South Sydney have given Lachlan Ilias permission to look elsewhere, as the NRL confirmed it had the power to block any attempt by Latrell Mitchell to skip State of Origin.
In what looms as a crucial week for the Rabbitohs, general manager Mark Ellison has flown to England to finalise a deal with St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd for next year.
That has had immediate flow-on effects, with the Rabbitohs granting permission for Ilias to look elsewhere for 2025.
Dropped after two rounds this year, Ilias broke his leg while playing reserve grade this month.
But after being prioritised as South Sydney's long-term halfback over Adam Reynolds two and a half years ago, it is unlikely he will see out the final year of his contract in 2025.
"I spoke to (Souths CEO) Blake Solly over the weekend, because I was (wondering) where it leaves Lachy," Ilias's manager Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
"I sent him a formal email this morning asking for permission to negotiate with other clubs, and received one back by lunchtime.
"So he is free to negotiate with other clubs."
Anasta said he had received low-level interest, but expected that to ramp up now the 23-year-old was officially available.
"There are a lot of teams that could do with a half at the moment," he said.
"I see it as a relief, because he hasn't developed the way he should have there.
"Of course he is hurt, but he is such an amazing kid. He's disappointed because he loves the joint and has given his heart and soul to the joint. He didn't see it coming."
Tuesday also shapes as a crucial day for under-fire coach Jason Demetriou, with the monthly Souths board meeting scheduled for the morning.
The Rabbitohs' 1-6 start to the season is their worst in 16 years, with the club facing a battle to recover and make finals.
Demetriou was given more time after his side's gutsy defeat to Cronulla this month, but Souths backed that up with a 54-20 drubbing at the hands of Melbourne on Anzac Day.
Mitchell has reportedly considered making himself unavailable for Origin in a bid to help rebuild the Rabbitohs' season.
But there is a potential hurdle in the form of the NRL's rules.
Speaking hypothetically given there has been no request from Mitchell, NRL officials confirmed to AAP on Monday that players are contractually obliged to make themselves available for selection.
Clubs must also release players if picked.
Some exemptions are allowed. Kalyn Ponga pulled out for Queensland last year on medical grounds, after an extended period out of action following repeated concussions.
South Sydney centre Jack Wighton has also made himself unavailable, but that only came after a permanent retirement.
But neither of those circumstances are likely to apply to Mitchell, if he does push to make himself unavailable.
The Rabbitohs fullback has missed the past two matches through suspension, but will return in round 10, well before Michael Maguire picks his side for Origin I on June 5.
Mitchell did not feature in NSW's back-to-back series losses, but was selected at centre when last fit for Origin in 2021.
The NRL is not concerned that skipping Origin would become a wider trend, with match payments of $30,000 per game.
But they are also well aware of the importance of the series to the game's financial bottom line.
NRL bosses therefore remain firmly of the view that the game's best players should feature in Origin, not least because of the broadcast revenue it generates.
