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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3. Ethan Strange (Canberra Raiders)
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.
