Sixteen NRL clubs are gearing up for the opening round of the 2025 NRL season as Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas hosts the opening match for the second consecutive year.
Several new recruits will be on show for different clubs in Round 1, including Clinton Gutherson (Dragons), Jarome Luai (Tigers), and Zac Lomax (Eels).
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos are set to make a positional change involving one of their star players.
Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos
Boasting a new-look Sydney Roosters team, Trent Robinson will need to rely on its representative stars and veterans if it is to make the 2024 NRL Finals.
Brandon Smith and Sam Walker remain sidelined for the first half of the season, meaning Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend will be the halves pairing to begin the year - Jake Elliott and Toby Rodwell will be hot on their tails.
Robert Toia and Mark Nawaqanitawase look set to be handed the two centre spots, replacing Joseph Suaalii and Joseph Manu. Billy Smith is also an option but failed to play in the first pre-season match.
Recently re-signing with the club for the foreseeable future, Egan Butcher is still recovering from an ACL injury he sustained last May but could be available as early as Round 1.
"Egan's return date is Round 1 or Round 2 and so is Billy Smith from last year's injuries but everyone else is right to go," Robinson said.
Spencer Leniu has also been suspended and will miss the opening matches of the 2025 NRL season. Naufahu Whyte has emerged as his likely replacement in the starting front-row.
Projected Round 1 Team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Robert Toia 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Blake Steep 16. Siua Wong 17. De La Salle Va'a
The Broncos failed to reach expectations last season and are looking to climb up the ladder under a new coach in Michael Maguire.
Maguire has revealed that Selywn Cobbo will transition back to the wing, meaning Deine Mariner was set to shift into the centres alongside Kotoni Staggs. However, Gehamat Shibaskai has emerged as a surprising bolter for the side in place of Mariner.
"I said it was about performing at training and Gem has done a great job. He has been around first grade before and is not a pup," Maguire said per AAP on Shibasaki's potential of featuring in Round 1.
"He's got a bit of game experience under his belt and credit to him he has got himself really fit and performing at training so I've given him an opportunity."
In a five-way battle for the No.9 jersey, it looks like Billy Walters and the out-of-favoured Cory Paix are the early favourites after Blake Mozer went down with injury and Ben Hunt will begin the season at five-eighth with Ezra Mam suspended.
Brendan Piakura's spot in the starting back-row also remains in doubt, with Jack Gosiewski impressing Michael Maguire at pre-season training and will, at the very least, earn a spot on the interchange bench, per The Daily Telegraph.
Kobe Hetherington is another player that has impressed Maguire during pre-season and there have been multiple reports that he will slot in the starting lock position pushing Patrick Carrigan into the front-row alongside Payne Haas.
โI think we're just playing with a few things at the moment as a club, but I'll always put this club first and my teammates first, and whatever position I have to play, it is what it is,โ Carrigan said via AAP.
โIt's not too dissimilar to me.โ
Projected Round 1 Team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Payne Haas 9. Cory Paix 10. Patrick Carrigan 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Jack Gosiewski 17. Xavier Willison
