Watch this space: New faces set to shine at every Sydney NRL club

St George Illawarra Dragons

Coach Flanagan was keen to praise wing recruits David Fale and Setu Tua, who have a serious reason to start the season for the Dragons. He knew they were good, but he was surprised at how quickly they had come into the fold.

Fale made his Penrith debut when he rested most of his NRL squad against Canterbury at the end of last season and more than held his own. He played in the Sydney Shield just a few years ago. And Tu, 27, scored 13 tries in 14 games for the Warriors in the NSW Cup last year.

You play on the left wing, while Fale is more comfortable on the right.

Male sea eagles

Young prop Simi Laiafi came close to making his debut last year and was rewarded for his efforts by being named as the 18th man in the final game of the season against the New Zealand Warriors. Weighing in at 118kg, he represents the Australian Schoolboys and took it to another level during pre-season.

Laiafi, a local from Western Sydney with Tongan heritage, was facilitated by the strong presence of Tongans in the sea eagle pack, particularly Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

Only an injury will prevent him from starting in the top class in the opening month of the competition.

Sydney Roosters

Roosters fans are already liking what they’ve seen from young playmaker Toby Rodwell, the 19-year-old son of Illawarra center Brett and younger brother of Roosters winger Tom.

His composure under pressure to get the Roosters home SG Ball’s grand finale thriller last year was impressive.

Despite the arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans and the presence of Sam Walker and Hugo Savala, Rodwell is right in the frame to taste the big time this year. Many at the club were impressed by his unflappable nature on and off the field, while completing the Kokoda Track before Christmas took him deeper into the club’s inner sanctum.

Penrith Panthers

Billy Phillips was another youngster to make his NRL debut during the mass breaks against Canterbury but will become a regular this season.

Forward Lithgow is still being compared to club co-captain Isaac Yee, not just because of his bush roots and stature, but his ability to get through a mountain of work.

Kalani Going, one of four players to be recruited from the Warriors’ victorious reserve team, also stood out in the summer. The Warriors quartet brought new energy to the Panthers. Like Phillips, Going is a pioneer to add to the one NRL game he played against the Dolphins in 2023.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Salesi Ataata has established himself in the NSW Cup and has already proved a handful in opposite sessions at Heffron Park this summer. He carries the ball well and will benefit from another full pre-season with a first grade squad. Keaon Koloamatangi and Jai Arrow are workhorses, but at nearly 120kg, Ataata is the kind of impact prop the Rabbitohs have been wanting since Tom Burgess left at the end of 2024.

Dayne Jennings is also a player to watch, but at just 18 years old, the rangy center is one to be even more excited about in 2027.

Cronulla Sharks

Liam Ison tore his ACL in the opening minutes of the first round of the NSW Cup last year, denying him the chance to put some pressure on Will Kennedy for Cronulla’s number one.

This season will be different. The 21-year-old will put pressure on Kennedy and hopefully remind the Sharks why they did the right thing in signing him to a long-term deal.

Parramatta eels

Jezaiah Funa-Iuta is a NSW under-19 back-rower who hasn’t put a foot wrong this summer. He excelled in the club’s SG Ball team last year, is comfortable on the left and right and is capable in the middle.

Teancum Brown, a front rower who made his debut off the bench against the Knights last season, is fit enough to be another Eel ready to wear the blue and gold on a regular basis.

Western Tigers

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The Roosters rarely lose players they want to keep, which is why the Tigers celebrated the signing of back-rower Ethan Roberts.

Roberts, a junior from Paddington and already an original All Stars player, is an excellent mover with good ball skills, and his addition alongside Samuela Faina and recruit Kai Pearce-Paul has the club’s backline in good shape. One-game center Heamasi Makasini is also in for a big year in 2026.