The Dolphins have promised to give Daly Cherry-Evans the time he needs to decide his future, before leading a list of clubs likely to make a splash for the veteran half.
Cherry-Evans' future remains the talk of rugby league on Tuesday, after his shock announcement that he would leave Manly at season's end.
The 36-year-old has made clear his preference at this stage is to play on, particularly if another club is to offer him a deal for 2026.
The Sydney Roosters are believed to be monitoring the situation, while St George Illawarra are unlikely to make a play for the proud Queenslander.
South Sydney could also be a logical fit for Cherry-Evans given he could remain in Sydney, while the No.7 could be the missing piece to Canterbury's puzzle.
But it is the Dolphins who are likely to have an emotional pull, given Cherry-Evans was born in the region and his father Troy played for the Dolphins in the BRL.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader is known to be interested in pursuing the 2013 Clive Churchill Medallist, but insisted on Tuesday he would not rush an offer.
It comes after Cherry-Evans said on Monday he wanted to "take his time" on his future, unwilling to engage in negotiations soon.
"The facts here are that we are very happy with the players we have signed moving into 2026," Reader told AAP.
"This is the NRL and part of your job is to explore interest from good players.
"But in this case, that is not an issue now as the player himself said he wants to take some time to gauge what he wants to do."
Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti made it clear he wanted the Manly maestro at the club.
"I'd love to play with him," he said.
"He hasn't lost his step. He's got so much time, he's silky with the ball, but I (like) his leadership and talk.
"You see him talk off the field and that's the way he talks on the field. I hear him barking orders. If he's here, it's amazing, and if he's not we've got young upcoming halves that'll do the job."
Saifiti said Cherry-Evans would take rising half Isaiya Katoa "to the next level"
"He's probably been one of our best players, and he's one of our youngest. If he was under someone like Daly Cherry-Evans, I can only imagine it would be a benefit for him," he said.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov insisted on Tuesday the club had not given up hope on keeping their most-capped player, offering him $1.4 million over two seasons.
Cherry-Evans has already said he will not accept the extension, with no previous offer having been on the table from the Sea Eagles.
Beyond them, there will be other options.
As one of the game's best halves, Cherry-Evans would have the potential to turn both the Bulldogs and Roosters into premiership contenders.
Cody Walker is also off contract at Souths and the club are yet to debut Lewis Dodd, meaning he Cherry-Evans could replace any one of their halves.
Gold Coast could also loom as a dark horse given Cherry-Evans' bond with Des Hasler, and the fact they have similar speed out wide to the Sea Eagles.
It would complete a remarkable turnaround, after Cherry-Evans' backflip on the Titans in 2015.
And while the Dragons could do with his skill, club insiders said they were unlikely to pursue the halfback and could not see him relocating from Manly to Wollongong.
