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
6. Fletcher Sharpe (Newcastle Knights)
Sharpe has been named to play his first game since suffering an injury which was compared to that of a car crash during a game in Perth last year.
It ended his season, and impacted Newcastle's already struggling attack in a big way.
Sharpe, who is able to play at fullback, five-eighth, halfback and on the wing, will have a big role to play for Justin Holbrook's side throughout the 2026 campaign.
Exactly what that role is though is yet to be determined. It has been suggested that most of his training has been in the halves, where there is already a logjam for positions. That's where he will play this weekend, but don't be stunned if he spends some time at the back or out wide.
Regardless, he will be on the plane to Las Vegas.
