North Queensland tyro Jason Taumalolo is ready to take on the Cronulla Sharks this weekend in the opening round of the NRL season.

The defending premiers knocked the Sharks out of last year’s playoffs but are preparing to face one of the best forward packs in the game on Saturday night.

“They’re rated up there as probably in the top five packs so it’d be a good test for us boys in the middle,” Taumalolo said.

“There’ll be a few cobwebs to blow out, but I’m sure if the boys will get the job done. If we’re struggling (reduced interchange) then they’ll be struggling too.

“We’ll be looking to make our mark early in the game.

“We want to continue our game from last year into this year and stay in that consistent level of footy.”

Taumalolo comes up against Sharks veteran Luke Lewis on Saturday but the 32-year-old says he is simply enjoying the pre-season.

“I’m enjoying all of their company and for me that’s probably the best thing about it – the camaraderie you build with your teammates away from playing on the field,” Lewis told NRL.com.

“I think it’s a vital part to yourself and to the team being out there and building combinations with players.

“The more we train together and play together the quicker the combinations come.”