It’s an issue that just won’t go away, and it continues to drive NRL fans crazy.
Players signing lucrative multi-year contracts only to subsequently break them—sometimes by choice, sometimes after being backed into corner—in the pursuit of greater opportunity elsewhere.
The issue of contracts was firmly in the news during the 2025 pre-season, with ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys explaining it was very much on the game’s radar.
“To be fair, a lot of the time it’s caused by the manager, not the player,” V’Landys acknowledged to the Sydney Morning Herald back in February.
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“I’m an old-fashioned person and if you do a contract, you honour it,” V’Landys said.
Yet six months later, 2025 has been arguably one of the most tumultuous seasons for broken contracts in the NRL era.
While numerous potential solutions have been floated, including a fixed European football-style transfer window, as yet there’s been no agreed way forward between the NRL, clubs and RLPA.
In the meantime, here are just some of the NRL stars who have been released by their clubs—some willingly, others reluctantly—in 2025.
Lachlan Galvin, left the Tigers 18 months early to join the Bulldogs after an acrimonious mid-season separation.
Tallyn Da Silva, left the Tigers 18 months early to join the Eels following the club’s decision to prioritise the re-signing of captain Api Koroisau.
Junior Tupou, left the Dolphins just six months into a three-year-deal to join the Sydney Roosters.
Finau Latu, released six months early by a clearly unhappy Dragons management to join the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Francis Molo, released from the final two years of his deal with the Dragons to join the Dolphins following a well publicised contract stand-off.
Joe Ofahengaue, left the Eels six months early to link with the Leigh Leopards in Super League.
David Klemmer, released a year early after falling out of favour at the Wests Tigers, subsequently joining the Dragons.
Brandon Smith, released by the Sydney Rosters six months early to join the Rabbitohs whilst recovering from an ACL tear.
Frustrating for fans and often unsettling for clubs and players, there’s no simple solution to the mid-season contract merry-go-round.
But as Peter V’Landys said himself at the start of the season something has to change.
“You have to show some loyalty and honour the contract, we will certainly have to look at it because you can’t leave it the way it is,” he said.
The RLPA is understood to have been working behind the scenes with the NRL on a range of issues in the game over recent months, including contracts and player managers.
Without providing specific details, RLPA chief executive Clint Newton indicated on the Kenty Prime Time podcast earlier this month that fans could expect to see changes, most likely from 1 November.
It remains go see what they are and, more importantly, if they have any impact.