Over the next fortnight, Zero Tackle will unveil the next crop of young players coming through the ranks who have yet to play NRL first-grade.
Every NRL star was once just a name on a team sheet, a promising kid waiting for the right moment to shine.
As players age and legends retire, the next generation of the competition's future superstars are slowly making a name for themselves in the lower grades.
In the past 18 months, Blaize Talagi, Lachlan Galvin and Isaiah Iongi are just three players who have earned their debuts and taken the rugby league world by storm...so who's next?
After hours of watching matches from the Harold Matthews Cup to the Mal Meninga Cup to the NSW Cup and QLD Cup competitions, Zero Tackle has compiled a list of the 'Top 100 Young Players Yet to Play in the NRL'.
This list will be updated every three months - four times a year - as players continue to progress through the ranks and make their NRL debuts while others continue to impress at their respective clubs and for their schools.
While some players are more known to fans than others, the list includes quotes from several individuals and players associated with rugby league, as well as which former or current player is the individual's best comparison.
RANKINGS LIST
125-21
25. Jake Elliott
A Central Coast product who is able to play in the halves or at hooker, Jake Elliott is one of the many talented playmaker coming through the ranks of the Sydney Roosters and was named as the starting five-eighth in last year's U19s NSW Blues team.
The club's NSW Cup five-eighth over the past two seasons, he announced himself on the reserve-grade stage with a try, penalty goal and match-winning field-goal in his debut last year. This season he has scored five tries, forced four drop-outs and provided 11 try assists and 13 line-break assists.
Age: 20
Team: Sydney Roosters
Position: Five-Eighth / Hooker
Contract Status: 2027
24. Saxon Pryke
Currently on a development contract, Saxon Pryke is part of the next breed of players coming through the Parramatta Eels system and is looking to become the next member of the club's premiership-winning 2023 SG Ball Cup team to play in the NRL.
A versatile forward, Pryke's work rate is unmatched and he has all the skills to have a long future in the NRL. Applying his trade in both the Jersey Flegg Cup and NSW Cup, he has made 11 appearances in reserve-grade this season, scoring two tries, making nine tackle busts, 234 tackles and 655 total running metres.
Age: 20
Team: Parramatta Eels
Position: Lock / Prop
Contract Status: 2026 (mutual option)
23. Tyreece Tait
Already compared to Josh Addo-Carr due to his elite speed and quickness, Tyreece Tait is set to be a future star of the Sydney Roosters' back-line in the coming seasons and has already had a taste of playing in the NSW Cup.
Originally from Queensland, Tait spent time training with the Brisbane Broncos and learned from Selwyn Cobbo before being recruited by the Roosters, where he has taken on the understudy role, learning from Daniel Tupou.
RELATED: Tait's Time: Roosters young gun speaks on joining club, journey to NRL
"It's pretty mad wearing the Roosters jersey," Tait told Zero Tackle.
"The culture's great. The boys always get around ya and always help the brother out, so that's what it means to me - do it for the family and do it for everyone.
"I was 17 turning 18 when I found out and I was like, I'm really going to be moving to Sydney by myself.
"When I signed, I had a meeting with Robbo [Trent Robinson], and he just said you are the next coming, and you got to keep working on your craft and getting better."
Age: 20
Team: Sydney Roosters
Position: Wing / Centre
Contract Status: 2027
22. Myles Martin
A former Jersey Flegg Cup skipper of the Newcastle Knights, Myles Martin, made the switch to the Canberra Raiders ahead of this season and is inching closer every week to making his first-grade debut.
Having also spent time with the Parramatta Eels in his junior career, the U19s NSW Blues representative has been a stalwart of the Raiders' reserve-grade side this season and is averaging 62 running metres per match, has made 365 tackles and 12 tackle busts and scored three tries.
Age: 21
Team: Canberra Raiders
Position: Lock
Contract Status: 2027
COMPARISON: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
21. Te Hurinui Twidle
Training with the Parramatta Eels first-grade for the first time in the most recent pre-season, Te Hurinui Twidle helped lead the club to the SG Ball Cup title in 2023 and is currently transitioning between both the Jersey Flegg Cup and NSW Cup competitions.
Recruited from New Zealand, Twidle also spent time in Queensland before being recruited by the Eels and has made an immediate impact in the halves and in the fullback spot. He is expected to be the understudy to Isaiah Iongi in the coming seasons.
Age: 20
Team: Parramatta Eels
Position: Fullback / Five-Eighth
Contract Status: 2026 (club option)
