NRL clubs have bought and traded players during the off-season but who will be left on the shelf in 2017? Mark Ashton identifies the players who should change clubs to save their career.

Brisbane Broncos - Kodi Nikorima

Kodi Nikorima and younger brother Jayden only a few seasons ago,were seen as two of the brightest properties at the Broncos, but now Jayden has left the club and Kodi is facing pressure from a veteran Benji Marshall to retain an NRL spot.

Kodi Nikiorima's favoured positions are fullback, halfback and hooker but Darius Boyd is locked in at the back, Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt are in the halves and Andrew McCullough is the Broncos' first-choice hooker so it seems opportunities might be limited in 2017.

Canberra Raiders - Shaun Fensom

Shaun Fensom is a two-time Mal Meninga medallist as Canberra Raiders' Player of the Year, as recently as 2011 and 2012, but he appears to have fallen out of favour having only played 14 NRL games in 2016 -- his fewest appearances since his debut season of 2009.

Still only 28-years-old, Fensom is a no-fuss, tradesman-like competitor in the prime of his career and there would be any number of forward packs in the NRL who would benefit greatly from his high work-rate.

Once a regular first team player for the Raiders, Shaun Fensom has struggled to break into the NRL team in 2016. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - Tyronne Phillips

Tyronne Phillips was an Youth star who built a huge reputation but opportunities and headlines haven't been as forthcoming from his six NRL starts across 2015 and 2016.

The Bulldogs are blessed with some talented outside backs, but in 2016 they were without the Morris twins for extended periods and Will Hopoate wasn't available to play Sundays yet Phillips' chances still were limited so he will likely benefit from a move in order to seek more time in the top grade.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks - Fa'amanu Brown

Much was expected of Fa'amanu Brown during his junior football days at Cronulla but his migration into the NRL team has been gradual with just 15 appearances in the top grade since 2014.

His chances of breaking into the Sharks halves appear slim with James Maloney and Chad Townsend striking up a formidable, premiership-winning combination, with Jack Bird providing cover. Michael Ennis' retirement opens the door at hooker, but the fact Cronulla have been linked with James Segeyaro suggests the club doesn't see him as a long-term hooker.

Gold Coast Titans - William Zillman

Injuries have been a major curse for William Zillman; the fullback has played 11 seasons of NRL but amassed just 165 games -- only nine in 2016.

Backed by the NRL, the Titans have a new financial muscle and spent big with the addition of marquee outside backs such as Jarryd Hayne, Konrad Hurrell and England international Dan Sarginson, which will make it a lot harder for Zillman to crack their side; a move might be what he needs in order to find another opportunity.

William Zillman has battled injury over recent seasons and may find it hard to win back a place in the Titans team in 2017. Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles - Brenton Lawrence

Brenton Lawrence is a late bloomer who was a surprise packet for Manly in their run to the 2012 Grand Final but a serious back injury at the start of 2016 required delicate surgery and restricted his input to just one game and left his place at the Sea Eagles in doubt.

When fully fit, as he is now, Lawrence is arguably the fastest prop forward in the NRL. There is speculation that Manly have been shopping the 31-year-old around to rival clubs but if there are no takers then it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Sea Eagles if he stays on Sydney's northern beaches.

Melbourne Storm - Young Tonumaipea

Young Tonumaipea started 2016 in the Storm's NRL team but injury struck after six appearances, but his absence opened the door for Suliasi Vunivalu and the young Fijian flyer didn't waste his opportunity -- finishing the season as the competition's equal-leading try scorer with 23 from 21 games.

Tonumaipea made a mid-season reappearance in the NRL but Vunivalu and Marika Koroibete soon reunited to give the Storm the NRL's most electrifying wing combination. Koroibete has since moved to rugby but Tonumaipea's hopes of regaining his NRL spot faded when the Storm signed another speedster in Josh Addo-Carr so it may be a hint that it is time to move.

Newcastle Knights - Jarrod Mullen

Jarrod Mullen burst onto the NRL scene in 2007 and was catapulted into Origin football in just his third year in the top grade, but his star since has slowly dimmed; not through lack of talent but more as a result of bad luck with injuries.

Mullen has a vast amount of experience from 12 seasons of NRL football but chronic hamstring injuries have disrupted his career at times. If he can regain full fitness, a change of scenery may also bring a change of luck. The Dragons are looking for a half and they can do worse than calling the Knights to inquire about Mullen.

