Footy is officially back, with the NRL pre-season challenge kicking off this weekend, with 16 clubs and plenty of high-profile names in action.
St George Illawarra will take on old rivals South Sydney in the annual Charity Shield, while the Roosters, Sea Eagles and Broncos will continue preparations for Las Vegas.
Penrith are the only NRL club not competing, with the reigning premiers travelling overseas to face Super League winners Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
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With plenty of major selection calls facing head coaches prior to the opening round, the trials will give a great indication as to which way they are leaning for the NRL season.
Check out all the team news for the NRL pre-season challenge below:
*All times in AEDT
Thursday, February 15
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Melbourne Storm at Belmore Sports Ground, 7pm
Bulldogs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Eli Clark 4. Bronson Xerri 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Kitione Kautoga 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Toby Sexton 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Liam Knight 17. Jordan Samrani 19. Harry Hayes 20. Bailey Hayward 21. Joash Papali’i 22. Reece Hoffman 23. Jack Todd 24. Joseph O’Neill 25. Luke Smith
Team news: Blake Taaffe will start at fullback, with Drew Hutchison named at halfback over Toby Sexton. Bronson Xerri makes his return in the centres after a lengthy absence due to his doping ban. No sign of Viliame Kikau or Stephen Crichton this week.
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marion Seve 5. Tuipulotu Katoa 6. Keagan Russell-Smith 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Tristan Powell 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Aaron Pene 11. Kane Bradley 12. Chris Lewis 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Caius Faatili 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Coby Williamson 18. Treigh Stewart 19. Cole Geyer 20. Sheldon Diaz 21. Thomas Rafter 22. Karauria Stokes-Mahara 23. Stanley Huen 24. Mitchell Jennings
Team news: Ryan Papenhuyzen is back, with the speedster named at fullback. A rookie halves combination has been named in the absence of Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes, while Bronson Garlick starts in the No.9 jumper with Harry Grant out.
Saturday, February 17
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks at Industree Group Stadium (Gosford), 1.45pm
Knights: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Enari Tuala 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Jed Cartwright 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Mathew Croker 14. Jack Cogger 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant 18. David Armstrong 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Will Pryce 22. Laitia Moceidreke 23. Riley Jones 24. Paul Bryan
Team news: Tyson Gamble gets first crack at the five-eighth role, with Jack Cogger on the bench. New recruits Will Pryce and Tom Jenkins have been named, while young gun Krystian Mapapalangi is back from an injury layoff at centre.
Sharks: 1. Kade Dykes 2. Sione Katoa 3. Kayal Iro 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Jesse Colquhoun 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Billy Burns 15. Jack Williams 16. Tuku Hau Tapuha 17. Lachlan Crouch 18. Christopher Veaila 19. Samuel Healey 20. Salesi Ataata 21. Blake Hosking 22. Siosifa Talakai 23. Liam Ison 24. Max Bradbury 25. Tom Rodwell
Team news: Big return for the Sharks with young gun Kade Dykes named at fullback after missing all of 2023 with a knee injury. Not too many big names in the mix this weekend, with Daniel Atkinson and Niwhai Puru getting a shot in the halves and Kayal Iro finally getting a well-earned shot at centre.
Watch the NRL All Stars clash on Friday February 16 live and free on Nine and 9Now
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles at Industree Group Stadium (Gosford), 3.45pm
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Zach Dockar-Clay 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Terrell May 16. Egan Butcher 17. Angus Crichton 18. Joseph Manu 19. Siua Wong 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Connor Watson
Team news: Very strong side named – almost full-strength. Joseph Manu is on the bench, while Connor Watson has also been named in the No.21 jumper after missing all of last season due to injury. Star signing Dom Young will start on the wing, but there’s no sign of Spencer Leniu this week.
Sea Eagles: 1. Bailey Hodgson 2. Jaxson Paulo 3. Tommy Talau 4. Clayton Faulalo 5. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 6. Jakob Arthur 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Ben Trbojevic 12. Ben Condon 13. Nathan Brown 14. Jamie Humphreys 15. Joshua Schuster 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Aaron Woods 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 19. Brad Parker 20. Aitasi James 21. Dean Matterson 22. Max Lehmann 23. Lehi Hopoate 24. Cameron Brown 25. Jacob Sykes 26. Austin Dias
Team news: Josh Schuster has been named on the bench despite a disrupted pre-season, while new recruits Tommy Talau and Jaxson Paulo will start out wide. Bailey Hodgson gets a look at fullback with Tom Trbojevic out, while both halves – Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks – won’t play for Manly this weekend.
Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5.55pm
Eels: 1. Blaize Talagi 2. Haze Dunster 3. Morgan Harper 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Ky Rodwell 9. Brendan Hands 10. Ofahiki Ogden 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Luca Moretti 15. Wiremu Greig 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Matthew Arthur 19. Toni Mataele 20. Joshua Lynn 21. Charlie Guymer 22. Dan Keir 23. Saxon Pryke 24. Zac Cini
Team news: New recruit Morgan Harper will line up in the centres, while the likes of Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson will start for the Eels. Highly-touted youngsters Blaize Talagi and Ethan Sanders have both earned a start in the spine.
