The World Club Series kicks off on Friday night, but which NRL stars will shine brightest? We take a look at six of the best.
The 2016 format will be the same as 2015 - three massive games with the prize of world champions handed to the winners of the Leeds Rhinos v North Queensland Cowboys game.
The series starts with St Helens v Sydney Roosters on Friday and continues with Wigan v Brisbane Broncos on Saturday before the Rhinos face the Cowboys in the showpiece match on Sunday. All three games are live on Sky Sports.
The NRL overcame their Super League counterparts 3-0 last season, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs striking the major blow, beating St Helens 39-0 in the showpiece.
So what to expect this year? We look at six players jetting over from down under who could hit the headlines…
Johnathan Thurston - Cowboys
The main man for last season's NRL winners North Queensland Cowboys; Johnathan Thurston is one of the game's true superstars and, having guided his side to a first Premiership title with an extra-time winning drop goal, the half-back won the Golden Boot for the third time.So there is plenty to fear for the Rhinos - but what will Thurston bring to Headingley? For starters, four Dally M Medals and seven Dally M positional awards. Thurston also has five State of Origin man-of-the-match trophies and is the all-time leading points scorer in the series, playing 33 consecutive games for Queensland since his 2005 debut, winning nine overall Origin series.
Thurston's also won the World Cup and is Australia's leading points scorer. So what's left? A World Club Challenge medal, and he's eager to add that to the collection. Worrying times ahead for Leeds.
Matt Scott - Cowboys
Thurston shares the Cowboys captaincy with prop forward Matt Scott. He's a one-club man, making 208 appearances in the North Queensland jersey since his debut in 2004, winning the Player of the Year award twice, some achievement given Thurston's presence in the side.
Scott's played 17 times in the Green and Gold and has 19 State of Origin tests under his belt, so he brings plenty of experience from down under. A no-nonsense, hard-running forward, he's also undergone neck surgery in pre-season, ensuring he's fit and ready to challenge the Rhinos.
Darius Boyd - Broncos
A versatile back, Darius Boyd is a Wayne Bennett favourite, having followed him from Brisbane to St George Illawarra then to Newcastle before returning to Brisbane with his coach last season. How England wish Boyd could follow Bennett internationally.
With 13 tries in 17 Australia appearances, and 16 tries in 23 Queensland appearances, Boyd's proved he can finish at the highest level. A two-time NRL winner, Boyd missed a chunk of the 2015 season with an Achilles injury.
He did return and played in their Grand Final defeat to the Cowboys, but his return of three tries from 18 games left a few people questioning whether he'd lost his sparkle. Boyd will be out to prove he's still got it against Wigan.
Sam Thaiday - Broncos
Thaiday will arrive in England late having played in the Indigenous All Stars game. But he's been named in the Broncos squad and Wigan will know all about him, with Thaiday playing a big part last year in the narrow 14-12 win.
Thaiday takes on the enforcer role for club and country, dominating opposition packs with big drives, big hits and a decent offload. He won the NRL with the Broncos in 2006 and has racked up 231 appearances in the Maroon and Gold since his 2003 debut, winning the World Cup with Australia as well.
If Wigan are to win, Shaun Wane's side will have to target Thaiday and stop him causing mayhem up front.
Jackson Hastings - Roosters
It was a difficult off-season for the Roosters, with captain Mitchell Pearce heading for rehabilitation after an off-field incident. And Pearce's 2015 half-back partner James Maloney has left the club, joining Cronulla for 2016. So the pressure falls on the shoulders of Hastings, a 20-year-old with 19 grade appearances to his name, who signed a new contract with the club in the off-season.
The good news for Roosters fans is that Hastings is seriously talented. A Junior Kangaroo, he's also played U20 State of Origin, so the half-back has already shown considerable promise in his early career.
He's the son of club icon Kevin Hastings and has the likes of Brad Fittler talking up his abilities, so all eyes will be on Hastings to show he can deliver in a pivotal position for the Roosters.
Blake Ferguson - Roosters
It's not just the absence of Pearce that will hit the Roosters hard. Michael Jennings has quit for Parramatta, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has signed for the New Zealand Warriors and Shaun Kenny-Dowall has had well-documented off-field problems.
So responsibility in the backs is handed to Blake Ferguson. He's another with plenty of off-field history, but he knuckled down in 2015, starring in the centres. Ferguson will switch to full-back to replace Tuivasa-Sheck this season and will hope to add to his 10 tries from 19 games last year.
He's played once for New South Wales, but a strong start to the season could lead to a State of Origin recall from coach Laurie Daley. St Helens will be hoping that Ferguson doesn't settle in too quickly in his new position.
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