TIM Moltzen is one of six contracted Tigers players who have been told to find a new club next year, while form playmaker Blake Austin could be headed to Canberra.

While extreme uncertainty surrounds the club’s coaching staff for 2015, decisions have already been made about which players are surplus to needs next season.

media_camera Jack Buchanan could be on his way out of Leichhardt Oval.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Jack Buchanan, Kurtis Rowe, Nathan Brown, Joel Luani and Moltzen are among the players who have been granted permission to look elsewhere, despite having another year to run on their contracts. It’s understood the players were all informed over the past month.

Austin is also contracted for another season, but has attracted interest from the Raiders, who are hunting for a five-eighth to replace out-of-favour veteran Terry Campese.

While Austin is not on the unwanted list at Concord, he’s no longer content to play a utility role after starring in halves as back-up to injured pair Luke Brooks and Braith Anasta this year.

Austin has told the Tigers he wants to be first-choice five- eighth next year, but that honour appears destined for local junior Mitchell Moses, who played all his schoolboy footy alongside Brooks.

With Campese demoted to NSW Cup and considering other options, Canberra have the No. 6 jersey vacant for 2015. It’s understood Cronulla have also shown interest in the 23-year-old Austin, whose individual creativity and spark have been a rare positive for the Tigers this season.

Austin joined the Tigers from Penrith on a two-year deal, the second of which has grown more lucrative thanks to his form this season.

Releasing him would give the Tigers more breathing space under their 2015 salary cap, which has been stretched after they re-signed eight players this year. The likes of Brooks and Moses are also on escalating deals.

media_camera Blake Austin could make way to free up the club’s salary cap.

Tigers CEO Grant Mayer said the club would honour all deals if the players did not find new clubs for next season.

“The players are contracted for 2015,” he said. “If they chose to stay, they will be playing with the club. The coaching staff has a job to do and that includes decisions about the playing roster.”

Austin’s future could hinge on what Moltzen does. He has endured dreadful luck with injury, culminating with another knee reconstruction over the off-season.

Moltzen returned to NSW Cup last month, but iced his comeback after just 20 minutes when soreness and doubts set in. He is now back in rehab and attempting to make a full comeback next year.

If he regains fitness and stays at the Tigers, Austin’s chances of gaining a release would be boosted because the club requires a back-up playmaker for Moses and Brooks.

Saturday’s final-round clash against Cronulla is also expected to be the swan song for coach Mick Potter, who has not been offered a new deal and could finish the year with seven straight losses. Assistant coaches Todd Payten and David Kidwell are keen to replace him, but both are also off-contract from November 1.