Cronulla's American sojourn begins on Thursday with a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, where they will go into training camp at the University of Southern California.
The Sharks then head to Las Vegas on Monday for their season opener against Penrith, who knocked them out of the 2024 finals en route to a fourth consecutive premiership.
Trips to Venice Beach and tickets to the National Hockey League's LA Kings await the Sharks on their great American road trip.
But if in-demand Hazelton thinks he'll be making a getaway from talk about his future, the big man might be in for a surprise.
"We'll definitely be getting into his ear over there," winger Ronaldo Mulitalo told AAP.
"He's got our full support whether he stays or goes, love him either way."
The Sharks have done well to secure the majority of their previously unsigned talent beyond 2025, extending Mulitalo, Teig Wilton, Cam McInnes, Briton Nikora and Braydon Trindall since November.
But cult hero Hazelton is one of the last key men without a deal for 2026, and has been linked with rival suitors St George Illawarra, the Dolphins and the Warriors.
Fellow prop Braden Hamlin-Uele plans to use a crystal ball, of sorts, to predict the future of the follicly-challenged Hazelton.
"I love big 'Hazo', if I just rub his head and look into the shiny baldness, I'm sure I can see the future and where he's going to go," Hamlin-Uele told AAP.
"Any club that gets 'Hazo', hopefully it's us, is going to have a massive pick-up."
Halfback Nicho Hynes has resorted to similarly creative tactics to warn rivals off the famously affable prop.
"All the clubs that are listening, he's a s*** bloke and you don't want to sign him," Hynes joked.
"He always rocks up late to meetings and you don't want him at your club."
The chance to continue playing in one of the NRL's most talented forward packs may be more persuasive for Hazelton.
Prized recruit Addin Fonua-Blake has identified the 26-year-old as a key co-conspirator through the middle.
"It'd be real good to be a one-two punch with him," Fonua-Blake told AAP.
"Then you add in the likes of Braden Hamlin-Uele, Sifa Talakai, Oregon Kaufusi. If we can keep that same forward pack for a while, it'd be something scary to be a part of."
It's been quite the journey for Goulburn product Hazelton, who preferred soccer as a young man and only played his first season of rugby league at 15.
Across 44 first-grade games, he has grown into a must-pick in Craig Fitzgibbon's 17, prized for his imposing size and uncommon try-scoring ability.
"I've seen him develop confidence in himself and sort of establish to himself that he deserves to be in the NRL," Hamlin-Uele said.
"He believes in himself now.Â
"I'll back him no matter where he goes, but of course we'd love to keep him here."
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