Raiders: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. Nick Cotric 3. James Schiller 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Kaeo Weekes 7. Ethan Strange 8. Emre Guler 9. Zac Woolford 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Mitchell Spencer 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Ata Mariota 14. Tom Starling 15. Prinston Esera 16. Utuloa Asouma 17. Jed Stuart 18. Danny Levi 19. Adam Cook 20. Peter Hola 21. Mitch Henderson 22. Peter Taateo 23. Noah Martin 24. Loghan Lewis
Team news: Young gun Chevy Stewart gets first crack at fullback, while Ethan Strange lines up in the No.7 jumper and new recruit Kaeo Weekes is at five-eighth. Simi Sasagi is in the back-row with Mitchell Spencer, while some other rookies are on the bench.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons at Kogarah Oval, 8.05pm
Rabbitohs: 1. Jacob Gagai 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Richard Kennar 5. Taane Milne 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jye Gray 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Tallis Duncan 19. Michael Chee Kam 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Leon Te Hau 22. Braidon Burns 23. Dion Teaupa
Team news: Jacob Gagai has been named at fullback in the absence of Latrell Mitchell, while Dean Hawkins and Jye Gray will spend time in the halves. New recruit Sean Keppie will start at prop, while the back-row is littered with Origin stars for the Bunnies.
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Viliami Fifita 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Dylan Egan 18. Michael Molo 19. Jesse Marschke 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Savelio Tamale 22. Mathew Feagai 23. Max Feagai 24. Sione Finau
Team news: Tyrell Sloan has won the battle for the fullback spot for now, with Zac Lomax named on the wing and Jack Bird in the centres. Ben Hunt and Kyle Flanagan will pair up in the halves for the first time, while young guns Viliami Fifita and Dylan Egan will both get a taste in the Charity Shield.
Sunday, February 18
Warriors vs Wests Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium (Christchurch), 2pm
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Setu Tu 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Tom Ale 11. Jackson Ford 12. Jacob Laban 13. Kalani Going 14. Eddie Ieremia 15. Zyon Maiu’u 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith 17. Leka Halasima 18. Patrick Moimoi 20. Etuate Fukofuka 21. Toni Tupouniua 22. Ben Farr 23. Luke Hanson 24. Moala Graham-Taufa 25. Geronimo Doyle
Team news: Chanel Harris-Tavita is back in the No.6 jumper for the Warriors, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes his triumphant return in the centres. A plethora of fresh faces among the squad, including promising forwards Kalani Going and Jacob Laban.
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Declan Casey 5. Junior Tupou 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Asu Kepaoa 13. Alex Seyfarth 14. Lachlan Galvin 15. Josh Feledy 16. Fonua Pole 17. Samuela Fainu 18. Kit Laulilii 19. Sione Fainu 20. Jake Simpkin 21. Tallyn Da Silva 22. Heath Mason 23. Alexander Lobb 24. Tony Sukkar
Team news: A strong team named by Benji Marshall for the first trial, with new-look halves combination Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan named to start. Young gun Lachlan Galvin has been named on the bench, while new recruits Samuela Fainu, Solomona Faataape and Declan Casey are all in the mix.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos at BB Print Stadium (Mackay), 4pm
Cowboys: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jodeci Tiraha 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Robert Derby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Thomas Mikaele 9. Sean Mullany 10. Marly Bitungane 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Sam McIntyre 14. Kyle Schneider 15. Wil Sullivan 16. John Radel 17. Jamal Shibasaki 18. D’Jazirhae Pua’avase 19. Jaxon Purdue 20. Ewan Moore 21. Jenson Taumoepeau 22. Henry Teutau
Team news: Jake Clifford is back in North Queensland colours after some time away from the club and will partner Thomas Duffy in the halves. New recruit Viliami Vailea is locked into one centre spot and Thomas Mikaele is in the front-row, while Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is also named to start.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Delouise Hoeter 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jaiyden Hunt 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Martin Taupau 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Kobe Hetherington 18. Jordan Pereira 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Joshua Patston 21. Tristan Sailor 22. Cory Paix 23. Blake Mozer
Team news: Very strong lineup for the Broncos, who will trot out some of their biggest names for their second trial match including Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh. New recruit Jaiyden Hunt earns a start in the back-row, while back-up half Jock Madden has been included for the absent Ezra Mam.
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium, 6.15pm
Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jack Bostock 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Euan Aitken 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Max Plath 15. Valynce Te Whare 16. Jake Averillo 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Gerome Burns 19. Ray Stone 20. Jeremiah Simbiken 21. Connelly Lemuelu 22. Lachlan Hubner 23. Harrison Graham 24. Jarrod Wallace
Team news: Fresh faces in the form of Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler have been named to start for the Dolphins, while Trai Fuller gets a shot at fullback. Jake Averillo will come off the bench this weekend and Tom Gilbert returns from an injury layoff.
Titans: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Jack Garrod 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Tom Steadman 7. Kyle Foxwell 8. Luke Burton 9. Vaka Sikahele 10. Jordan Penquitt 11. Ryan Foran 12. Seth Nikotemo 13. Arama Hau 14. Thomas Weaver 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Joe Stimson 17. Klese Haas 18. Harley Smith-Shields 19. Kaleb Ngamanu 20. Josiah Pahulu 21. Oskar Bryant 22. Caelys-paul Putoko
Team news: Unknown young gun Jaylan De Groot will don the No.1 jumper for this clash, with the Titans opting to rest the majority of their big names. Tom Steadman and Kyle Foxwell will start in the halves, with Thomas Weaver named on the bench.