Newcastle, the Warriors and Canberra will be among the first NRL teams to being preparation for the 2018 season when their pre-season begins on Wednesday.

Exactly 30 days after Melbourne lifted this year’s NRL trophy, the three teams will return the majority of their full squads back to the training paddock.

New Knights recruit Jacob Lillyman will be among the new faces at their clubs, as will Charlie Gubb and Sam Williams in the nation’s capital.

South Sydney will also have some players back for new coach Anthony Seibold, but the main chunk of their 30-man group will return next week.

Fellow new coaches Dean Pay and Garth Brennan will have a first proper look at their squad at Canterbury and the Gold Coast next Monday.

St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers are back later in the week, while Cronulla will be the first of this year’s finalists to return next Monday.

However each team will be operating at somewhat limited capacity over the early stages of the pre-season, with World Cup stars not due to return until January.

The Warriors are the most heavily affected, with 13 players contracted for next year competing in the tournament, while Parramatta, Melbourne, Canberra and the Dragons each have eight.

The return of three teams also marks the expiry of the current collective bargaining agreement, with the governing body and players’ union still unable to reach agreement on a new deal.

The NRL is believed to still be waiting on the Rugby League Players Association to accept the current offer, before going back to the clubs to decide on the next course of action.

Is it understood players participating in the World Cup have insurances set up by tournament organisers, and are also covered by an injury hardship fund agreed on in the new CBA.

Kangaroos halfback Cooper Cronk hinted that an agreement could be reached soon.

“I think both parties have had very positive discussions. It is at breaking point now because there is a deadline,” he said.

“In terms of the contracts and things like that, there’s obviously some insurance issues and things like that through the World Cup for all its players.

“But I have absolute faith in (RLPA boss) Ian Prendergast and (NRL boss) Todd Greenberg.

“From what I know and understand and what I’ve heard from all the discussions, there’s probably a positive announcement some time soon.”