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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8. Tom Ale (New Zealand Warriors)
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.
