It's been a long, long four months but finally, the NRL returns to our screens on Thursday night as the pre-season challenge gets the season underway.
While there's $100,000 on the line for the victor of the 18 clubs competing, the key focus for head coaches lies on the budding combinations and individual form within his side, and easing the selection of their Round 1 team.
All 17 NRL clubs will be participating in the challenge, as well as St Helens from the Super League, who'll play the Dragons in the first week before facing Penrith in the second, which doubles as the World Club Challenge.
While the majority of Round 1 sides are all but selected in a coaches mind already, trials always throw spanners in the works as injuries lurk their ugly head while young guns and fringe first-graders put their hand up for a spot in the 17.
While we'll likely see close to 400 players feature across the pre-season challenge, some deserve more attention than others, specifically these ten youngsters.
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At 24 years of age, Taniela Sadrugu isn't exactly a young dynamo like others featured on the list, but he has the potential to make just as much of a splash.
The Cowboys utility, who can play centre, wing, back-row and lock, featured in four games for Fiji at last year's World Cup, crossing the line twice as he flirted between the edge and the middle for the Bati.
While Coen Hess is expected to start on an edge, Luciano Leilua is expected to be stood down until at least Round 12 while Heilum Luki's ACL injury is still being rehabbed, he's a genuine chance at nabbing a bench spot.
Turning 20 just days after the Charity Shield, Terrell Kalo Kalo may be a lanky looking fullback, however the speedster is deceptively strong and could use the trials as a springboard into a Round 1 spot.
Whilst he predominantly plays at the back, Kalo Kalo can slot into the centres or on the wing, and could use that versatility to push for the right wing spot outside Campbell Graham in the opening round.
Facing Manly and the Dragons in the pre-season challenge, Taane Milne's suspension gives Izaac Thompson favouritism for the vacant spot, but don't be surprised if Terrell puts his hand up.
The Sydney Roosters don't lose many players they don't want to, which already holds Ethan Strange to a high standard due to how filthy the club was to lose him.
The teenage halfback was dropped from the Roosters' SG Ball side following his decision to ink a three-year deal with Canberra starting in 2023, and he's shaping as one of the Raiders' more important signatures going forward.
While Jamal Fogarty owns the seven jersey now with Brad Schneider an eager back-up, Strange may take some time, but he'll be an integral member of the first-grade team soon enough.
Amidst all the Penrith Panthers they've been recruiting, a local 21 year-old back-rower has been plying his trade by the name of Jacob Preston, and looks set for an NRL debut sooner rather than later.
The edge forward stands at an intimating 189cm and 100kgs of force behind him, and could sneak onto the NRL bench despite the signature of Viliame Kikau.
The departure of Matt Doorey and Joe Stimson leaves their second-row a tad thin, Kikau and Raymond Fatalia-Mariner sewing up the starting role. He'll face Canberra and Cronulla in the pre-season, his last stakes at snaring a Round 1 spot.
One of the most highly touted young forwards in the game, Siua Wong has competition for a spot in 2023, however the kid is good enough to climb the pecking order rapidly.
A Fijian international, Wong doesn't turn 20 until Round 6 this season, but as the old adage goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough.
Wong is a fantastic hole-runner and has a fair hit on him as well, the ACL injury to Sitili Tupouniua leaves Angus Crichton and Nat Butcher to start, however the race for a bench spot is wide open.
This kid is going to be special in a few years time.
Christian Welch was wrapping the young fullback just a matter of weeks ago, declaring that while Nick Meaney will slot into the No. 1 jersey while Ryan Papenhuyzen is hurt, Faalogo is a bolter in every sense of the word.
Also able to play out wide, where Melbourne suffered an injury crisis in 2022, the son of a gun isn't far off his maiden jersey, and will shine in their opening trial.
If Newcastle weren't able to sign Lachlan Miller for 2023, their plan B was to shift Dane Gagai to fullback, and start the 20 year-old Krystian Mapapalangi in the centres.
Mapapalangi played two NRL games late last year, featuring in the club's Round 23 and Round 24 losses before missing the final round to return to Jersey Flegg for their finals.
While he's featured at centre, Mapapalangi has grown up spending a lot of time at five-eighth, adding to his nifty ball-playing and fast feet.
This Warriors prop has enjoyed a slow burn to start his NRL career, debuting late in 2020 for the club, and amassing just seven games in three seasons for the New Zealand based club.
Despite the slow start, Ale is set for a breakout season in 2023 as he aims to use the trials to cement a spot on the pine for the club's Round 1 home match against the Newcastle Knights.
Addin Fonua-Blake is a guaranteed starter, while Tohu Harris and Jazz Tevaga have both been floated for a starting prop spot, though their depth is thin.
They've signed some big name forwards in Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker, but none of the three play front-row, leaving the ball in Ale's court as he circles this Thursday's clash with the Wests Tigers as a starting point.
A former Under 20s player for Parramatta, Matt Doorey returns home after a two-year stint with Canterbury that not only saw the edge forward make his NRL debut, but amass 18 first-grade games across 2020 and 2021.
Now back in Western Sydney, Doorey is locked in a three-way battle for a starting spot at the Eels, and the trials are all but certain to yield results.
While Shaun Lane will start on the left edge and J'maine Hopgood at lock, the right back-row position is vacant with Isaiah Papalii moving to the Wests Tigers, Bryce Cartwright recently breaking his jaw at training, and Ryan Matterson suspended until Round 4.
It's between Doorey, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie across the pre-season challenge to decide he wears the No. 12 in the first round.
While his chances of securing a consistent first-grade role in 2023 are slim to none, Thomas Jenkins is arguably the most exciting kid off the Penrith production line, with his eyes firmly on a 2024 starting spot.
Jenkins has been named to start for Penrith on Saturday night against the Parramatta Eels, and the outside back will be licking his lips as he looks to leave an impact, and put his hand up as next in line for a three-quarter spot.
Jenkins made his NRL debut in the centres in the final regular season game last year, with the 21 year-old set to square off against Sunia Turuva and Jack Cole for the vacant right centre spot next season following Stephen Crichton's departure.
While his opportunities in the NRL will be limited this season, expect Jenkins to really make a fist of the trials, and enjoy cameo stints for the remainder of 2023 before a starring role next season.