Every released Super League star still on open market ahead of 2026

There are less than 40 days until the start of the new Super League season, but plenty of familiar faces remain available as free agents ahead of the 2026 campaign.

14 players that were released by one of the 14 current Super League clubs following the end of the 2025 season are still without a club for 2026, at least officially.

Here’s a run through of them, with players listed alphabetically by surname…

Correct at time of publishing on January 15, 2026…

Kye Armstrong

Former Hull FC youngster Armstrong joined cross-city rivals Hull KR in 2025 and was let go by the Robins at the end of their treble-winning campaign. He didn’t register a senior appearance for either FC or KR, but does have first-team games on his CV for both Midlands Hurricanes and Goole Vikings.

Zac Bardsley-Rowe

Another youngster let go by a Super League club at the end of 2025 was Bardsley-Rowe, who departed Warrington. No first-team games for the Wolves in his time at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, but appearances to his name for Widnes Vikings, North Wales Crusaders and London Broncos.

Ethan Clark-Wood

Australian outside-back Clark-Wood spent just under 12 months at Headingley, with his time as a Leeds player decimated by a shoulder injury. Having played just once at first-team level for the Rhinos, it’s thought he’s now returned Down Under, though he’s yet to pen a deal anywhere for 2026.

Jack Darbyshire

Darbyshire came through Warrington’s youth system and joined fellow Super League outfit Leigh ahead of 2024, but his two seasons with the Leopards did not produce a first-team appearance. He did play five top-flight games for financially-stricken Salford towards the end of 2025, and also has games under his belt for Rochdale Hornets.

Matt Dufty

Australian full-back Dufty arrived at Warrington midway through the 2022 campaign and played 88 games in all competitions across the three-and-a-half years that followed. Dropped towards the end of 2025 after internal disciplinary issues, he was eventually released from the remainder of his contract in January and has returned Down Under.

James Farrar

Young gun Farrar is a two-time Ireland international and was let go by newly-promoted York at the end of 2025 after just a sole season at the LNER Community Stadium. Having joined the Knights from Hull KR, he did not record a first-team appearance: with all nine of his senior appearances in the club game to date coming for Newcastle Thunder.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Former Newcastle Knights back-rower Fitzgibbon saw an underwhelming two-year stint at Warrington come to an end in 2025 and returned Down Under. The 31-year-old Australian is yet to pen a deal anywhere for 2026, but has reportedly been offered a contract by South Newcastle Lions, one of the clubs he represented as a junior.

Jacob Gannon

Ex-Leigh man Gannon made his loan move to York permanent ahead of 2025 having departed the Leopards. He played just eight games across all competitions for Mark Applegarth’s side last term though and was sent out on loan to Newcastle Thunder midway through the campaign. Now, he’s back on the open market having been released by the newly-promoted Knights.

Ashton Golding

Among the biggest names on this list, if not the biggest, is Super League stalwart Golding. The experienced Jamaica international is still only 29, and boasts 200 career appearances. He is on the open market having been released by Huddersfield, with numerous offers reportedly on the table for 2026.

Tex Hoy

Former Newcastle Knights back Hoy cut his contract short at Castleford to return Down Under, bringing an end to his three-season stint in Super League. Having played 59 games across all competitions between Hull FC and Tigers during those three years, he is yet to have his next destination confirmed.

Jack Potter

A product of Hull KR’s youth system, 21-year-old Potter has spent the last two seasons with York. Playing just once for the Knights in 2025 and marking that game with a try against Halifax Panthers, the youngster went on to feature on loan at both Goole Vikings and Newcastle Thunder before being released at the end of the campaign. He’s still a free agent.

Bayley Sironen

Australian powerhouse Sironen is still only 29, and is believed to have headed back Down Under following his release from Catalans, but is yet to see a new deal confirmed anywhere. The forward has 83 NRL appearances on his CV as well as the 45 he played for the Dragons across the last two seasons, taking his career appearance tally up towards the 130-mark.

Alec Tuitavake

Tuitavake is another whose time in Super League was cut short, departing Leigh just 12 months after arriving and penning a two-year deal. The young forward, billed as Tom Amone’s replacement, played 24 times for the Leopards but was underwhelming on the whole and has returned Down Under. His next destination is still to be confirmed.

Nolan Tupaea

Youngster Tupaea was released by Warrington at the end of 2025 having made his sole senior appearance in their colours the year prior against Wigan. The back-rower went on to add games to his CV for Halifax and Keighley Cougars last year, and also spent time on dual-registration with Widnes without ever featuring for the Vikings.