NRL pre-season challenge Week 3: 43 players to watch

Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
It's a big year in Latrell's career, given the lack of success he's had at the club and the lack of availability due to injuries.

The signing of David Fifita and pushing the club to go after Payne Haas could be the path to giving the talented star more excitement in his game and looking at the club's short-term and future.

With Jye Gray at fullback, Latrell has the opportunity to get to playing his best football playing left centre and lead the Bunnies back to the finals.

Ashton Ward (Rabbitohs)
Ashton Ward showed last season he has the potential to have more than a 10 year career with his work ethic and skill, helping the club win games with a lack of depth and low odds.

Jonah Glover will be out for eight weeks with a fractured jaw, which gives the young Ward an opportunity to put pressure on Jamie Humphreys in the halves.

Ward thrives around shape in the middle of the field that shifts to his short side, which the Sea Eagles will need to defend at a high level when the Rabbitohs explore their attack on the right edge.

Brandon Smith (Rabbitohs)
Regarded as one of the best hookers and versatile middle in the game only a few years ago, Smith will be looking to regain that title after a quiet few years. Plenty of spark from dummy half and aggression in the middle, Smith will be a valuable asset for coach Wayne Bennett, who is notorious for getting the absolute best out of players under him.

In his first appearance for the year, Smith will start at hooker against Manly, but most likely move around the forwards before the younger rookies get a go in the second half. Out to prove a point, expect a big season for Brandon Smith in the red and green.

David Fifita (Rabbitohs)
After a disappointing tenure in the Gold Coast, David Fifita is hoping to get back to playing his best football under Wayne Bennett.

It's not often in the game we see a back-rower with his size and have the mobility of a backline player.

Playing on the left edge with players like Cody Walker, Alex Johnston and Latrell Mitchell, fans will get a first look at how the Rabbitohs balance their attack even with a left edge that has so much playmaking ability and shape to build to get those guys firing on all cylinders.

Adam Elliott (Rabbitohs)
Handed a career lifeline by Wayne Bennett, Adam Elliot enters his 11th NRL season determined to prove his worth.

Signed on only a one-year deal, Elliot will be playing for his future, beginning this weekend against Manly.

While he won't start ahead of Cameron Murray, he is a strong chance to find a place on the newly extended six-man bench as an impact option, with Souths fans getting their first glimpse of how he'll fare in that role this weekend.

Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles)
Hopoate will make his first appearance for the year on the wing for Manly. With deceiving strength in contact and a great finisher, he will feature heavily in the Sea Eagles' 2026 campaign.

Coming from a strong pedigree of talent, Hopoate is shaping up his own path, which has already landed him Tonga's fullback jersey in his debut year in 2024.

Hugo Hart (Sea Eagles)
The strong build of Hugo Hart saw him play 80 minutes last week in Manly's strong win against an experienced Warriors side. The backrower, who has a varsity American football background, has a strong motor and bends the line in contact.

He picked up a double in last week's trial and combined well with half Joey Walsh to finish off sets. With Hart claiming the starting jersey for Manly's second trial, he is applying some pressure on the backrow stocks for the Sea Eagles in the 2026 NRL season.

Joey Walsh (Sea Eagles)
Walsh showed all class in Week 2 of the trials, controlling the game in the wet nicely against the Warriors, leading them to a 33-18 win in NZ. Having Manly legend in Keiran Foran mentoring him over the summer has proven to be a masterstroke from the club, where she showed great tempo and attacking flair when it mattered.

He will be returning to his utility role, coming off the bench to provide cover for the starting halves in Luke Brooks and Jamal Fogarty and will no doubt play some solid minutes against a strong Rabbitohs outfit on Sunday.

Simione Laiafi (Sea Eagles)
Just about the best stand-out forward from Week 2 of the trials. Laifai bends the line in contact with aggression and a little bit of late footwork. It's just a matter of whether he can keep that intensity up against NRL-level talent week in, week out. Laifai ran for 181 metres, with 72 of those being post-contact.

With Manly's biggest weakness heading into the season being forward depth, Laifai has so far answered those prayers and will no doubt feature in the top grade in 2026.