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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6. Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm)
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.
