It's a touch under five months until a ball is kicked in anger in the 2015 NRL season proper but as you'll gather from any player or coach explaining how the rugby league world turns, these looming summer months are where the actual season is won or lost.
The Eels will still be taking their entire squad to the US for a tour of Super Bowl champs Seattle Seahawks’ facilities for the first week of November, with few fears of anyone following Jarryd Hayne's lead in making a shock defection to the NFL.
Some of the biggest names in the game will spend their time settling into their new surroundings over the summer break, with Anthony Milford (Brisbane), Glenn Stewart (South Sydney), Michael Ennis (Cronulla) and Ryan Hoffman (Warriors) all set to train alongside their new teammates by the time the new year rolls around.
Most of the game's rep stars, be they participating in the Four Nations or recovering from injury and off-season surgery, won't be sighted until January at the earliest as they take a well-earned six-week break as per the minimum standards agreed upon by the NRL and Rugby League Players Association.
Pre-season start dates:
Broncos: Wednesday, November 5
Bulldogs: Monday, November 17
Raiders: Saturday, October 29
Cowboys: Wednesday, November 12
Titans: Monday, November 3
Sea Eagles: Monday, November 3
Storm: Monday, November 10
Knights: Late October
Eels: Monday, November 3
Panthers: Monday, November 17
Sharks: Monday, November 3
Rabbitohs: Monday, November 10
Dragons: Last week of October
Roosters: Wednesday, November 12
Warriors: Monday, November 3
Wests Tigers: Wednesday, November 5
