The NRL season is fast-approaching and many players, coaches and clubs will be going into 2023 looking over their shoulder and feeling the heat to perform.
Clubs such as the Dragons, Knights and Titans will all be desperate to turn things around on the field, while the pressure associated with winning back-to-back premierships will no doubt be weighing on the Panthers.
Individually, there are a plethora of players who will be feeling the heat for a myriad of reasons - whether they be experienced players trying to keep young guys at bay, or some rising stars pushing for an NRL spot.
The Sporting News have compiled a list of each club's most under-pressure player heading into the season below.
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Brisbane Broncos - Jordan Riki
After a poor individual season, Jordan Riki is a player in the spotlight for the Broncos heading into 2023.
The 23-year-old isn't lacking in ability, but his performances have not been up to scratch on the edge, averaging just 76 run metres per game and missing 61 tackles throughout the course of the year.
With some other good young players pushing for spots in the Brisbane lineup including Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison, the pressure is on Riki to lift his game in his fourth NRL campaign.
Canberra Raiders - Jordan Rapana
The most experienced player on this list, Jordan Rapana has become somewhat of a 'rocks and diamonds' player for the Raiders - and things are seemingly getting worse.
The 33-year-old has become an ill-disciplined player, giving away penalties and making costly errors, as well as dipping in his overall form for Canberra despite some strong running performances.
Rapana was charged during a pre-season game and narrowly avoided suspension, and with plenty of competition for spots out wide in the nation's capital, his time could be coming to an end with no contract for 2024 and beyond.
Canterbury Bulldogs - Kyle Flanagan
This shouldn't come as a great surprise - Kyle Flanagan is under immense pressure to improve and perform for Canterbury this season.
Since arriving at the club in 2021, Flanagan has managed just 13 try assists in two seasons and his running game is practically non-existent and doesn't pose a threat to the opposition defence.
The 24-year-old is off-contract at the Bulldogs and the club have already indicated their lack of faith in him, paying a hefty fee to get young gun Karl Oloapu on board long-term.
In the short-term, Flanagan could receive pressure from the likes of Khaled Rajab and Josh Reynolds, who are both capable of playing in the halves.
Cronulla Sharks - Sione Katoa
This was a tough one to decide given the overall strength of Cronulla's best 17, but if we were to pick one player, it could be Sione Katoa that starts feeling the heat at some stage.
A solid and consistent performer for the Sharks in recent years, Katoa has scored 46 tries in 64 games and also made the jump to representative football with Tonga last year.
Katoa is off-contract at the end of this season and with the club prioritising other signatures, there is a belief that he is not at the forefront of their plans.
The likes of Kayal Iro and Siteni Taukamo will be pushing hard from underneath later this year, and Katoa is likely the most vulnerable member of their outside back cartel.
Dolphins - Anthony Milford
If we're being perfectly honest, the whole squad at the Dolphins are under pressure before a ball has even been kicked in 2023.
With their inaugural season approaching and their trial form rather underwhelming, the spotlight has immediately turned to playmaker Anthony Milford.
One of the only high-profile recruits to the Redcliffe-based franchise, Milford will reunite with former coach Wayne Bennett and hope to replicate the success from the Brisbane 2015 grand final side.
Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, he is not the same player he was eight years ago and is already facing competition from one of the hottest young players in the game, Isaiya Katoa.
Gold Coast Titans - Tanah Boyd
Gold Coast have undergone some key changes during the off-season, and one of them will see utility Tanah Boyd shift into the No.7 jumper full-time.
The Keebra Park product has been in the Titans system for many years and while his opportunities have been few and far between to date, Boyd will get the opportunity to partner experienced premiership winner Kieran Foran in the halves.
The 22-year-old faces some competition for spots, with the likes of Toby Sexton and Thomas Weaver still in the mix for the playmaking role.
Manly Sea Eagles - Josh Schuster
After the departure of the aforementioned Kieran Foran from the club, the pressure has immediately turned to Josh Schuster in the five-eighth position.
The 21-year-old had featured in the back-row for Manly in the past two seasons, but his struggles with fitness and injury issues has become a major talking point.
Schuster has already been ruled out of the opening round of the season after succumbing to a calf issue, and given his ability as a No.6 in the top grade already an unknown, things couldn't have started any worse.
Melbourne Storm - Tariq Sims
Coming off a string of poor seasons at the Dragons, experienced forward Tariq Sims will look for a fresh start as he joins Melbourne on a short-term deal.
The 33-year-old will be tasked with helping replace four club greats this year in the Bromwich brothers, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith - but he will also have some young guns behind him battling for spots in the pack.
