NRL stars with most to gain in Nov 1 feeding frenzy as big pay rises loom

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SAM WALKER

Looks all but certain to remain at the Roosters with the club set to announce in the coming weeks that Walker has signed a two-year extension worth at least $1m a season.

Walker was phenomenal for the Roosters in 2024, leading a lethal attacking side who could score points at will.

He emerged to become one of the game’s best halfbacks, and is heir to the Queensland halfback throne, with Walker likely to don the Maroons No.7 within the next couple of years. That in itself will earn a player a huge pay packet.

Disappointingly, he’ll miss half of next season due to a knee injury he suffered in Round 26 against the Raiders, which could be a contributing factor as to why Walker has chosen to agree to terms with the Roosters instead of testing the open market, where he would have commanded much more than $1m a year.

Walker has previously been linked to the Broncos, who were said to be wanting to make a bold play for his services to replace veteran Adam Reynolds.

Both Walker’s father Ben and uncles, Shane and Chris, all played for the Broncos who Sam grew up supporting.

Walker was also in the club’s junior ranks, but Brisbane coaching staff overlooked the gun playmaker who eventually made a move to Sydney, where it looks like he will stay.

BRONSON XERRI

The reborn Bulldogs centre has put his four year drugs ban well and truly behind him after a starring display for his new club in 2024.

The 24-year-old scored 10 tries in 19 games for the Bulldogs last season to cement himself in the club’s starting side alongside skipper Stephen Crichton.

Xerri looks to have lost none of the speed and skill that saw him touted as a NSW Origin star of the future by Immortal Andrew Johns prior to his ban.

Off-contract at the end of 2025, Xerri will be keen to repay the Bulldogs for helping him resurrect his career.

However, if the Bulldogs are struggling with salary cap pressure, there will be no shortage of clubs interested in Xerri’s services and given he could command a big pay rise on his next deal, there may be more on offer financially elsewhere.

So who are the clubs that could make a play for a centre? The Cowboys could look at a potential move for Xerri with Valentine Holmes leaving a big hole in their backline.

However, young guns Jaxon Purdue and Tom Chester, alongside Zac Laybutt could fill that hole once he returns from last year’s season-ending injury.

North Queensland have Chad Townsend and Holmes departing, and could use some of their cap space to recruit the revitalised star alongside re-signing Reece Robson and several other players.

The Dragons could also be a club on the lookout for outside backs, with Zac Lomax (Eels), Savelio Tamale (Raiders), Jack Bird (Wests Tigers), Max Feagai (Dolphins) all departing.

All four of those players are outside backs, and while Valentine Holmes is making a move to the Red V, Xerri would be another welcome addition, potentially becoming a long-term centre.

XAVIER WILLISON

It was a career year for the hulking prop, who impressed in stints off the bench and when starting in relief of Payne Haas, who had an injury-riddled season.

A product of Gold Coast’s rugby league nursery Palm Beach Currumbin, Willison appeared in 19 games this season after entering 2024 with only a handful of NRL matches under his belt.

Starting the season on the depth chart behind the likes of Fletcher Baker and Martin Taupau, Willison ended 2024 as the clear third option behind starters Haas and Corey Jensen.

He averaged just 37 minutes a game, but made them count, averaging nearly 100 run metres (96).

Willison provides some X-factor as a front rower, as he is quick for his size and moves well in open space.

Considering he’s on just $250,000 a year, he’s in line for a hefty pay rise, as there will be rival clubs with much less front row depth than the Broncos willing to hand him a hefty pay rise.

The Rabbitohs could be one of those clubs, however Wayne Bennett has already made it clear the club’s salary cap is stretched thin.

However, South Sydney are in desperate need of depth in their middle forwards, with Tom Burgess departing and their front row stocks already running low.

It looks unlikely they will make a play, but Bennett could do worse than recruit the rising star, who could also be a target of the Eels.

With Reagan Campbell-Gillard departing and Jason Ryles in the midst of a rebuild, the rookie coach could use some of his cap space to recruit another rising star.

He’s already added Zac Lomax, Isaiah Iongi and Jack Williams to his side for the 2025 season.

TOBY SEXTON

After starting the 2024 season in reserve grade, Sexton was a star at halfback as the Bulldogs sailed home to break their finals drought in 2024.

The 23-year-old played 16 games last season and formed a strong scrumbase partnership with Matt Burton for the reborn Bulldogs.

Sexton has scored seven tries and 46 goals in 47 NRL games for the Titans and Bulldogs since his debut in 2021.

The Bulldogs would be keen to hold onto Sexton long-term, but are reportedly in the market for Dragons skipper Ben Hunt to add some experience to their playmaking stocks.

If the Bulldogs land Hunt, there will be no shortage of clubs looking for a halfback when Sexton hits the open market on November 1.

Given his youth, Sexton’s best years as an NRL playmaker are ahead of him and he could command more money on the open market than potentially he would get re-signing with the Bulldogs.

There’s a plethora of clubs on the lookout for halves, but we can rub out the Titans, the club he left to make a move to Belmore.

