The NRL season is rapidly approaching, with plenty of talented young guns pushing to make the jump to first grade in 2023.
Last year, the likes of Ezra Mam and Tolutau Koula made the jump to the top grade and made an immediate impact for their respective sides.
Heading into the new season, The Sporting News have compiled a list of every club's best rookie player yet to make the jump to the NRL.
Brisbane Broncos - Blake Mozer
One of the positions that Brisbane are yet to lock down on a long-term basis is hooker - and that's exactly where Blake Mozer comes into the equation for 2023.
The teenager joins the club's top 30 roster this year and despite limited appearances in QLD Cup, will be pushing for a spot in the side during the season after excelling for Souths Logan in the under-age competitions.
Mozer is a tough and crafty dummy-half who represented the Maroons in the U19s State of Origin last year, and the Broncos clearly have faith in his ability after extending his stay at Red Hill until the end of 2025.
A product of the Broncos Academy system, Mozer comes into the season with plenty of upside and will be hoping to push the likes of Billy Walters and Cory Paix for the No.9 jumper.
Canberra Raiders - Ata Mariota
While he has technically had a small taste of NRL football as a mid-game concussion replacement, Ata Mariota will be hoping to make more of an impact this year.
The Samoan-born prop excelled in NSW Cup in 2022, finishing the year with 25 offloads and over 120 run metres per game for the Raiders.
Mariota tips the scales at close to 115kg but is extremely mobile for a front-rower, and with the club signing him on for the next two years, a permanent spot in the first grade lineup can't be too far away.
With the likes of Ryan Sutton and Adam Elliott moving on at the end of last year, there is likely a spot opening up in Canberra's middle-forward rotation that the 21-year-old will undoubtedly be striving for.
Ricky Stuart has proven in recent years that he isn't afraid to blood young talent, with the likes of Matt Timoko and Xavier Savage performing admirably during the Raiders' run to the finals in 2022.
Canterbury Bulldogs - Paul Alamoti
Appeared on this list last year and while his debut didn't come in 2022, there is the belief that Paul Alamoti is ready to explode onto the scene in 2023.
The teenage local junior scored four tries in 15 games of NSW Cup last season, averaging 150 run metres per game, but had a few injury concerns throughout the campaign.
Keep an eye on Paul Alamoti in 2023 👀#NSWCup #KOECup pic.twitter.com/aJSg5mKhjR
— The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup (@NSWCup) December 1, 2022
The door is now open for Alamoti to move into the top side following Aaron Schoupp's departure, and he is likely to gain a starting spot for Round 1 at this stage.
Bulldogs great Willie Mason has been keeping a close eye on Alamoti's progress during pre-season and believes he has what it takes to be a major star in the NRL.
“He hasn’t played first grade yet, but the wraps on that kid coming through – he was up there with Joseph Sua’ali’i," he told YKTR Sports.
"What I see at training is f*****g outstanding…he is 18 years old, Alamoti is just all class. Hopefully he can put a full season together, he was injured last year with syndesmosis for 10-12 weeks and it really derailed his season, otherwise he would have played first grade.
"He is my player to watch, he’s a really good kid, good attitude and he’s that kind of kid we want to see succeed because he’s a Bulldogs junior."
Alamoti is definitely one player to keep an eye on heading into the season and could be a contender for Dally M Rookie of the Year honours.
Cronulla Sharks - Kayal Iro
Slightly cheating on our own rule here - Cronulla may have an established and experienced roster, but they also have a number of players with a few NRL games or less to their name.
One of those young men is versatile outside back Kayal Iro, who played his sole first grade game in Round 24 last year against the Bulldogs, but will be looking for a much bigger role heading into 2023.
The son of former Kiwis player Kevin Iro and the nephew of Tony Iro, the 22-year-old is in the mix to push for a spot in the Sharks backline year after a stellar NSW Cup campaign for Newtown.
Iro finished the year as NSW Cup Player of the Year for the entire competition, finishing with 17 linebreaks and 14 tries for the Jets, before capping off the year by representing Cook Islands in the World Cup.
Cronulla clearly have high hopes for Iro, with the club re-signing him until the end of 2024 and promoting him to their top 30 roster for the next two years.
With a heated battle for the fullback role between Iro, Will Kennedy and Kade Dykes, this young gun is certainly one to keep an eye on heading into the season.
Dolphins - Isaiya Katoa
After a stellar showing in the Rugby League World Cup, teenage playmaker Isaiya Katoa will be pushing for a spot in the Dolphins side to start next year.
