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
9. Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights)
The Knights have a clear shootout going on for a spot in the second-row come the opening round of the season following the departure of Kai Pearce-Paul to the Wests Tigers.
The Englishman never quite got going to the standards expected at the Knights, but was still a walk-up starter each week. The other edge forward position belongs to Dylan Lucas, who could well be on the fringe of the NSW Origin side by the time the interstate series rolls around this year.
Pearce-Paul's departure leaves a three-way shootout at the Knights - Jermaine McEwen, Thomas Cant and Brodie Jones.
While Jones brings experience, and Cant brings versatility, it's McEwen who is the most exciting of the trio, and he will be the one to watch this Saturday. After playing 17 games in 2025, it feels as if the spot is his to lose.
