While some stars begin to wind down their illustrious careers, others are only just kicking off.

Every year, new elite talents of our game are discovered, some rookies biding their time in lower grades, some are in their mid-20s just waiting for their big break.

Regardless of circumstance, every club has at least one teetering on the edge of their chair all pre-season, just waiting for February to come around so they can prove themselves in the trials.

Who will be your club's breakout star of 2023? Let's dive in and have a look.

2. Canberra Raiders

Ata Mariota

A hard-running front-rower, Mariota was named in the NSW Cup Team of the Year in 2022 and for good reason, this kid can play. The Raiders have some quality middles in Josh Papalii, Joseph Tapine, Corey Horsburgh, Emre Guler and Pasami Saulo, but there's certainly room for Mariota to sneak onto the bench.

Tapine is a chance of shifting to lock to cover for the departed Adam Elliott, opening the door for Horsburgh to start at prop, and open up a bench spot for the rookie. Definitely a name for the little black book.