The NRL's best showcase of junior talent is upon us, with the under-19s State of Origin to take place in Redcliffe on Thursday evening.
In a match that was played at Leichhardt last year, a number of players have gone on to make their NRL debuts in the following 12 months, including the likes of Paul Alamoti, Jack Bostock, Jonah Pezet, Justin Matamua, Trey Mooney, Jojo Fifita and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. A number of others are likely close to debuting.
Now, the next crop of youngsters gets their chance to shine in front of the bright lights that come with any interstate battle.
Here are the players to watch, with all on this list a strong chance of debuting in the NRL over the next 12 months.
Club: Brisbane Broncos
Position: Hooker
Rated as the best young dummy half in the game, Mozer has been on the lips of fans for 12 months after impressing in this game last year. Many had expected he would debut by now, but it also must be remembered that even this year, he is still eligible to play in the under-19s, and the dummy half is a tough role in the NRL.
He is also behind a firing Broncos team, who are at the top of the ladder and travelling just fine, with Billy Walters, Cory Paix and Tyson Smoothy all spending time in the top grade this year.
Mozer hasn't taken a backward step at the QLD Cup level for the Souths Logan Magpies, though, playing 14 games in the competition this year to go with the three he managed last year.
In his 14 games this year, he has scored six tries, added eight try assists and made 351 tackles at almost 95 per cent. While he isn't playing 80 minutes per week in reserve grade, he must be close to an NRL debut, and after being one of Queensland's best in a well beaten under 19 side last year, he will look to inspire his state to a win this time around.
Club: Manly Sea Eagles
Position: Prop
A prop who can also line up in the second row, Fainu is one of two brothers in this match, and was in the under 19 Blues extended squad last year.
He has been with the Sea Eagles since the age of 14, playing through the junior grades before making his NRL debut in Round 8 against Wests Tigers.
In five appearances, which includes a start against the Knights in Round 13, Fainu has averaged 74 metres per game, and added 7 tackle breaks to go with a pair of offloads.
Watch for him to lead from the front for the Blues in this one.
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Halfback
Lamont has been in junior pathways programs over the last two years, having played for Queensland Under 17 country in 2021 and being part of the emerging Queensland Under 18 squad last year.
In that time, he has also impressed at the Townsville Blackhawks, where he has been playing in the Colts competition this year - the Blackhawks sit tenth on the ladder, but that isn't a knock on Lamont.
A youngster with a strong kicking game and excellent vision, he will aim to lead the Maroons around the park but will also benefit from a forming a combination with fullback Mutua Brown and five-eighth Stanley Huen, while the time and space he has to work in off the back of Benjamin Te Kura and Ryan Jackson could make him a standout here.
Club: Manly Sea Eagles
Position: Five-eighth
The other of the Fainu brothers in this match, Latu, is almost a year and a half younger than Samuela but has experience in his game that is well beyond his age.
A five-eighth who is rated as one of the best yet to debut in the game, he is on a long-term contract at the Sea Eagles, and has played above his age group coming through the junior grades.
In what is his first year with the NRL squad training wise, he has made six appearances in the NSW Cup already, withthe Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles winning the last couple he started in.
He averages 88 metres per game to go with a pair of try assists and four offloads from his six games in reserve grade.
Club: Brisbane Broncos
Position: Prop
Te Kura played in this game last year off the bench, and this time around earns a promotion to the starting side, where he will be expected to get the game off to a fast start in the middle third alongside Dolphins' youngster Ryan Jackson.
Te Kura might still be under 19s, but he has impressed at QLD Cup level for the Souths Logan Magpies this year alongside Mozer, making 15 appearances and crossing for seven tries - a mighty impressive record for a prop.
To go with that, he has made 52 tackle busts, 14 offloads and averages 99 metres per game.
Hard to control in reserve grade, he could make all the difference for the Maroons in this one, and it must be only a matter of time until he is a chance of featuring on the bench for Kevin Walters.
Club: Wests Tigers
Position: Utility/Centre
Feledy's primary position might be in the centres, but the 18-year-old who is already on a development contract at the Wests Tigers can play across the backline.
A product of the junior pathways at the Tigers, Feledy is on the radar as a potential future leader of the club and, with the club in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in the top grade, he could well push for a debut late in the year, if not next.
The captain of Balmain's SG Ball team this year, he advanced to the Jersey Flegg team at the Tigers and has been excellent.
In 13 appearances, he has 10 tries, and is quickly stamping his authority at that level to the point a NSW Cup debut is looming in the near future.
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Fullback
Brown is still eligible for under 18s but will wear the number one jumper for the 19s on Thursday evening.
Noted for his lightning pace, Brown is rated as one of the best young fullbacks in the game and will look to put his name in lights on Thursday evening.
He has impressed all the way through the junior ranks, and brings plenty to any team he plays in. Watch in particular for the way he will run in support, making offloads from key forwards Ryan Jackson, Benjamin Te Kura and Angus Hinchey, all the more dangerous for the Blues' defensive outfit.
Club: Parramatta Eels
Position: Halfback
A goal-kicking halfback, Sanders led the Parramatta Eels beautifully throughout the 2023 SG Ball Cup season to win the premiership with a thrilling 28-22 victory over the Newcastle Knights in the decider.
His precision and vision, as well as coolness under pressure during that game, was obvious to see en route to being named player of the game.
Sanders scored the opening try and kicked four from five to cap off a wonderful season in the under-19 competition. He had already made an impression in Jersey Flegg during the back half of last season, and his talent isn't going unnoticed, with rival clubs reportedly looking to snare him from Parramatta.
Sanders will be the gel for the spine in this game, which also features the talented Raiders' youngster Chevy Stewart at the back and Billy Scott at hooker.