They are the next crop of rookie cross-code talents looking to follow in the footsteps of the boom Roosters’ young guns Robert Toia (Nudgee College) and Siua Wong (Scots College) and Dolphins prodigy Isaiya Katoa (Barker College).
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has named 19-year-old fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte (Shore School) to start in the No.1 jumper against the Wests Tigers in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge on Saturday in Newcastle.
Bassingthwaighte, who is contracted at the Roosters until the end of 2028, has spent the summer learning his craft under skipper Tedesco, who has anointed the former Australian rugby under-18s representative as his long-term successor at fullback.
It’ll be an all GPS rugby halves combination for the Tricolours with Robinson naming Toby Rodwell (Newington College) at halfback alongside Scots College rugby graduate Hugo Savala in the halves.
For the Tigers, Saturday’s trial is a chance for barnstorming First XV star Heamasi Makasini (Newington College) to leave an impression on coach Benji Marshall in his quest to crack a regular NRL spot in 2026.
With the NRL set for an injection of rookie talent, here are five-and-coming stars ready to put the league on notice.
Manly fans will get an early glimpse into the future when Onitoni Large (Scots College) and Joey Walsh (St Augustine’s College) combine in the halves against the Warriors. The teenage duo have long been earmarked as the halves pairing to take the Sea Eagles into the future.
There will be plenty of eyes on Warriors teenager and playmaker Harry Inch (Nelson Boys’ College), whose defection to the NRL as one of New Zealand’s best schoolboy rugby prospects make waves across the ditch.
These are the cross-code rookies set to be unleashed in this weekend’s pre-season challenge.
Hugo Peel – Melbourne Storm
Position: Fullback
School: St Kevin’s College
Age: 20
His last outing in a trial match ended in a sickening concussion and broken jaw 12 months ago. But the boom fullback, who captained St Kevin’s College First XV to a championship in 2023, bounced back during last season scoring two tries in Melbourne’s Jersey Flegg (under 21s) grand final win.
Amare Milford – Melbourne Storm
Position: Second row
School: The Southport School
Age: 20
A product of the Storm Academy, the agile forward was a star of The Southport School’s First XV side in 2023. He earned selection in the Queensland Red under-18s representative outfit before committing to rugby league. The hulking forward, who was also part of the emerging Maroons squad in 2025, will come off the bench against Canberra.
Amaziah Murgha – Melbourne Storm
Position: Fullback, Wing
School: Ipswich Grammar School
Age: 19
Murgha’s highlights reel is a showcase of his scorching speed burning defenders in both rugby codes. He starred for Ipswich Grammar’s First XV in Queensland’s GPS competition before making the move to Melbourne. One of the game’s most exciting prospects, Murgha will get the chance to showcase his pace, footwork and skill against the Raiders.
Tevita Naufahu – Dolphins
Position: Wing
School: St Kentigern’s College, Auckland
Age: 20
Selwyn Cobbo and Jamayne Isaako will start on the wing in Round 1 but Thursday’s night’s clash against the Titans is the perfect chance for Naufahu to keep his name in the conversation for selection. The flyer made his NRL debut last year and was quick to leave his mark, scoring six tries in just seven games.
Noah Fien – Dolphins
Position: Halfback
School: Nudgee College
Age: 18
A graduate of the famed Nudgee College rugby program, Fien trained full-time over the summer under a train-and-trial deal at Redcliffe. The son of Dragons premiership winner Nathan Fien, Noah is a wily playmaker with a strong kicking game and is considered a genuine long-term halves prospect for the Dolphins.
Toby Crosby – Penrith Panthers
Rugby convert Toby Crosby has been named to start for Penrith in the Pre-season Challenge.
Position: Prop
School: St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
Age: 22
Crosby defected from the 15-man game, where he was part of Super Rugby side Hurricanes’ under-20s squad, to join the Warriors in 2024. Stuck behind a slew of rising forwards in New Zealand, Crosby is now hoping to get his crack at an NRL start at Penrith. A tough defender and a barnstorming runner of the ball, Crosby will start at prop against the Cowboys.
Position: Second row
School: De La Salle College, Auckland
Age: 21
A standout 2025 season for Ieremia-Toeava was capped off with a try in the Warriors’ NSW Cup grand final win over the Dragons, an NRL debut and was rewarded with a contract extension until the end of 2028 in December. Named to come off the bench against Manly, the agile back rower was also promoted into the top-30 squad for 2026.
Motu Pasikala – New Zealand Warriors
School: Liston College, Auckland
Age: 20
A star for Liston College First XV in 2023, Pasikala was lured to the Warriors in 2024 where he had a meteoric rise through the junior ranks to play 13 NSW Cup games in the same year. His 2025 season was disrupted with injury but he impressed over the summer to be rewarded with selection against the Sea Eagles. Boasting a killer right foot step and with speed to burn, Pasikala is an exciting prospect.
Caelys-Paul Putoko – New Zealand Warriors
Position: Centre, Fullback
School: Hamilton Boys’ High School
Age: 20
One of New Zealand’s best schoolboy rugby prospects, Putoko was a key cog for Hamilton Boys’ First XV and a two-time representative in the prestigious NZ secondary schools team.
Now a genuine NRL prospect, Putoko is a powerful runner of the ball, whose speed, footwork and fend can split opposition defenders with ease. He played one NSW Cup game in 2025, scoring two tries. Putoko is one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
The New Zealand Warriors now boast a record number of rugby schoolboy First XV stars.