The latter stages of Jarrod Mullen's career has been hampered by injury but when fit he could bring great experience to any team. Tony Feder/Getty Images

New Zealand Warriors - Matthew Allwood

Matthew Allwood's signature was considered a major recruitment coup for the Warriors when he moved from Canberra to Auckland in 2015, but he has failed to make an impact across the Tasman -- playing just seven NRL games in his two seasons with the New Zealand club.

At 24-years-old, Allwood is approaching a crucial period in his NRL career and he may soon be faced with a tough decision if he is to finally establish himself as a regular first-grade player. He won't be short of options but he can hardly afford many more years languishing in reserve grade; whether he decides to stay or go, his next move could be a make or break one.

North Queensland Cowboys - Ray Thompson

Ray Thompson has been at North Queensland since 2009 and is yet to mature into a regular at NRL level. While almost every player will play second fiddle to future immortal Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys were, for many seasons, searching high and low for a suitable halves partner.

Thompson was one of a long list to be given his chance, but, like so many, he failed to convince and the emergence of Michael Morgan as one of rugby league's elite players has only made his chance less likely. Thompson has plenty to offer but it doesn't seem to be at the Cowboys and a change of scenery could see him become a more regular figure at NRL level.

Ray Thompson could find it difficult to play NRL in 2017 with Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan, Jake Granville and now Ben Hampton at the Cowboys. Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Parramatta Eels - James Hasson

Still only 24-years-old, James Hasson has a lot of football in front of him but it is appears likely that it won't be at Parramatta. The England-born Ireland international has made 39 NRL appearances, all of which were at former club Manly, but he has become a forgotten figure since moving to Sydney's west.

At 193 cm and 105 kg, Hasson is an imposing figure but there is no shortage of those in the Eels forward pack so it is difficult to see where or when his opportunity to play NRL again might come. Another NRL club, or even a stint in the English Super League, could be just what he needs to make him a better equipped for a second crack at the NRL in a few years.

Penrith Panthers - Dylan Edwards

The Panthers have assembled a quality roster and boast the biggest and best nursery of playing talent in the competition so places in the NRL team are hard to come by. Dylan Edwards is a highly talented youngster fresh off the seemingly never-ending Penrith production line but the soon-to-be 21-year old will be confronted with a huge challenge in 2017.

Edwards was given his first taste of NRL football last season against eventual premiers Cronulla but a quick glance at Penrith's 2017 squad suggests it could be difficult to get another. Edwards is a fullback, centre or winger by trade, but the Panthers are well served in those areas; he has seven representative players ahead of him so he may soon look at his options.

South Sydney Rabbitohs - Bryson Goodwin

With all due respect, Bryson Goodwin has squeezed the most out of his talent and probably enjoyed a better rugby league career than many expected. The son of one of the game's greats in Ted Goodwin, he has played more than 150 NRL games, was a member of the premiership-winning South Sydney squad in 2014, and represented New Zealand at international level on 10 occasions.

Goodwin will enter 2017 as a 31-year-old so he is clearly heading into the twilight of his career; the Rabbitohs have a number of young outside backs coming through the system and it is difficult to see where he fits in unless the club suffers a spate of injuries. He would make a good addition for a few clubs but his best option might be in the English Super League.

Jackson Hastings was unable to cement his place in the Roosters side in 2016 but has youth on his side and could be a good option for rival NRL clubs looking for a five-eighth. Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images

Sydney Roosters - Jackson Hastings

Jackson Hastings was seen as the Roosters five-eighth for 2016 and beyond after the departure of James Maloney, but with Mitchell Pearce suspended for a large chunk of the season he struggled to assert authority and the club have since gone to market to invest good money in Luke Keary.

Hastings was linked with a return to St George Illawarra but the Sea Eagles have snuck under their guard to sign the young utility to a two-year deal. With Blake Green and Daly Cherry-Evans set to partner in the halves, Hastings is likely to play hooker or as a utility off the bench and a change of scenery could be just what he needs to revive his NRL career.

Wests Tigers - Justin Hunt

Justin Hunt is the very definition of a rugby league journeyman having been at four clubs since 2012, amassing just 22 NRL appearances, and his prospects don't appear to be any better in 2017 with the Tigers appearing to be well stocked for outside backs.

At 28-years-old, Hunt makes another ideal candidate for a move to the English Super League -- where he would probably also enjoy a fatter pay packet, more game time in the top grade, and a career that would extend past what he is likely to have if he continues to hover between clubs and grades in Australia.