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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 - CowboysThe main man for last seasons NRL winners North Queensland Cowboys; Johnathan Thurston is one of the games 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. Johnathan Thurston has ruled out a move to the Super League 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.Thurstons also won the World Cup and is Australias leading points scorer. So whats left? A World Club Challenge medal, and hes eager to add that to the collection. Worrying times ahead for Leeds. Matt Scott - CowboysThurston shares the Cowboys captaincy with prop forward Matt Scott. Hes 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 Thurstons presence in the side. Matthew Scott shares the Cowboys captaincy with Thurston Scotts 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, hes also undergone neck surgery in pre-season, ensuring hes fit and ready to challenge the Rhinos.Darius Boyd - BroncosA 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. Darius Boyd in action in the 2015 NRL Grand Final With 13 tries in 17 Australia appearances, and 16 tries in 23 Queensland appearances, Boyds 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 hed lost his sparkle. Boyd will be out to prove hes still got it against Wigan.Sam Thaiday - Broncos Sam Thaiday played a big part in the Broncos win over Wigan in 2015 Thaiday will arrive in England late having played in the Indigenous All Stars game. But hes 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 Wanes side will have to target Thaiday and stop him causing mayhem up front.Jackson Hastings - RoostersIt was a difficult off-season for the Roosters, with captain Mitchell Pearce heading for rehabilitation after an off-field incident. And Pearces 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. Jackson Hastings is the son of club icon Kevin Hastings The good news for Roosters fans is that Hastings is seriously talented. A Junior Kangaroo, hes also played U20 State of Origin, so the half-back has already shown considerable promise in his early career.Hes 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 Blake Ferguson will provide experience to the Roosters backs Its 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. Hes 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. Hes 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 doesnt settle in too quickly in his new position.Which NRL players are you looking forward to seeing this weekend? Let us know by sharing your comments below if viewing on skysports.com, or Tweet us @SkySportsRL Also See: Club challenge a highlight Thurston rules out Super League move Burrow has faith in Rhinos Eden to make Broncos bow Cheap Dave Winfield Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. http://www.cheapbluejaysjerseys.com/ . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Cheap Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Cheap Roger Clemens Jersey . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. DEL MAR, Calif. -- California Chrome and Dortmund turned the Grade 2, $200,000 San Diego Handicap into a match race on Saturday, with California Chrome prevailing officially by a half-length -- it looked closer to a neck -- after a duel that saw them together for the final three furlongs of the 1-1/16-mile race.California Chrome spotted Dortmund five pounds (126-121) while making his first start since the Dubai World Cup. Dortmund had not run since November.Dortmund shot to the lead under Gary Stevens, but California Chrome and Victor Espinoza were right on his hip down the backstretch through a 47.02-second half-mile. They went six furlongs in 1:10.51, a mile in 1:34.49, and California Chrome completed 1-1/16 miles on the fast main track in 11:40.dddddddddddd84.California Chrome led narrowly with a sixteenth to go, but Dortmund valiantly battled back and was nearly even with 30 yards to go before California Chrome asserted his superiority. It was another 7-1/4 lengths back to Win the Space in third.When California Chrome returned to the winners circle, he was given a rousing cheer by the fans.Art Sherman trains California Chrome, a son of Lucky Pulpit, for a partnership that includes Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm. He has now won 13 of 22 starts, including his last four. His next start will be the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here on Aug. 20. ' ' '