The Broncos could be a potential landing spot, with the Red Hill club on the lookout for a potential replacement for Adam Reynolds, although Coby Black is earmarked to take that spot.

The Knights, meanwhile, are desperately trying to find a reliable and consistent No.7 after having a non-stop halves roundabout in 2024.

With so many playmakers on the books, it remains to be seen if recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan would want to add another to their salary cap.

TAINE TUAUPIKI

A really interesting name to monitor, even though it’s unlikely that the Warriors let him walk following a brief albeit impressive NRL campaign in 2024.

Tuaupiki only played in six first grade games this season, but showed plenty of class in those, and was even one of the best on field in the Warriors’ upset win over Penrith at Magic Round.

The fullback is behind Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the pecking order but those two aren’t getting any younger, plus, it wasn’t like the Warriors set the world on fire last season.

The market isn’t hot for fullbacks at the moment, given the unbelievable depth and star power at the position, but Tuaupiki is too good not to be starting at the back for one of the league’s 17 teams.

Whether that will be at the Warriors or elsewhere remains to be seen, but he’s sure to receive a significant pay rise on his next deal.

There’s no shortage of fullback talent across the NRL, and there’s potentially never been a stronger crop of players wearing the No.1.

However, with Clint Gutherson potentially on the move, the Eels could make a play for Tuaupiki’s services, setting up a two-way shootout with fellow young gun Isaiah Iongi.

The Dragons could also strengthen their stocks and let Tuaupiki breathe down Tyrell Sloan’s neck, with Holmes also a slim chance of playing at the back for the Red V.

DYLAN LUCAS

Lucas’ versatility was on full display this past season, with the 24-year-old impressing in both the centres and at back row and improving on his Knights’ Rookie of the Year season in 2023.

He played in 21 games last season for the eighth-placed Knights, scoring seven tries.

Newcastle won’t want to lose Lucas, given he’s been with the Knights since he was a teenager and worked his way through the pathways systems.

He was arguably one of the Knights’ best in 2024, but Newcastle have two gun back-rowers coming off-contract at the end of 2025 in Lucas and Kai Pearce-Paul.

Can they keep both? Perhaps, but it will be difficult given both players are expected to attract big money offers from rival clubs.

Lucas is reportedly set to sign a two-year contract extension according to The Daily Telegraph, marking a huge win for the Hunter club.

However, when it comes to his teammates Leo Thompson and Pearce-Paul, it hasn’t been as smooth sailing.

Both players will reportedly test their value on the open market, meaning the Knights may have to dig deep into their pockets to keep all three players.

DANIEL ATKINSON

The Sharks playmaker had a breakout season in 2024 filling in at both halfback, five-eighth and in the bench utility role amid injuries and suspensions to Sharks halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.

Given Hynes is signed long-term on a deal worth $1 million a season and Trindall is also off-contract at the end of 2025, three into two doesn’t go.

Hynes is reportedly set to be shifted to five-eighth or fullback next season, which means Trindall and Atkinson are in a shootout for the No.7 jersey.

Atkinson is expected to command big money when he hits the open market on November 1 and the Sharks may struggle to keep him.

The 23-year-old has scored five tries in 19 games for the Sharks in 2024 after debuting for the Storm in 2021 and is ready to become a full-time NRL playmaker.

If Trindall leaves, Atkinson will likely get a pay rise as the Sharks’ No.7, but if Trindall re-signs, then Atkinson will likely have to leave and there will be plenty of clubs lining up for the services of the halfback.

For that reason, the same clubs could be keen on Atkinson’s services in the Bulldogs, Dragons and even the Cowboys.

Atkinson has utility value also and could be a target of other clubs, but the former Storm player will be on the lookout for regular starting minutes should he make a move.

CONNELLY LEMUELU

The Dolphins’ back-rower started all 18 of his games for Wayne Bennett’s side last season, becoming a reliable workhorse on the edge on both sides of the ball.

Lemuelu has scored eight tries in 41 games at the Dolphins taking his career tally to 12 in 65 matches, after debuting for the Cowboys in 2020.

The 26-year-old ran for 1,440 metres to go with three linebreaks, 28 tackle busts, three try assists and 512 tackles last season.

Leumuelu’s consistency was a big reason the Dolphins finished within a whisker of a maiden finals appearance and he is expected to go to another level again in 2025 under new coach Kristian Woolf.

However, the Dolphins may have to break the bank to keep Lemuelu, with no shortage of clubs on the lookout for quality back-rowers from November 1, which should drive up his asking price.

The Eels are one club who could be in the market for back rowers, with Shaun Lane making a move into the middle forwards this year and Ryan Matterson’s season being plagued by injuries.

Matterson has been given permission to talk to rivals, which could open a path for Jason Ryles to make a play for Lemuelu.

Elsewhere, the Broncos’ back row recruits in 2024 in Fletcher Baker and Jaiyden Hunt didn’t have the seasons they were anticipating, while Jack Gosiewski broke his arm very early in his Brisbane career.

Lemuelu could be the perfect man to take over an edge slot and partner Jordan Riki, however it remains to be seen if the club have cap space to work with.