It's been a long, long four months but finally, the NRL returns to our screens on Thursday night as the pre-season challenge gets the season underway.
While there's $100,000 on the line for the victor of the 18 clubs competing, the key focus for head coaches lies on the budding combinations and individual form within his side, and easing the selection of their Round 1 team.
All 17 NRL clubs will be participating in the challenge, as well as St Helens from the Super League, who'll play the Dragons in the first week before facing Penrith in the second, which doubles as the World Club Challenge.
While the majority of Round 1 sides are all but selected in a coaches mind already, trials always throw spanners in the works as injuries lurk their ugly head while young guns and fringe first-graders put their hand up for a spot in the 17.
While we'll likely see close to 400 players feature across the pre-season challenge, some deserve more attention than others, specifically these ten youngsters.
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9. Matt Doorey (Parramatta Eels)
A former Under 20s player for Parramatta, Matt Doorey returns home after a two-year stint with Canterbury that not only saw the edge forward make his NRL debut, but amass 18 first-grade games across 2020 and 2021.
Now back in Western Sydney, Doorey is locked in a three-way battle for a starting spot at the Eels, and the trials are all but certain to yield results.
While Shaun Lane will start on the left edge and J'maine Hopgood at lock, the right back-row position is vacant with Isaiah Papalii moving to the Wests Tigers, Bryce Cartwright recently breaking his jaw at training, and Ryan Matterson suspended until Round 4.
It's between Doorey, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie across the pre-season challenge to decide he wears the No. 12 in the first round.