Signed on as one of the expansion club's brightest prospects, Katoa will leave a highly-successful Penrith system and has all the makings of an NRL superstar.
A standout at schoolboy level, Katoa was able to keep Dragons star Talatau Amone out of the Tongan side in the RLWC, which is proof that he is ready to make the jump to first grade.
There is no guarantee that Katoa starts the season in the halves, with both Anthony Milford and Sean O'Sullivan also signed to the Dolphins, but his debut is seemingly inevitable in 2023.
Gold Coast Titans - Thomas Weaver
The battle for the Gold Coast No.7 jersey is heating up as the season approaches, and the wild card for the spot alongside Kieran Foran is talented youngster Thomas Weaver.
The 19-year-old has recently been upgraded to the Titans' top 30 squad for the upcoming season, following a strong 2022 that saw him make his QLD Cup debut and represent the Maroons U19s side.
At just 172cm and 75kg, Weaver is only small in stature but has a big heart and the type of work ethic required to make it in the NRL for the Titans.
"Last season was a big step up for me going into development straight out of school and it was just all about learning," he told the club's website.
"This year, I've had that experience and I definitely want to take that next step forward and push for a spot in the top 17..that's probably my biggest goal for next year.
"It gave me a lot of confidence coming out of that knowing that I'd lasted out there playing with those boys, so it definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving forward. Hopefully I get a few more games playing Cup next year."
Weaver is locked in a battle with Toby Sexton and Tanah Boyd for a spot in the halves at the club.
Manly Sea Eagles - Viliami Fifita
After joining the club's academy system as a 14-year-old, Viliami Fifita has continued to go from strength to strength at Manly and looks poised to make his NRL debut this season.
Standing at 194cm and weighing in at over 110kg, the front-rower is banging on the door for the Sea Eagles and is locked into the club's top 30 roster for the next two years.
Fifita is a damaging ball runner with speed and agility to match, making him a perfect fit for the prop position in the modern-day game.
With the likes of Martin Taupau and Andrew Davey moving on and plenty of competition in the forwards at Manly, there is no doubt that Fifita is a player to watch under new coach Anthony Seibold.
Melbourne Storm - Jonah Pezet
One of the most talked about young players in rugby league, Jonah Pezet is a star in waiting at Melbourne and the club are well aware of it.
The teenage playmaker was a standout in the U19s State of Origin last year, and has recently inked an extension with the Storm that will keep him on deck long-term.
Pezet has received high praise from the likes of Andrew Johns, and while he may have to bide his time before earning a permanent spot in the top grade, there is a strong chance we see him pop up during 2023.
The 19-year-old played 10 games of QLD Cup last year, setting up five tries and kicking 12 goals, and will likely continue to ply his trade in that competition when the season commences.
Newcastle Knights - Kobe Rugless
A talented multi-sport athlete, Kobe Rugless joined the Knights last year after coming through the Roosters system as a teenager.
The 21-year-old hooker featured prominently for Newcastle in 2022 in the NSW Cup competition and is signed as a development player for the 2023 campaign.
Rugless was a junior boxing standout, winning national titles as a teenager and touring the globe with the Australian team, before making the decision to stick with the football.
While he is unlikely to usurp Jayden Brailey for the starting No.9 position any time soon, Rugless is certainly in the frame to act as his deputy and could make his NRL debut if injury strikes during the lengthy season.
New Zealand Warriors - Valingi Kepu
Valingi Kepu is a giant front-rower who is set to push for a spot in the Warriors side this season, as new head coach Andrew Webster looks to rebuild the club.
The 20-year-old has already gained experience in the QLD Cup competition for Redcliffe and is a long-term prospect that Warriors officials are extremely invested in.
Kepu is signed to the club's top 30 roster until the end of 2024, and it would be no surprise to see him debut this season.
His twin brother Otukinekina was initially on this list alongisde Valingi, but has been released from his contract by the Warriors.
North Queensland Cowboys - Riley Price
Another player who featured on this same list last season, Riley Price has had a disrupted start to his career but had a breakout 2022 campaign in QLD Cup for the Blackhawks.
The 21-year-old played 16 games in reserve grade, averaging 93 run metres and 26 tackles per game, impressing the Cowboys officials and earning a spot in their 21-man squad on multiple occasions.
Price - the son of former Bulldogs and QLD Origin hardman Steve - is a well-spoken and level-headed young forward with plenty of skill, tenacity and work ethic, which are all qualities that Todd Payten desires.
With an upgrade to the club's top 30 and one year to run on his contract with the Cowboys, Price will be hoping to make his presence felt in the NRL this year.
