With the start of a new season approaching, there is plenty of renewed hope around the NRL from teams who missed the eight and didn’t play finals footy in 2025.

Parramatta has been given nine emails sent by Zac Lomax's lawyer as the case between the former Eels winger and his former club prepares to hit the courtroom.

Triple premiership winner Luke Keary has declared former teammate Sandon Smith is “the only option” to play halfback for Newcastle alongside fell recruit Dylan Brown.

Finding a resolution in Zac Lomax’s ugly contract saga has been labelled a “near impossible task” with both Luke Keary and Paul Crawley defending the Eels’ legal action decision.

The first week of the NRL’s pre-season challenge will begin on Saturday — with the four teams travelling to Las Vegas set to battle it out.

Despite a potentially serious setback, the Rabbitohs have received a huge boost with their superstar Latrell Mitchell set to feature in a trial before the season proper.