More than 100 players with first-grade experience are yet to find a club for next year, raising fears the majority could be squeezed out of the NRL.

Some of the biggest names in the game – including Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Darius Boyd – remain off contract for 2018. While they will have little trouble finding a home should they want one for 2018, the story will be different for the fringe first grader.

Clubless: Cooper Cronk won't have trouble finding interested clubs when he moves to Sydney, but he's one of the lucky ones. Credit:AAP

The player market has come to a virtual halt due to a coaching merry-go-round in which Neil Henry, Michael Maguire and Des Hasler have been sacked, creating uncertainty around their former clubs' retention and recruitment strategy. Complicating the issue are the protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiations that have left the game without an official salary cap for next year. While the figure will almost certainly be $9.4 million when developing and veteran player allowances are factored in, most of the clubs have already spent their money, while others have overspent and will need to shed stars to comply.

Rather than jump at the unsigned talent available, clubs with cash to spend are holding out for the likes of Cronk, unsettled Panther Matt Moylan, Cronulla playmaker James Maloney or other contracted stars that may come onto the open market. Clubs such as the Raiders and Bulldogs may need to offload talent, leading to bargain buys ahead of the NRL kick-off next March.