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.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs
The Dragons have made several new changes heading into this season headlined by the arrival of quarter Clinton Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias and Damien Cook.
Gutherson's arrival at the Red V will see him land the fullback spot, pushing Tyrell Sloan to the wing. Following Zac Lomax's departure, Christian Tuipulotu will take the other wing spot.
โHe's probably a generational talent in some words, he's played at the highest level for a number of years now,โ Gutherson said on Sloan via foxsports.com.au.
โWe've seen what he can do on the field, he can do things probably 99 per cent of people can't.โ
Arriving from the Canberra Raiders, Emre Guler will take one of the starting front-row spot while the other remains in contention and is likely to be decided upon after the NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
Emerging forward and U19s NSW Blues representative Loko Pasifiki Tonga will play in the Charity Shield match and could make a case to be selected for the opening round, per The Daily Telegraph.
Projected Round 1 Team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Moses Suli 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hame Sele 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Toby Couchman
After it seemed that the Bulldogs would enter Round 1 with their best available team after sustaining no injuries or suspension during the pre-season, they have been hit with several blows over the past two weeks.
Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua is set to return in Round 2 from injury and it was confirmed on Tuesday that outside backs Enari Tuala and Jacob Kiraz will miss the start of the 2025 NRL season.
Josh Curran has also been slapped with a one-match suspension.
Projected Round 1 Team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Jaeman Salmon 16. Tom Amone 17. Kurtis Morrin
