Hunt stuck in awkward Broncos squeeze, Knights conundrum lingers as pre-season teams raise burning questions
Rugby league fans got a small taste of action with two pre-season trials last week, but things ramp up significantly with a host of games this weekend.
The pre-season challenge features a full complement of eight fixtures, while Saturday also sees the All Stars in Sydney's west.
Some clubs have named essentially B-grade teams for the trials but there is plenty of intrigue over potential positional switches, off-season recruits, and new combinations on the field.
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These are the biggest talking points after teams were released on Tuesday.
KNIGHTS CONUNDRUM LINGERS
Newcastle has more halves on its books than almost any other NRL club, but coach Adam O'Brien can't figure out his best combination.
With superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga in All Stars camp this week, O'Brien has bizarrely named young five-eighth Will Pryce in the No.1 jersey for Friday's clash with Parramatta.
Will Pryce of the Newcastle Knights. NRL Imagery
Pryce played five games last season but is a playmaker by trade.
Adding to the mystery is the fact Fletcher Sharpe - who played four games at fullback last year for the team - is being given a crack in the No.6 this week, having trained in the halves during the off-season.
Sharpe - who scored four tries on the wing against the Tigers in round 23 - will partner Jack Cogger, while experienced playmakers Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings warm the bench to start the game.
With Ponga coming back and Phoenix Crossland also in the mix, O'Brien has to fit seven players into three positions somehow.
CAN NEW BUNNY HANDLE THE HEAT?
Aussie football fans will get a first look at South Sydney's prized English recruit Lewis Dodd when he runs out in the No.7 jumper against Manly on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs have been trying to replace premiership pivot Adam Reynolds since letting him walk to Brisbane two years ago.
They earmarked Lachlan Ilias as that man, but he was brutally sidelined last year and then cut altogether.
Lewis Dodd for St Helens. Getty
It makes for a daunting assignment for English playmaker Dodd, who will also have to battle the Sydney summer temperatures in what will surely be a baptism of fire in Australia.
He will partner Jamie Humphreys in the halves in what will also be supercoach Wayne Bennett's first game back in charge of the side.
YOUNG EEL STEPPING INTO KING'S SHOES
Parramatta made the bold decision to axe club favourite and gun fullback Clint Gutherson after last season.
Eels fans will get a glimpse of the future on Friday night when 21-year-old recruit Isaiah Iongi runs out in the No.1 jumper against Newcastle.
Iongi was effectively a retribution signing from Penrith, after the Panthers lured Blaize Talagi to the foot of the mountains.
Iongi comes with high expectations and new coach Jason Ryles will be hoping he can wear King Gutherson's crown with relative ease.
RACE ON FOR STORM'S NO.1
Ryan Papenhuyzen is expected to be Melbourne's fullback to start the season but young gun Sua Fa'alogo is well and truly coming for his crown.
The 21-year-old will wear the No.1 jumper in Saturday's trial against the Warriors.
It may not mean a whole lot on the surface - given most of Melbourne's big guns are sidelined from the game - but it gives Fa'alogo the chance to make an impression on the coaching staff before round one.
He played 14 NRL games last season and started at fullback seven times.
There was doubt over Papenhuyzen's future but he signed an extension in December which ties him to the club until the end of 2026.
Fa'alogo is signed to the end of 2028, although reports have claimed he is free to look elsewhere in the wake of the Papenhuyzen extension.
WILL WALTERS FORCE HUNT OUT?
Brisbane has named Billy Walters at five-eighth for Sunday's clash with Gold Coast.
It's a significant move given off-season recruit Ben Hunt recently declared he will start the season in the halves alongside Adam Reynolds, before moving to hooker.
The Hunt switch to hooker would have left an awkward battle between the likes of Walters, Tyson Smoothy, Blake Mozer, and Coby Black for the bench rake role at Red Hill.
Walters - the son of former coach Kevin - could have been without a job but now he has his chance to stake a claim for the No.6 jumper while Ezra Mam serves a nine-game suspension.
If Walters shines in the halves against the Titans, Hunt may well find himself playing hooker sooner than expected.
Hunt and Reynolds are not named in the squad at all this week. Smoothy is in the No.9 while young gun Black is on the bench.
SHARKS SHOW FAITH IN HYNES
Nicho Hynes is Cronulla's $7 million man who some believed was in danger of losing his spot in the team during a tough 2024 campaign.
He seemed to lose confidence after another dismal State of Origin showing mid-year, and while he held onto his No.7 jersey there were plenty urging the Sharks to move him.
He has been named at halfback for Thursday's game against Canberra and will partner Braydon Trindall.
Andrew Johns last season said Trindall was "a dominant halfback" and suggested Hynes should play a more hands-off role at five-eighth.
Others thought he should play fullback, and let young talent Daniel Atkinson partner Trindall in the halves.
Atkinson has been named in the No.14 jumper this week but how the Sharks line up later in the season largely depends on the form of Hynes.
MAKESHIFT CHOOKS FACE ALL-STAR DRAGONS
St George Illawarra will trot out arguably the strongest team of the pre-season trials this week.
The Dragons have included star signings Clint Gutherson (fullback), Val Holmes (centre) and Lachlan Ilias (halfback) in the line-up that is near enough to full strength.
They take on the busted Roosters on Sunday, and there is plenty of interest on the other side of the park too.
Sandon Smith will be joined by recruit Chad Townsend in a makeshift halves pairing that will more than likely be their go-to selections for much of the season proper.
Gun halfback Sam Walker is out with a serious knee injury, making the signing of veteran half Townsend all the more important.
Benaiah Ioelu, 20 will also get a run at hooker, which will be a position of intrigue following another long-term knee injury to Kiwi rake Brandon Smith.
The Roosters also have gun rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase lining up at centre.
