The rookies and replacements set to step up over Origin

With squads assembled for the start of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series, club coaches are quickly preparing for one of their most difficult times of the season as they say goodbye to their representative stars.

But traditionally, the months between May and July have also brought career-defining opportunities for the rookies and deputies that, up until this point, may have been biding their time in reserve grade or on the interchange bench.

With five teams tied on 16 points at the top of the ladder ahead of Round 13, coaches will be carefully selecting the best "next man up" as the depth of the competition's top teams are set to be tested.

Here's some of the players your club will be calling on in this time.

Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs) 

Losing stars Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow to Origin camp this week while star centre Campbell Graham battles a sternum injury, the door has opened for several South Sydney deputies to step up this week. A no-brainer to fill Mitchell's shoes at fullback, the 24-year-old Taaffe will be bursting for an opportunity in his preferred position over the Origin period. A proven first-grader, who took the Rabbitohs all the way to the grand final at fullback in 2021, Taaffe has played just 15 minutes over two NRL appearances this year and will be well and truly ready to step up for Jason Demetriou's red-hot side with Mitchell seemingly a lock for the Blues.

Kurt Falls (Panthers)

With Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai both on Origin duty, someone is left with a big responsibility to take the reins for the defending premiers and all eyes are on NSW Cup five-eighth Kurt Falls. With five try assists and five line-break assists in 11 reserve grade games this year, Falls emerges as the man to ensure the ladder leaders can continue their winning streak through the Origin period. We saw what now Dolphins halfback Sean O'Sullivan did for the premiers last year, winning eight from 11 matches while on replacement duties for Cleary, and Penrith will need Falls to do the same with Rabbitohs, Sharks, Broncos and Storm hot on their tail.

Matt Doorey (Eels)

Without a single forward from last year’s grand final named to take on the Cowboys this week, the time is now for the next generation of Parramatta's front men to step up to the challenge. With Junior Paulo on Origin duty and four starting forwards injured, the Eels forward depth is set to be tested in the first week of the Origin period.

Having made seven appearances for Brad Arthur's side, new recruit Matt Doorey has proven he's ready for first-grade but is yet to cement a position in the 17. Named to start in the second row alongside veteran Bryce Cartwright, Doorey has a serious opportunity to prove why he has a place in the top 30 and ensure he has a spot in the team when the grand finalist forwards return.

Tom Jenkins (Panthers)

Boasting a similar attacking game to Blues winger Brian To'o with tough carries and sleek finishing skills, NSW Cup star Tom Jenkins could be the man to step up and look after Penrith's right edge while To'o is away with the Blues. Having scored 10 tries in 11 games for the Panthers' reserve grade side this season, Jenkins will be hoping he's done enough to catch the eye of coach Ivan Cleary and earn his second NRL appearance after a Round 25 debut last season.

While the Panthers have a bye in Round 13 and a Sunday match in Round 14 – which could allow enough time for To'o to feature given the five-day turnaround – Round 16 and 17 loom as good opportunities for the Boorowa boy to prove he's ready to be a first-grader.

Joseph Suaali'i (Roosters)

With James Tedesco once again appointed as the man to lead the Blues in 2023 and Joey Manu currently battling an injury, young gun Joseph Suaalii is the incumbent to replace Tedesco at the back. Wearing the No.1 jersey for Samoa, Suaali'i didn't miss a beat out the back in their stunning run to the World Cup final and could be the man to do the same this year for the Roosters during the Origin period.

While the 19-year-old is yet to find his best form in the centres this year, scoring just one try in 11 matches, more space and time with the football could be just what the young gun needs to get back to the form we saw last year. With a bye this weekend, Round 16 looks to be the only game the Roosters will be without their skipper so Suaali'i will need to make the most of every minute in the No. 1 jersey should he get the nod over Manu.

Josh Schuster (Manly)

Rugby league fans saw just last week how good Josh Schuster can be as he guided the Sea Eagles to a big win over the Raiders. And now with superstars Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans called into Blues camp, Schuster has a serious opportunity to show why he is the future playmaker of the Manly men.

Hot off the back of a career-best performance consisting of three try assists, three line-break assists and a try, the 22-year-old is set to take the reins this weekend as the lead playmaker alongside Cooper Johns. Having finally overcome the quad injury that has restricted him to just four games this season, Schuster could be the man to steer Manly back into the top eight during this season-defining Origin period. With Manly rostered on a Saturday game following both Origin I and II, Schuster looks set to play a leading role in several matches throughout the May-July period.

Jayden Sullivan (Dragons)

He's had several seasons to learn under the best in playmaker Ben Hunt and now Jayden Sullivan has been handed the keys to take over halfback duties alongside five-eighth Talatau Amone. The same halves combination which led the Dragons SG Ball side to win the 2019 grand final, Sullivan and Amone should link-up seamlessly together in the halves. But while Amone has cemented the Dragons No.6 jersey in the past two seasons, 21-year-old Sullivan continues to jump in between NSW Cup and first-grade. With Hunt in Origin camp, the youngster will finally get a sustained chance to play 80 minutes at halfback – starting with Thursday's clash against the Dolphins.

Jake Simpkin (Wests Tigers)

With captain and hooker Api Koroisau called into Blues camp, dummy-half Jake Simpkin looks set to be handed the starting No. 9 role against the Raiders (Round 14), Storm (Round 14) and Knights (Round 20).

After playing nine NRL games this season, eight of which off the bench, the 21-year-old has been left with big shoes to fill in Koroisau's absence but will take confidence from his last outing against the Cowboys. With rising star Rua Ngatikaura a chance to come onto the bench to partner Simpkin over the next few weeks, the young hookers have a good opportunity to prove the future is bright at the joint venture.

Zac Laybutt (Cowboys)

With Valentine Holmes called into Maroons camp, the door has opened for Bundaberg's Zac Laybutt to make his NRL debut against the Eels on Friday. The 21-year-old has featured mainly in the halves and fullback for the Townsville Blackhawks but this week will have an opportunity in Holmes' No. 3 jersey.

Joining Todd Payten's Cowboys on the back of their 66-18 defeat to the Wests Tigers is no easy task but Laybutt has a big opportunity to prove why he has a future in first-grade if the young utility can stand tall in a depleted North Queensland side. Opportunities to fill in for Holmes in Round 16 and Round 20 should follow for Laybutt, who will be out to stake his claim for a permanent spot moving forward.

Kobe Hetherington (Broncos)

Five Origin call ups has left a gaping hole in Brisbane's forward pack and Kobe Hetherington has a big role to step into against the Warriors this week. Deputising for Patrick Carrigan is no easy task in itself, but in his first game starting at lock for the season, the 24-year-old has a big opportunity to fill the hole and lead Brisbane's front pack. The versatile forward has played an average 24 minutes across six games this season but a possible 80-minute performance at lock awaits the Broncos junior.

With Carrigan racking an incredible 67 tackles against the Panthers last week, how Hetherington steps up this weekend is crucial for the Broncos who are tied first on the ladder. While Brisbane’s byes mean that they avoid being without players for games ahead of Origins II and III, an increased role looks likely for Hetherington against the Sharks in Round 15, the Titans in Round 17 and the Bulldogs in Round 20.