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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7. Krystian Mapapalangi (Newcastle Knights)
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.
