The NRL Pre-Season Challenge returns for the final week with coaches set to test out their new recruits and combinations for the final time before the season proper kicks off in March.
A host of stars are back on deck across the board but after some big injuries in Week 1, this weekend's clashes come as a big opportunity for players to prove their ready to make a big impact in 2023.
Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs)
After being promoted from a train-and-trial to the bulldogs' top 30, fan favourite son Josh Reynolds has earned a spot on Cameron Ciraldo's bench this Sunday.
Reynolds, who made an official return to the field in blue and white after 876 days, made an immediate impact in the blue and white against the Raiders on Sunday, linking up with halfback Kyle Flanagan and new recruit Reed Mahoney.
Reynolds' selection at No. 14 for Sunday's clash against the Sharks should come as no surprise after Ciraldo revealed Reynolds will "play a part" in the Bulldogs line up in 2023.
"He's such a good guy, that loves footy. I said at the start that if our team can have a little bit of Josh Reynolds in it then we'll have a good season," Ciraldo said.
"It's a long season ahead and I'm sure Josh is going to play a part for us."
Harley Smith-Shields (Raiders)
After rupturing his ACL during pre-season training last year, the 22-year-old will make his long awaited return this weekend.
Named on the Raiders’ wing this weekend, what would have been an opportunity to get some minutes under the belt has now turned into an opportunity to bag the potentially vacant No. 5 jersey.
With fullback Xavier Savage undergoing surgery for a broken jaw this week, veteran Raider Jordan Rapana has moved to fullback, giving Smith-Shields an earlier than expected opportunity to prove his wares on the edge.
Tyrell Sloan (Dragons)
After failing to fire in the No. 1 jersey last year, Sloan finished his 2022 season on the bench for Anthony Griffin's side but has been handed another opportunity to stake his claim at fullback.
With Cody Ramsey ruled out for the season with illness, the 20-year-old St George Illawarra junior has a major chance to cement the fullback position and prove he can make an impact in 2023.
And after impressing for the Indigenous in Saturday's All Stars clash, Sloan has put himself in the best position for round 1 selection.
Slick Sloan glides over the line
Young Tonumaipea (Storm)
Justin Olam’s fractured forearm has come as a big blow for Melbourne less than three weeks out from Round 1 but hands Young Tonumaipea an opportunity to start on Melbourne's left edge this weekend.
After playing 43 NRL matches for Storm between 2014 and 2018, the 30-year-old Victorian junior left Storm on a two-year overseas religious mission before returning to the NRL with a stint at the Gold Coast Titans and the Super Rugby.
Returning to the club last year on a train-and-trial deal, Tonumaipea doesn’t necessarily emerge as a slam dunk for the position with Grant Anderson, Tom Eisenhuth and Dean Ieremia all in contention and will no doubt be determined to take this weekend's opportunity with both hands.
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Jaxson Paulo (Roosters)
Joseph Suaali’i shifts to the centres for the first time this weekend, handing new recruit Jaxson Paulo a start on Trent Robinson's right edge.
Corey Allan has been named in the centres for this week, but with Joey Manu set to return for Round 1, there's a real chance Paulo is the man to claim the vacant wing spot for the Tricolours. A good performance from the 23-year-old will go a long way to seeing him nab a Round 1 spot.
Teig Wilton (Sharks)
Named to start at edge-forward against the Bulldogs this weekend, Wilton will could be set to inherit the Sharks No. 12 jersey in 2023.
The South Coast product looks set to take on a much bigger role following the retirement of Aiden Tolman and Andrew Fifita, and with skipper Wade Graham named on the bench, the future could be now for the 23-year-old edge-forward.
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Jake Simpkin (Wests Tigers)
With skipper Api Koroisau racing the clock to play in Round 1 after being ruled out of this week's match with a calf injury, all eyes will be on Jake Simpkin to make the most of his opportunity in the number nine jersey.
Linking up with Wests Tigers new-look forward pack including the likes of David Klemmer and Isaiah Papali’i, Sunday's clash against the Raiders comes as a good opportunity for Simpkin to cement a place on Tim Sheens’ bench or prove his claim for the starting role should Koroisau fail to be ready for Round 1.
Talented junior Rua Ngatikaura has been omitted from this weekend’s line-up all together – seemingly opening the door for the 21-year-old Toowomba product to likely to be handed the understudy role under Koroisau in 2023.
J’maine Hopgood (Eels)
With Ryan Matterson suspended until Round 4, Brad Arthur will be eager to see what new recruit J’maine Hopgood can do in the Eels No. 13 jersey.
After topping the Indigenous All Stars tackle count (43) in Rotorua last week, the 23-year-old former Panther looks to have won the race for starting lock after being named to start against the Knights on Friday.
Following the departure of forwards Oregon Kaufusi, Isaiah Papali'i and Marata Niukore, Hopgood has a big opportunity to cement a place in Parramatta’s forward pack.
If Matterson jumps straight back into a lock role, an early impression Hopgood could see him moved into an edge forward position alongside Shaun Lane.
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Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos)
Hot off the back of an All Stars hat-trick, Indigenous star Selwyn Cobbo has been given his opportunity in the Broncos’ No. 1 jersey this week.
With star signing Reece Walsh racing the clock for Round 1 after suffering a facial fracture against the Titans last week, Cobbo will need to put in a big performance on Sunday to earn first shot at the role.
