The NRL season is still in its early stages and there have still been plenty of talking points about what is happening on the field each week. However, this season already feels characterised by the amount of off-field contract sagas, incidents and news headlines that has effected nearly half the clubs across the competition.

So far this season we have seen the breaking news about Dylan Brown making the switch to Newcastle in a mega move that will hopefully lift the Knights elevated into premiership contention. The Rabbitohs have secured the services of former Storm and current Roosters player Brandon Smith who looks to return from injury and get back to his best form under the guidance of Wayne Bennett. Daly Cherry-Evans refusal to sign an extension with Manly was aired publicly across multiple news channels with plenty of rumours circling around where he will be playing next year. All of which occurred before the most recent revelation that Lachlan Galvin and his management declared they will not be signing an extension with the Tigers, leaving him in limbo for the next eighteen months.

All of these remarkable stories have added plenty of fuel to the sports media news cycle, but they haven’t been the only moves. Jayden Bradley will be heading to the nations capitol as he has fallen down he pecking order at the Knights. Francis Molo forced his way out of the Dragons in a midseason move to the Dolphins, whilst the Dragons found a replacement in David Klemmer. Will Pryce has been released by the Knights having failed to make in impact in the NRL, he returns back to the Super League.

All of the drama makes for great viewing as a neutral fan. But if you are a supporter of one of those clubs caught up in it then there is a slightly deflating feeling, particularly if one of your star players in on their way out of the club. There will naturally be questions about their commitment for the rest of the season, plus there is additional focus and pressure put on the young blokes within the team that would hope to step in and fill that players boots.

Regardless on how you feel about all the contract sagas unfolding this season, it is unlikely that we have seen the end of it. The rules currently allow for these announcements and moves to take place at any time, as long as the player in question has less than 12 months remaining on their contract. By the way, there is still a host of players without a contract for next season including Cody Walker, Adam Douhei, Will Kennedy, Adam Reynolds, Toby Sexton, Corey Paix, Tom Starling, Adam Elliot, Josh Kerr, Ethan Bullemor, Bryson Cartwright, Kai Pearce-Paul, Selwyn Cobbo and Alex Johnston to name a few.

If the NRL worlds wants to change what is currently happening then the only option seems to be a transfer window, but that idea has been met with lots of resistance. Maybe the system doesn’t need changing at all, but if that’s the case, we need to get used to the idea of players being in limbo when they have to see out their current contract whilst already being signed to a different team for the following year.