We are five weeks into the 2026 NRL campaign, and plenty of talent are introducing their names in the State of Origin conversations.
With the introduction of the six-man bench, many players' chances of being selected in the squad have sky-rocketed.
The focus here will be on the players who haven't been made eligible because of the change in Tier 1 restrictions earlier this year. So players such as Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Briton Nikora will not feature.
Here are some players who could make their Origin debut in this year's series.
2. Tolutau Koula (NSW)
Koula's speed, versatility, and raw X-factor make him a perfect super sub for the Blues' six-man bench. He was Manly's Roy Bull (MVP) medallist last year, also topping the try scorer count for the Sea Eagles, and has started this season off right where he finished last.
He could even push incumbent Latrell Mitchell out of his left centre starting position. As it stands, NSW lost last year, so no one is safe in keeping their spot. We saw Koula's ability to find space when he broke through Robert Toia and Daly Cherry-Evans' defence, wrong-footing James Tedesco to score an absolute screamer at Brookvale in round 4.
Koula draws strong similarities to a young Michael Jennings, with elite footwork and rapid speed in his arsenal. If he stays on this trajectory under interim coach Kieran Foran, expect an Origin berth for the Tongan superstar.
