12 teams will take to the park for the first time in 2026, while the four Las Vegas-bound teams have their final hit out before Round 1 in Week 2 of the NRL's pre-season challenge.
From players returning from injury, to those fighting for spots, and youngsters looking to impress, there will be plenty of storylines to follow out of the weekend ahead.
Here are all the key players to watch across every game.
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New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles
Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles)
Wilson arrives on the northern beaches with a point to prove, coming in and out of the Bulldogs side in the past years, he will be looking to cement a wing spot up for grabs.
A great finisher and strong return-carrier, Wilson will get a chance to prove himself when he makes his club debut for the Sea Eagles on Saturday.
Coming in at 186cm and 95kg, Wilson is tall and fast. Watch out for cross-field kicks and early ball-spreads to come his way.
Leka Halasima (New Zealand Warriors)
Halasima has surprisingly been named in the centres for the Warriors' opening trial match against the Manly Sea Eagles.
That comes as a major surprise.
While there is no guarantee he will spend much time, or be considered for a positional swap once the season gets going, it's certainly eyebrow-raising for this weekend.
Should he excel, it could be a case of watch this space, although in reality, the Warriors' back five is stacked.
Joey Walsh (Manly Sea Eagles)
Touted as Daly Cherry-Evans' long-term replacement at Manly, Walsh impressed since signing with the club from Rugby Union.
An impressive running-game and confidence with the ball-in hand, he comes up against a strong Warriors side on Saturday. It will be a great watch to see how he handles being the chief playmaker on his side.
He excelled in NSW Cup last year with 16 try assists, in 15 appearances, accompanied by 13 line-break assists.
Tanah Boyd (New Zealand Warriors)
After leaving the Titans and signing with the Warriors for 2025, many NRL experts had Boyd as the go to replacement for Shaun Johnson.
However, a breakout season from Luke Metcalf saw Boyd spend most of his season in reserve grade.
A cruel ACL injury to Metcalf in Round 17 opened a door for Boyd to reclaim the 7 jersey.
Although the absence of Metcalf is clear, Boyd has a lot to offer with his strong kicking game and game control.
With Metcalf working towards a Round 7 return in 2026, Boyd has to work hard to campaign himself as the go to man and shape his own future, with his contract at the Warriors ending this year.
Haizyn Mellars (New Zealand Warriors)
The Warriors have signed 21-year old winger Haizym Mellars on a three-year deal after an impressive stint in NSW Cup for South Sydney last year.
While only playing ten games last year due to injury and form, Mellars talent was clear in NSW cup with 8 tries, two try assists, nine line breaks and averaging 111 running metres per match.
Although Mellars is not likely to crack into the starting side at the top end of the season, it is still possible for the young gun to make his NRL debut for the Warriors later this year.
With a three-year deal in place, and the motivation of returning home to his birth country, Mellars is an exciting future prospect for the club and will only excel under the guidance of the Warriors stacked backline and coach Andrew Webster.