If the 21-year-old does prove he can make more of an impact from fullback than on an edge, coach Kevin Walters could have a selection headache on the cards if Walsh makes a speedy recovery.
Selwyn Cobbo! Wow
Te Maire Martin (Warriors)
Warriors recruit Te Maire Martin emerges one step closer to winning the battle to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves this season.
Named at number six, the Warriors' clash against the Storm hands coach Andrew Webster an opportunity to test his new-look spine consisting of Marie Martin, Johnston, new fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and hooker Wayde Egan.
If the Warriors struggle to build cohesion in attack, Webster will likely look to young half Luke Metcalf who has been named on the extended bench this weekend so 27-year-old Martin needs to back up what was a strong performance last week.
Tanah Boyd (Titans)
The Titans spine is finally beginning to take shape with this weekend’s line up all but confirming Kieran Foran and Tanah Boyd as their halves for the 2023 season.
With Foran set to debut his new colours against the Dolphins on Sunday, Justin Holbrook will be eager to see how the veteran balances out the youngster in Boyd, who finished the 2022 campaign with a number of strong performances.
AJ Brimson has been named at fullback, Jayden Campbell in 14 and Toby Sexton on the extended bench at No.20 – meaning there's plenty of competition for Boyd and options for Holbrook to consider throughout the year.
Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)
Coming off a career best season and a World Cup debut for New Zealand, Bulldogs 2022 Player of the Year Jeremy Marshall-King could be Wayne Bennett’s most underrated signing.
Set to make his Dolphins debut in the number nine jersey this weekend, the 27-year-old emerges as the only established hooker in the new franchise and will be key to their defence after finishing top ten in the NRL's tackle count last season.
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Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
It’s all Knights fans have talked about during the off-season and now they finally get to see what Kalyn Ponga can do in the number six jersey.
Just two weeks out from season kick-off, the Knights' pre-season clash with the Eels hands coach Adam O’Brien the opportunity to see how Ponga will partner Jayden Brailey, along with new recruits Lachie Miller and Jackson Hastings, in the spine.
After Newcastle rated the worst in the league with their goal-kicking in 2022, converting only 61 per cent of their tries, O’Brien will also be hoping to find a full-time kicker in 2023. Who picks up the kicking tee will be interesting to see on Friday with Ponga holding a 73 percent career goal-kicking strike rate while new recruit Jackson Hastings is at 78 percent after also kicking goals last week.
Coen Hess (Cowboys)
After starting his career in the back row, Coen Hess has returned to an edge forward position in Saturday's Queensland clash against the Broncos.
Following the departures of Tom Gilbert (Dolphins) and Ben Condon (Sea Eagles), and with Heilum Luki (knee) and Luciano Leilua (stood down) unavailable for Round 1, Hess has been handed first opportunity at the vacant left edge position.
Capable of showing the explosive form that he was known for early in his career, Hess will need to make the position his own this weekend if he’s to remain ahead of youngster Griffin Naeme and Dragons recruit Jack Gosiewski in the race for a starting role opposite the recently re-signed Jeremiah Nanai in the back row.
Luke Garner (Panthers)
With Liam Martin rested this weekend, new recruits Luke Garner and Zac Hosking have both been handed starting positions in Ivan Cleary’s World Club Challenge side.
A strong hole-runner who should benefit running off the likes of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai on both edges, Garner’s first hit-out in the No. 11 jersey will be crucial in retaining the left edge position when Martin returns in Round 1, meaning Hosking would be the man to give way for the Australian international.
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Josh Schuster (Manly)
Replacing the departed Kieran Foran at five-eighth, a new-look Josh Schuster will get his first hit-out in the number six jersey against the Roosters on Friday.
On a night without Tom Trbojevic (injured) and Daly Cherry-Evans (rested), Schuster is set to give Manly fans an insight into what he can bring to the side in 2023.
Enduring a difficult season last year, struggling with injuries and weight, the 21-year-old emerges 15kg lighter than this time last year and will be determined to prove any critics wrong in 2023.
With Cooper Johns enjoying a stellar first hit out in the Manly jersey last week and named at halfback again this weekend, Schuster will be hoping Friday's game puts to bed any doubts on his capabilities in the starting side this year, knowing that the former Melbourne Storm man is ready to step up to the mark if needed.
Taaffe scores from his own kick
Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs)
Named in No.14 for the Rabbitohs' Charity Shield side, Blake Taaffe emerges as the likely option to replace Dolphin-departed Kodi Nikorima as a bench utility in 2023.
After proving a safe pair of hands for Souths at fullback, the 23-year-old could also provide valuable depth if South Sydney find themselves without Latrell Mitchell during the Origin period.
With 18 NRL caps to his name, Taaffe will be hoping to find a way to weave into a side which had very little player movement in the off-season.
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Jack Welsby (St Helens)
After a standout performance in last weekend's win over St George Illawarra in Wollongong, with 19 runs for 200 metres and four tackle breaks, NRL recruiters will no doubt be watching St Helens star Jack Welsby very closely this weekend.
Already proven big match player, standing out in both the Super League grand final and England's World Cup campaign last year, Saturday's World Club Challenge will be an exciting opportunity for the World to see how the 21-year-old fullback fairs against the best in the world.