The top 50 guns off contract who Tigers can target with $2.4m spending spree after Jarome Luai exit

The Wests Tigers are booming under favourite son Benji Marshall's guidance and the team is about to have a $2.4 million war chest with which to turn them into a genuine premiership powerhouse.

The exit of superstar playmaker Jarome Luai following the 2027 NRL season looks like a loss on face value, but will actually allow the Concord club to strengthen its roster for 2028 and beyond.

Luai stood to pocket $1.2m in each of 2028 and 2029, and now that money can be spent elsewhere.

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Marshall says he will use it to retain some existing Tigers talent but there will no doubt be interest in bringing players in from outside the club, too.

"In 2028 we get a good injection into our salary cap that gives us a good opportunity to try keep some of the players we've got," Marshall said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"We've got guys coming off contract but (other clubs) can't negotiate with them before November, so it's up to us to try keep them here before November comes around."

When told by one journalist about some big-name stars also coming off contract on November 1, the Tigers coach smirked, "Is there? I haven't looked".

We take a look at how the Tigers might use the sudden sizeable cash injection.

RETENTION AND UPGRADES

It's been widely reported the club is desperately trying to get star fullback Jahream Bula to sign a contract extension.

The 24-year-old is in the sights of several rival clubs and technically comes off contract in a couple of weeks, which is the deadline for a mutual option in his current deal to be triggered.

Bula is earning about $700,000 this season and the option for next year is reportedly worth about $900,000, but he could likely command more than that elsewhere. The Dragons recently showed interest in throwing him big money but that door has closed now that fellow top tier fullback Scott Drinkwater has signed a deal with the Red V.

Only the very best No.1s in the game can ask for more than a million bucks a year but the Tigers may have to hit that mark if they want to retain his services.

"Jahream has always been high importance to us," Marshall said on Wednesday. "Is there a rush? There's still two weeks."

Another top priority for the club is gun prop Terrell May, who is said to be on $700,000 this year and next year but will no doubt ask for an upgrade and pay rise if he is to sign an extension. His brother, Taylan, is also off contract next year and is said to be on $600,000 a season after being thrown a career lifeline by the club.

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Sunia Turuva, the larrikin winger who joined from Penrith last year, is in good form at the Tigers and may yet need more than the $450,000 he's earning next season to remain at Concord beyond that. Gun outside back Heamasi Makasini is also off contract next year and will be one the club tries to keep.

As for filling Luai's shoes in the halves, Marshall named young guns Javon Andrews and Latu Fainu, as well as Jock Madden as candidates who can put their hands up over the next 18 months.

Fainu is off contract next year and depending how his development tracks over the coming months, may need an upgrade to his $500,000-a-season deal.

His brother Samuela, a gun forward, is also off contract and will no doubt be seeking more than the $500,000 he's earning next year, too.

Tigers off contract on November 1: Jahream Bula, Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Patrick Herbert, Royce Hunt, Jock Madden, Heamasi Makasini, Taylan May, Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Ethan Roberts, Sunia Turuva

CHASING ANOTHER MARQUEE

Jarome Luai was every bit a marquee signing when he joined the Tigers on $1.2m a year, fresh off winning a fourth straight NRL premiership with Penrith.

If the Tigers want to go to market and find another superstar to fill that void, there are some options come November 1.

The obvious one is Luai's former club teammate Nathan Cleary, whose monster deal with Penrith ends in 2027.

He will only be 29 years old once that contract expires and there will be plenty of offers tabled to the superstar halfback, likely coming from all parts of the world.

Clubs from the NRL and England's Super League will be lining up, as well as a possible rugby union approach, such is his status.

A move to England, where his partner Mary Fowler plays football for Manchester City, is well and truly on the cards. The Papua New Guinea Chiefs would also be foolish not to table an offer to Cleary in a move that would put him back alongside Luai at club level.

The Tigers would likely need to fork out upwards of $1.5m a year to get Cleary to Concord, and given the club has a rocky history with his father Ivan, it may be too long a bow to draw.

The other bona fide superstar No.7 coming off contract in November is Sam Walker at the Roosters. Being a Brisbane product, it's long been speculated the Broncos will try to bring Walker home if he ever does decide to leave Bondi - although he's recently said he plans to stay at the Chooks for a long time yet.

If we're talking star power, there is arguably none bigger than Latrell Mitchell. His $1.2m-a-season deal with South Sydney expires next year and the enigmatic centre will be a free agent, and only 30 years old once 2028 rolls around.

Having said that, the Tigers needed Luai's signature in order to attract other players to the club after collecting three wooden spoons in a row.

Now they've climbed off the NRL dung heap the club probably has less need to splash the cash on a big-name star.

50 GUNS OFF CONTRACT

Even if the Tigers don't land a Cleary, Walker or Mitchell, there is a stack of talent off contract next year and able to be negotiated with come November 1.

Wide World of Sports has come up with a list of 50 players who could join the Tigers in 2028 and add plenty of value.

Veteran rake Api Koroisau is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2028 but will be 35 years old once that expires. He is still playing as well as ever, but the club will no doubt be starting to look for its next No.9 to replace the diminutive star.

Leading hookers coming off contract in November include Mitch Kenny from the Panthers, Peter Mamouzelos from the Rabbitohs, Wayde Egan and Sam Healy from the Warriors, Blake Mozer from the Broncos, and Tom Starling from the Raiders.

Then there is utility forwards Connor Watson and Brandon Smith who have both played at No.9 sporadically over the years, and can also fill other positions in the middle of the field. The Tigers do also have young rake Jared Haywood on the books already, who is only 19 years old and has plenty of time to become Koroisau's successor.

Other stars off contract include the likes of Herbie Farnworth, Matt Burton, Bradman Best, and Brian To'o.

Top players off contract in 2027

Hookers: Mitch Kenny, Peter Mamouzelos, Wayde Egan, Sam Healy, Blake Mozer, Tom Starling.

Halves: Nathan Cleary, Sam Walker, Matt Burton, Mitchell Woods, Onitoni Large, Jonah Glover, Blaize Talagi.

Forwards: Jeremiah Nanai, Dylan Lucas, Hudson Young, Eli Katoa, Stefano Utoikamanu, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Xavier Willison, J'maine Hopgood, Briton Nikora, Jacob Preston, Isaah Yeo, Kulikefu Finefuiaki, Connelly Lemuelu, Jackson Ford, Spencer Leniu, Tallis Duncan, Moses Leota, Liam Martin, Connor Watson, Brandon Smith.

Backs: Latrell Mitchell, Xavier Coates, Josiah Karapani, Deine Mariner, Bradman Best, Joash Papalii, Jack Howarth, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock, Josh Addo-Carr, Selwyn Cobbo, Lehi Hopoate, Herbie Farnworth, Brian To'o, Dom Young, Campbell Graham