Harry Inch – New Zealand Warriors
Harry Inch has moved from rugby union to
Position: Five-eighth
School: Nelson Boys College
Age: 19
Widely regarded as a top prospect in the 15-game, Inch’s defection to rugby league in 2025 sparked a war of words between Super Rugby powerhouse the Crusaders and the Warriors over the country’s best schoolboy talents. A tough skilful ball runner, Inch has quickly impressed coaches in his first ever NRL pre-season with the Warriors. Named in the reserves, his first senior NRL game will draw plenty of attention on both sides of the ditch on Saturday.
Onitoni Large – Sea Eagles
Sea Eagles' young gun Onitoni Large on day one of pre-season. P
Position: Five-eighth
School: Scots College
Age: 18
For years, Large was making waves in rugby and league schoolboys circles, where he was widely regarded as an elite prospect in both codes. An elusive playmaker with deft hands and footwork, he can make easy work of opposition defences. Such is his talent, Manly applied for an age exemption to feature Large in last year’s trial matches.
Onitoni is one of the most in-demand players across either code, whose time in the top grade will come sooner rather than later.
Joey Walsh – Sea Eagles
Position: Halfback
School: St Augustine’s College
Age: 19
Earmarked as Manly’s long-term halfback, Walsh was a rugby schoolboys star who captained the Australia under-18s side in 2023. He earned an NRL debut last season but will start 2026 behind Jamal Fogarty and Luke Brooks in the halves pecking order. With six bench spots up for grabs in 2026, Walsh will be hoping to stake his claim for round one selection.
The 18-year-old is straight into Manly’s top-30 squad following a cross-code switch.
Hugo Hart – Sea Eagles
Hugo Hart runs at Maui Winitana-Patelesio (left) and Kahu Capper. Picture: Julian Andrews. NSWRL Junior Reps 2025 Round 1. SG Ball Cup – Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors, 2 February 2025
Hugo Hart runs at Maui Winitana-Patelesio (left) and Kahu Capper. Picture: Julian Andrews. NSWRL Junior Reps 2025 Round 1. SG Ball Cup – Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors, 2 February 2025
Position: Second row
School: Nudgee College
Age: 19
Hailing from Queensland, where he was a star of Nudgee College’s rugby program, Hart is a prodigious talent that enjoyed a rapid rise through Manly’s ranks last year in his first season at the club. Only 18, Hart is a powerful forward with a strong fend who was elevated from SG Ball (under-19s) into NSW Cup in 2025 and a strong pre-season has been rewarded with a spot on the bench against the Warriors.
Heamasi Makasini – Wests Tigers
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 06: Heamasi Makasini of the Tigers csatduring the round 27 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers at Cbus Super Stadium, on September 06, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 06: Heamasi Makasini of the Tigers csatduring the round 27 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers at Cbus Super Stadium, on September 06, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 02: Heamasi Makasini of Australia U18 scores a try during the match between Australia U8s and New Zealand Barbarians at St Paul's Collegiate School, on October 02, 2024 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 02: Heamasi Makasini of Australia U18 scores a try during the match between Australia U8s and New Zealand Barbarians at St Paul's Collegiate School, on October 02, 2024 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Position: Centre
School: Newington College
Age: 18
Dubbed Australia’s richest schoolboy after signing $1 million deal with the Tigers following a tug of war for his signature with Rugby Australia. Named to start at centre against the Roosters, the former barnstorming Newington First XV star can press his claims for Round 1 selection after making his NRL debut late last season.
Heamasi Makasini scores a try on debut
Rex Bassingthwaighte – Sydney Roosters
Rex Bassingthwaighte NSWRL Junior Reps, Harold Matts Cup round four, Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers at Henson Park, 24 February 2024 Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.
Rex Bassingthwaighte NSWRL
Position: Fullback
School: The Shore School
Age: 19
As apprenticeships go, there’s none better than one under Roosters skipper and veteran fullback Tedesco. Bassingthwaighte has spent the summer working with Tedesco, who has anointed the 19-year old as his long-term successor in the No.1 jumper. Boasting speed and plenty of skill, Bassingthwaighte, who was an Australia under-18s representative in union, gets the chance to show what all the fuss is about when he starts at the back against the Tigers.
Toby Rodwell – Sydney Roosters
Age: 19
A force during his time in Newington’s First XV, Rodwell is making all the right moves at Bondi as he rises through the junior ranks. He was a key cog in the Roosters SG Ball (under-19s) grand final win last season, where his kicking game, game management and ball playing came to the fore. Like Bassingthwaighte, he’s viewed as a future prospect in Robinson’s spine. He’ll partner another of the Roosters’ cross-code rugby graduates in Savala, who is a product of the Scots College.
Matthew Humphries – South Sydney
Position: Five-eighth, Halfback
School: Newington College
Age: 19
A horrendous run with injuries in the Rabbitohs roster, expedited Humphries’ elevation into NSW Cup last year, where he played seven games. An inside centre during his time in Newington’s First XV, Humphries showcases impressive ball playing and organisational skills as a rugby league playmaker. The Rabbitohs SG Ball (under-19s) player of the year in 2024, Humphries will get a shot off the extended bench against the Dragons on Saturday.
Richard Penisini – Parramatta Eels
Position: Centre
School: The King’s School
Age: 19
Like his older brother Will Penisini, Richard is also a graduate of the prestigious The King’s School rugby program. The young centre played 12 games in NSW Cup last year after missing all of season 2024 due to an ACL injury. Yet to lock in his future long-term, Sunday’s trial against Cronulla is a chance to prove his credentials at the senior level as coach Jason Ryles looks to bolster his outside back stocks.
