While some stars begin to wind down their illustrious careers, others are only just kicking off.

Every year, new elite talents of our game are discovered, some rookies biding their time in lower grades, some are in their mid-20s just waiting for their big break.

Regardless of circumstance, every club has at least one teetering on the edge of their chair all pre-season, just waiting for February to come around so they can prove themselves in the trials.

Who will be your club's breakout star of 2023? Let's dive in and have a look.

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17. Wests Tigers

Rua Ngatikaura

A similar mould to an Issac Luke or Brandon Smith, if the club hadn't signed Apisai Koroisau, Ngatikaura would be deep in the conversation to don the No. 9 jersey for the wooden spooners this season.

Featured for the Cook Islands at the World Cup, this 22 year-old is a red hot chance of snaring a bench utility role after the departure of Fa'amanu Brown to Canterbury. Similarly to Fa'asuamaleaui, get used to spelling the name, because it's going to be a frequently used one soon enough.

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