But Dolphins fans may be paying particular attention to a player they've not yet seen in the flesh, and according to England coach Shaun Wane he'll be worth watching.
Asked to pick one player from his squad who is the "iconic leader, the big dog who steps up as the alpha male, the next Adrian Morley, James Graham or Sam Burgess", Wane unhesitatingly named Morgan Knowles.
England's No.13 will be joining the Dolphins next year after a stellar career at St Helens.
"Ever since I've been an England coach, I've always picked him," Wane said.
"Morgan epitomises what we're about as England, about efforts and toughness. We're very proud as a nation to be English and what we're about. He's a champion bloke, a great fella. He tells you everything about what we're about."
Morley reached three NRL grand finals with the Sydney Roosters, winning one. Burgess picked up the Clive Churchill Medal when winning with Souths in 2014, and Graham was twice on the losing side with the Bulldogs.
If Knowles can follow suit and help the Dolphins reach their first grand final, the Queensland outfit will feel it has been a smart piece of recruitment.
The 28-year-old will be joining England teammate Herbie Farnworth at the Dolphins, the latter being one of six players in the England squad who spent last season playing NRL, including AJ Brimson, who this year switched international eligibility to England, where his mother is from.
Another three have previously played in the league.
"It's different to my era in that we see a lot of Englishmen that come across and do extremely well in the NRL," said Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters. "It is a different sort of team that we're facing to 20 years ago."
England captain George Williams is expected to follow Knowles to the Dolphins in 2027, returning to the NRL after his stint with Canberra was cut short four years ago.
Williams knocked back any conversation about the move at this week's series launch.
"That's not signed and sealed delivered yet. I'm just concentrating on the Ashes," he said.
But Williams keeps close tabs on the NRL, regularly face-timing his former housemate at Canberra, Hudson Young.
Seeing some of the England stars close up has fostered a healthy respect among the tourists.
"We expect a lot out of England," said the Storm's Harry Grant. "We know what they bring week in, week out, to their respective teams (in the NRL). Playing at home here in an Ashes match, that's going to spark them up a whole lot."
NRL PLAYERS IN ENGLAND'S ASHES SQUAD
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights, joining Wests Tigers in 2026)
Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys)
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders).
Morgan Knowles (joining Dolphins in 2026)
FORMER NRL PLAYERS IN SQUAD
Joe Burgess (Sydney Roosters, South Sydney)
Kallum Watkins (Gold Coast Titans)
George Williams (Canberra Raiders)
