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
8. David Fale (St George Illawarra Dragons)
One of the more eyebrow turning surprises of the pre-season has been that of Shane Flanagan suggesting he will have two recruits on the wing come Round 1.
Wingers were one of the big issues for the Red V in 2025. Tyrell Sloan's form and apparently falling out of the good books, Christian Tuipulotu's hamstrings, Nathan Lawson not quite picking up rugby league as quickly as expected... It all hurt the Dragons.
So the signatures of David Fale, a winger in the Brian To'o mould from Penrith, and Warriors outside back Setu Tu, didn't exactly come as a surprise.
Both being in the mix for Round 1 did though, and another surprise greeted on Tuesday when Fale was named in the centres for the Dragons.
Given Valentine Holmes and Moses Suli will be picked for Las Vegas fitness pending, it's highly unlikely Fale will be there come Round 1, but this will be a big watch on Saturday evening.
