Matthew Lodge is on the lookout for his fourth club in the space of two years after being granted an immediate release from the remainder of his Sydney Roosters contract.
Initially off-contract at season's end, Lodge's future had been clouded since the Roosters informed him they would prioritise re-signing veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for 2024 and beyond.
The club also has big money tied up in Penrith premiership-winner Spencer Leniu, who will join the middle forward rotation from next season, and State of Origin representative Lindsay Collins.
That left no room for Lodge next season but Trent Robinson's decision to select back-rower Nat Butcher as starting prop in Collins' absence during round 16 raised questions about Lodge's ability to see this one out.
Lodge watched on as Butcher ran for 171 run metres - more than Lodge has managed in any game all season.
The 28-year-old Lodge had his last training session with the Roosters on Monday and after 18 games through the past 12 months, is free to leave the club immediately.
Reports had previously linked Lodge to Canterbury but Bulldogs sources told AAP on the weekend he was not currently on their radar.
St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers are two other clubs that could benefit from more toughness in the middle, and Lodge could prove a handy replacement for ex-Dragon Josh Kerr, who joined the Dolphins over the weekend.
Lodge joined the Roosters from the Warriors mid-season last year after expressing concerns with relocating to Auckland permanently once COVID-19 restrictions eased.
He had joined the Warriors mid-season in 2021 after being moved on by new Brisbane coach Kevin Walters as part of a clean-out that also sent Tevita Pangai Jr to Penrith.
