After watching Robert Toia, Trent Loiero, Beau Fermor, Gehamat Shibasaki and Max King step onto the Origin stage for the first time in 2025, attention turns to this year's series with games in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
As always a mix of tried and tested Origin stars and newcomers will be needed to take home the shield so the NRL.com team offers their take on the players who will be in the frame to make their debut in 2026.
Who will make their men's Origin debut?
Brad Walter: Teen Titan Cooper Bai has already played at international level for Papua New Guinea and is also eligible for Queensland. The 19-year-old back-rower grew up on the Gold Coast and was a member of the Maroons U19s team in 2025 so he can represent Queensland, as well as the Kumuls. After making his NRL debut in the Titans' last match of the 2025 season, Bai played for PNG in the Prime Minister's XIII match against Australia and impressed Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou enough to pick him in the Pacific Bowl against Cook Islands and Fiji. The son of PNG great and Melbourne Storm premiership winner Marcus Bai, he is expected to be a regular member of the Titans NRL line-up under new coach Josh Hannay, who has been a long serving assistant to Maroons mentor Billy Slater.
All the angles: THAT Mark Nawaqanitawase Try
Cameron Mee: Roosters flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase earned a Kangaroos call-up following a breakout 2025 campaign and a fast start to the 2026 season will see him firmly in the frame for an Origin debut. The Blues are searching for a winger following the departure of Zac Lomax and Nawaqanitawase offers a similarly large frame that's great under the high ball. The Rooster has the aerial skills to defend Queensland's Xavier Coates and the strength and size to do the tough carries to get NSW out of trouble early in their sets. Nawaqanitawase can also find the try line and was the NRL's top tryscorer in his first full season in the competition.
Colleen Edwards: Broncos forward Brendan Piakura has been in and around the Maroons set-up for a number of seasons, having been included in various training and extended squads. Coming off the back of a premiership season which ended with another international call-up for Cook Islands, an Origin berth seems closer than ever for the 23-year-old. Even though there are a number of talented forwards in Billy Slater's arsenal, with Thomas Flegler and Tom Gilbert set to return, Piakura's passion and powerful edge running have him in good stead for further representative honours.
Kiraz carves in Canberra
Martin Lenehan: Zac Lomax's decision to walk away from rugby league has opened the door for Bulldogs flyer Jacob Kiraz to earn his first Blues jumper in 2026. The 24-year-old was 18th man for the Blues in Game Three of the 2025 series and a strong start to the new season will have him banging the door down for a berth on the right wing. A powerhouse runner of the ball, Kiraz churned out 178 metres per game and had 14 line breaks as the Bulldogs surged to a third-place finish last season. The next 12 months promises to be even bigger for Kiraz with the Dogs in title contention, a Blues debut beckoning and a World Cup with Lebanon to round it out.
