The wheeling and dealing has been done, the first half of pre-season training is over, and the serious stuff for 2026 is just around the corner.
Players have begun settling at their new clubs after moving during the off-season, but some are under a lot more pressure than the rest.
From big-money recruits, to those thrust into key roles, and others who will essentially be playing for their careers, there are plenty of players who will be in focus throughout the course of the upcoming campaign at new clubs.
Here are our most under-pressure players for 2026.
4. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters)
Speaking of Cherry-Evans, there is probably little in the way of surprise that he also qualifies for this list.
The veteran halfback, as just mentioned, struggled throughout the course of 2025, with Manly missing the top eight and the veteran losing his spot as Queensland Maroons captain and halfback.
That doesn't mean he is finished as a rugby league player, though, and at times, he still had some good moments throughout the course of the campaign.
He now heads to Bondi, where the Roosters are looking to push further up the ladder, but he will also have competition, with Hugo Savala likely to lose his spot in the halves, and Sam Walker to be pushed from halfback to five-eighth to accommodate the move.
If Cherry-Evans doesn't perform to the level Trent Robinson and his coaching staff expect, there is a very real chance he doesn't play first-grade for the entirety of the season.
I’d argue Brown isn’t the most under pressure. Sure he signed that massive deal but he’s going to the team that finished last. The injuries Newcastle had to key players and real lack of offensive threat is why they were last. They won’t be last again so he’ll be seen as a success in the short term. I’d argue Thompson and DCE are under more pressure, maybe DCE at number 1. The roosters have signed him and risked the likes of Savala and already lost Smith. Thompson as well was signed on potential for huge money and is going to a top 4 side who’s pack has often been criticised. He has to step up and be the main star in the pack which he has struggled to do on a consistent basis. He’s aggressive but lacks the go forward of other elite middles. Thompson is expected to help turn the dogs into a grand final side and DCE is expected to also turn the roosters into a top 4 side and premiership side again where as Brown is expected to lift the knights off the bottom of the table and judging by comments online people are tipping them to be last again even with the very strong recruitment they’ve done.