Sims has been underwhelming for quite some time but a change of scenery and working under legendary coach Craig Bellamy could help kick things into gear.
Newcastle Knights - Kalyn Ponga
Who else was this going to be?
Kalyn Ponga has signed a long-term, big-money deal to remain in Newcastle. He is also shifting to five-eighth once again and is coming off a poor season that included injuries, concussions and off-field dramas.
The QLD Origin superstar is under immense pressure to help lift the struggling Knights out of the bottom-four and back towards the finals this season.
With a new halves partner in Jackson Hastings, there is certainly room for optimism - but the biggest issue for Ponga will be staying healthy and producing consistent efforts on the field.
New Zealand Warriors - Shaun Johnson
One of the club's greatest players of all-time, Shaun Johnson faces a tough assignment to turn things around for the Warriors this year.
After a bottom-four finish last year and some tough years away from home, the club will return to New Zealand and while they have recruited a stack of players around him, Johnson doesn't have the cattle around him to compete for a top-eight spot.
But for the 32-year-old, his best football is behind him and there are some talented young players including Ronald Volkman and Luke Metcalf already nipping at his heels.
Johnson is also off-contract and will be hard-pressed earning an extension for 2024.
North Queensland Cowboys - Coen Hess
North Queensland enjoyed a surprisingly stellar 2022 campaign, finishing in the NRL's top-four and narrowly missing out on a grand final appearance.
One player who found some of his previous form was Coen Hess, but there is a sense that his consistency and impact is not where it could be on a week-in, week-out basis.
Hess is expected to start the year in the second-row due to the absence of Luciano Leilua, but his role could be changed throughout the year with the likes of Mitch Dunn and Heilum Luki set to return from injury.
Eels - Josh Hodgson
It's going to be a tough transition for Parramatta recruit Josh Hodgson, who is not only joining a new club but is also coming off an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.
The veteran English hooker will also be tasked with replacing fan-favourite Reed Mahoney in the No.9 jumper, and is coming to the Eels at a time where they are rebuilding from a mass exit of key players.
Hodgson is a completely different player to Mahoney and given his age and injury history, it's going to be a huge ask to keep the blue and gold outfit in the premiership hunt.
Panthers - Mitch Kenny
Speaking of unenviable positions for players to be put in - Penrith will also be forced to replace an elite-level dummy-half this year, with Api Koroisau moving on to the Tigers.
Mitch Kenny will likely earn the starting role but will be facing some stiff competition from Soni Luke, who is more in the Koroisau mould of player.
With two players vying for the same spot at the premiership-winning Panthers, Kenny is going to be under pressure from the get-go.
Dragons - Jacob Liddle
While it's no secret that head coach Anthony Griffin is under immense pressure, this list is solely about players and it's going to be Jacob Liddle who could find it tough.
The new recruit will replace the recently-retired Andrew McCullough in the No.9 jumper and try to fix a position that has crippled the Red V for the past two seasons.
Unfortunately, Liddle doesn't have a fantastic forward pack in front of him and will also be receiving plenty of competition from underneath in the form of Haele Finau and Connor Muhleisen.
Rabbitohs - Isaiah Tass
South Sydney are the only club that have no recruits and a completely stable roster heading into 2023, which could open the door for some young guns to push for a spot in the top grade.
Isaiah Tass had a breakout year for the Bunnies, scoring three tries and producing eight try assists in his rookie NRL campaign, cementing his spot in the centres.
However, the likes of Josiah Karapani and Terrell Kalo Kalo are both closing in on a spot in the backline and it will only take a slight dip in form for Tass to be facing the axe.
Roosters - Luke Keary
There's always pressure when you wear the Roosters jersey, given their rich history and demand for continued success every year.
But in the past few seasons, the club have gone without a premiership or a grand final appearance, which is something that Trent Robinson simply won't stand for.
Sam Walker and Luke Keary are an elite halves combination but if the side can not reach greater heights in 2023, the attention will turn to them immediately.
Keary but is still among the classiest players in the game when he is fit and firing, but has struggled with injuries and concussions and isn't getting any younger.
And if you think the Roosters wouldn't cut a premiership-winning playmaker after a couple of lean years results-wise, just ask Mitchell Pearce.
Tigers - Luke Brooks
When isn't this bloke under pressure?
For over a decade, Luke Brooks has been the Tigers halfback and despite this lengthy tenure, he is yet to play a single finals game or lead the club to a top-eight finish.
Brooks is off-contract but has been given the keys to the kingdom by new coaching duo Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, who have instilled faith in him for 2023.
But with so many quality players in the forward pack and a representative-calibre hooker in Api Koroisau, it's now or never for Brooks to stand up and take his side to the promised land.
