The teams are out for the opening week of the pre-season challenge, with the St George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury Bulldogs, Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys heading to Kogarah to get things underway.
Plenty of top stars are sitting out, but that creates opportunities for others to impress and potentially push for spots in Round 1, while an eye will also be on the future in multiple positions.
Here are the ten players to watch this weekend.
Pre-season challenge Week 1 team lists
2. Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights)
One of the key questions throughout the pre-season has surrounded which position Sandon Smith will play in 2026 following his off-season move to the Knights from the Sydney Roosters.
One of the game's genuine utilities, Smith can play in either halves position, fullback, or at dummy half.
Some have suggested that could turn him into the perfect utility for the Hunter-based club, but ultimately, he should start somewhere in the side. He is too talented for that not to be the case.
He has been named at halfback this weekend, although that may yet be simply a consequence of Dylan Brown not playing.
But his performance at halfback will certainly pave the way towards a more understood discussion over what position he will play this year.
