Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has told teammates he has likely played his last game for NSW and Dean Mumm is still considering his future as the Waratahs begin planning for the loss of up to 766 games of experience and six of their most experienced stars.

Club captain Dave Dennis (108 matches for NSW), Wycliff Palu (139), Kurtley Beale (110) and the recently retired Benn Robinson (155) have all stated they will not be going around next year for the Waratahs.

However, there are two more key figures, Wallabies Polota-Nau (141) and Mumm (113), who may also be moving on in what would be a monumental changing of the guard, particularly in the forward pack.

While Polota-Nau said after the Waratahs' 34-28 loss to the Blues at Eden Park on Friday that he was "still weighing up the options", it is believed the 30-year-old has already made up his mind to leave and has told teammates. Although it is unclear where he plans to take his services, Japan is certainly an option. "I want to make the most of being in the company of the boys because we owe a lot to the guys that are going and they've definitely set a platform in terms of what the standard is," Polota-Nau said.