLE

Free agents: Jayden Brailey, Paul Bryan, Mat Croker, Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Brodie Jones, Riley Jones, Kai Pearce-Paul, Will Pryce, Sebastian Su'a, Leo Thompson, Tyson Frizell.

Injury-plagued Brailey's future looks set to come under the microscope after Phoenix Crossland announced himself as a genuine hooker option.The Knights' panoply of halves options became a punchline in 2024, and some hard calls are looming as Hastings and talented Englishman Pryce come off contract. Leo Thompson's signature will also be crucial.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Free agents: Braidon Burns, Tom Chester, Jake Clifford, Robert Derby, Tom Duffy, Zac Laybutt, D'Jazirhae Pua'Avase, Reece Robson, Viliami Vailea, Semi Valemei, Harrison Edwards*.

Things are mostly looking steady up north but NSW State of Origin hooker Robson needs to be top priority. Clifford starred coming in as a replacement for Chad Townsend towards the end of the season and should be rewarded with a new deal.

PARRAMATTA

Free agents: Bryce Cartwright, Haze Dunster, Wiremu Greig, Brendan Hands, Joey Lussick, Toni Mataele, Luca Moretti, Joe Ofahengaue, Sean Russell, Kelma Tuilagi, Sam Tuivaiti, Ryan Matterson, Shaun Lane, Will Penisini, Dylan Brown.

Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard's departures have already freed up a sizable cash pot that will grow past $2 million a year if the likes of Ofahengaue or Cartwright were to be moved on. Speed in the outside backs, and a top-quality hooker remain priorities as both Hands and Lussick come off contract.

PENRITH

Free agents: Mavrik Geyer, Harrison Hassett, Asu Kepaoa, Daine Laurie, Soni Luke, Riley Price, Preston Riki, Brad Schneider, Luke Sommerton.

As it stands, the Panthers look set to enter the 2026 season without losing any superstar players for the first time since their dynasty began. Schneider is the only premiership winner on their list of free agents and he did not make it onto the field in the 2024 grand-final triumph.

SOUTH SYDNEY

Free agents: Siliva Havili, Jacob Host, Lachlan Ilias, Alex Johnston, Ben Lovett, Haizyn Mellars, Shaquai Mitchell, Davvy Moale, Tyrone Munro, Fletcher Myers, Josh Schuster, Cody Walker.

Wayne Bennett walks into a handful of recruitment calls, most notably how much longer late-blooming 34-year-old Walker will play on at five-eighth.Future superstar Munro must also be a priority.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

Free agents: Corey Allan, Ryan Couchman, Toby Couchman, Jack de Belin, Dylan Egan, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Viliami Fifita, Sione Finau, Kyle Flanagan, Michael Molo, Christian Tuipulotu.

Veteran forward de Belin and the coach's son Flanagan are the only walk-up starters without deals, but the Couchman brothers are highly rated internally and also firm as priorities. Flanagan's future is of particular interest now that Ben Hunt is out the door.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Free agents: Brandon Smith, Chad Townsend, Egan Butcher, James Tedesco, Robert Toia, Sam Walker.

Walker is close to the biggest name on the market as of Friday, with the Roosters desperate to keep their injured halfback. Smith's future will also be a close watch after rumblings of discontent midway through 2024. The club are also keen to extend Tedesco.

WARRIORS

Free agents: Adam Pompey, Bunty Afoa, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Demitric Sifakula*, Dylan Walker, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tohu Harris, Tom Ale.

Walker and Nicoll-Klokstad could become appealing for clubs back in Australia if the Warriors can't lock them down. Harris has a call to make on his future, while Martin's future could depend on what direction the club decides to go with their halves.

WESTS TIGERS

Free agents: Adam Doueihi, Alex Seyfarth, Brent Naden, Charlie Staines, David Klemmer*, Fonua Pole, Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua, Alex Lobb, Solomona Faataape, Reuben Porter, Heath Mason, Tony Sukkar.

Doueihi could become one of the hottest options on the market for rival clubs if he stays fit, given he is unlikely to return to the Tigers' spine. Pole should be a priority after an impressive 2024 in the middle.

* Denotes a club-option to extend into 2026.

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