Parramatta Eels - Toni Mataele
After a fantastic 2022 campaign that saw the Eels make the grand final, Brad Arthur will be forced into somewhat of a rebuild following the exit of some key players.
Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali'i, Reed Mahoney, Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone have all moved on from the blue and gold, leaving some major holes in the side's forward pack.
And that's exactly where second-rower Toni Mataele could fit into the equation for Parramatta. The 20-year-old local junior had a short stint at Newcastle, before returning to the Eels and recently re-signing until the end of 2025.
Mataele is signed to a development deal for 2023, but there is no reason why he couldn't receive an upgrade or force his way into the top 17 at some stage during the year.
Penrith Panthers - Preston Riki
A little bit older and a little bit more experienced than many players on this list, Preston Riki has an NRL debut within his grasp heading into 2023.
With 45 appearances in reserve grade to his name with the Warriors, Redcliffe and Panthers, the 24-year-old edge-forward is pushing for an opportunity and has an impressive resume behind him.
Riki was a prominent fixture in Penrith's NSW Cup premiership-winning side last year, scoring seven tries and averaging 74 run metres per game.
With the likes of Viliame Kikau and J'maine Hopgood moving on at the end of 2022, Penrith have some vacancies in their back-row rotation and Riki will be hoping he can help fill the void.
While he is only on a train-and-trial deal as it stands, Riki understands the Penrith culture and the club know exactly what to expect from him after starring in their reserve grade outfit.
St George Illawarra Dragons - Haele Finau
One-half of the newly-recruited set of brothers at the Red V, Haele Finau comes to the club with plenty of potential and aspirations of cracking the top grade.
A talented and crafty hooker, Finau has inked a development contract heading into the season, but has already signed on for the club's top 30 in 2024 and could feasibly make the jump sooner if he impresses during pre-season.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games of Queensland Cup and has come through the grades at the highly-successful Storm system, but will move to the Dragons in the hopes of securing an NRL spot.
“Haele manipulates the ruck really well. He is quite explosive out of dummy half. He sees the game really well. I think he is going to be one of those players that can game manage from the hooker position,” his manager Michael Cincotta told The Daily Telegraph.
“At the under-20s level he played halfback for Melbourne, too. He's an exciting prospect because he can get over the line too.”
Following the retirement of Andrew McCullough in the off-season and uncertainty of Jacob Liddle as the long-term hooker, Finau has plenty to prove and is a player that St George Illawarra fans should be excited about.
His younger brother Sione has also signed a development deal and is an outside back with plenty of upside.
South Sydney Rabbitohs - Josiah Karapani
If you're not familiar with Josiah Karapani yet, something tells us you will be by the time the 2023 season is done and dusted.
A quick and powerful outside back capable of covering anywhere in the back-five, Karapani has plenty of wraps on him around South Sydney following his arrival from the Warriors as a teenager.
The 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and is already signed to the Rabbitohs' top 30 roster for the next two seasons.
Karapani was a constant fixture in NSW Cup for the Bunnies in 2022 and with a lack of depth in the club's backline, the young gun looks poised to make the jump to the NRL this year.
Sydney Roosters - Sandon Smith
If you needed an insight into how highly the Roosters rate young playmaker Sandon Smith, you only need to look at the players they have let go in the past 12 months.
Lachlan Lam had been at the club since a teenager and while he was only used as a back-up, his utility value and experience in the top grade was valuable. On top of that, Ronald Volkman - who was at one stage seen as Sam Walker's long-term partner - was allowed to walk away from the club and join the Warriors mid-way through 2022.
These two players wouldn't have been allowed to leave a successful Roosters system without good cause, and that is why Smith is such a hot prospect heading into next season.
Still only 20 years of age, the Central Coast product played the majority of last season in NSW Cup, producing 23 try assists and 26 linebreak assists in 23 games.
Smith will move into the club's top 30 roster for the upcoming season and while he is long-odds to dethrone Walker or Luke Keary in the halves at full-strength, he is certainly a player to keep an eye on.
Wests Tigers - Rua Ngatikaura
Tigers fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming years, especially with a talented group of young guns ready to take the NRL by storm.
One of those quality rookies is Rua Ngatikaura, who is already signed to the top 30 at the Tigers and has huge wraps on him.
A nuggety fleet-footed hooker in the same mould as Brandon Smith, the 22-year-old has previously captained the Western Suburbs Jersey Flegg side and won the club's Player of the Year award in that competition.
Ngatikaura will have to bide his time behind Api Koroisau for the next few years, but could potentially nab a spot on the bench during the 2023 campaign.
