Adam Reynolds’ COVID results mean he won’t be available to take on his former club, South Sydney, while Kobe Hetherington is also sidelined under the protocols. Brendan Piakura and Thomas Flegler are both unavailable through suspension, while Tesi Nui is still weeks away with a hamstring injury.
1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Billy Walters 7. Albert Kelly 8. Payne Haas 9. Jake Turpin 10. Rhys Kennedy 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Pat Carrigan Interchange: 14. Cory Paix 15. TC Robati 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Corey Jensen
With Jamal Fogarty (knee) missing for an extended period of time, young Brad Schneider could start alongside Jack Wighton in the halves for Round 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was on club’s COVID isolation list during the trial matches, has returned to full training.
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Brad Schneider 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Hudson Young 12. Adam Elliott 13. Elliott Whitehead Interchange: 14. Tom Starling 15. Joseph Tapine 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera
It will be a new-look Bulldogs side in 2022 with a host of new recruits set to officially wear the blue and white for the first time in Round 1. Jake Averilllo partnered Matt Burton in the halves in his side’s second trial last week and appears likely to do so for the season opener.
1. Matt Dufty 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Brent Naden 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Corey Allan 6. Matt Burton 7. Jake Averillo 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tevita Pangai jnr 12. Corey Waddell 13. Josh Jackson Interchange: 14. Jack Hetherington 15. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Max King 17. Bailey Biondi-Odo
Cronulla Sharks
Cameron McInnes’ first game for the Sharks will have to wait after another untimely knee injury will see him miss the first few games, while Wade Graham (ankle) will also miss the opening month. Franklin Pele and Braydon Trindall are suspended until Round 2 and 3 respectively.
Relatively injury-free heading into the new season, the Titans have strong competition for spots in the forward pack with the likes of Will Smith, Herman Ese’ese, Sam McIntyre and Sam Lisone all in contention for spots. Jamal Fogarty’s departure means the young spine trio of Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson and Toby Sexton will take the field for the first time together in Round 1.
1. Jayden Campbell 2. Corey Thompson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Jarrod Wallace 11. David Fifita 12. Kevin Proctor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Interchange: 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Isaac Liu 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Beau Fermor
Despite an injury scare in the trial matches, Martin Taupau is expected to be right for Round 1 and will start in the front row alongside giant prop Taniela Paseka. Haumole Olakau’atu (elbow) and Josh Aloiai (suspension, round four) will miss the start of the year while Josh Schuster (ankle) is also sidelined for up to a month. Ethan Bullemor is likely to take his place in the back row for round one.
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Reuben Garrick 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Jason Saab 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Martin Taupau 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Ethan Bullemor 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sean Keppie 16. Morgan Boyle 17. Toafofoa Sipley
Melbourne Storm
Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Chris Lewis will all miss Round 1 through suspension, but Brandon Smith will now be eligible and will start against Wests Tigers. Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle) could be sidelined for the season opener, which would likely see new recruit Nick Meaney start at fullback in his place.
1. Nick Meaney 2. George Jennings 3. Justin Olam 4. Reimis Smith 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jayden Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Tyran Wishart 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Brandon Smith Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Josh King
With Hymel Hunt (knee) set to miss the opening few weeks, Dominic Young and Edrick Lee are both in contention to start on the wing. Dane Gagai will play his first NRL game in Knights colours since 2017 while Chris Randall takes the hooking role following Jayden Brailey’s achilles injury.
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Jake Clifford 7. Adam Clune 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Chris Randall 10. David Klemmer 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Kurt Mann Interchange 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Mitch Barnett 17. Brodie Jones
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Valentine Holmes both appear settled in their new positions, while Jason Taumalolo will be right to go after sitting out the trial matches.
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Kyle Feldt 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Coen Hess 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo Interchange: 14. Scott Drinkwater 15. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Mitchell Dunn
Knee injuries to Maika Sivo and Haze Dunster open the door for Sean Russell and Bailey Simonsson to start on the wing, while Nathan Brown should be right for the season opener despite missing the trials with a leg injury. Marata Niukore isn’t available until Round 2 due to suspension.
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Sean Russell 3. Waqa Blake 4. Will Penisini 5. Bailey Simsonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Shaun Lane 13. Nathan Brown Interchange: 14. Ryan Matterson 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Makahesi Makatoa 17. Ray Stone
Penrith Panthers
Nathan Cleary looks set to be right to kick off the 2022 season on Thursday night after off-season shoulder surgery. Izack Tago and Charlie Staines performed strongly during the trials and look likely to win spots in the backline for Round 1.
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Brian To’o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Izack Tago 5. Charlie Staines 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Api Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo Interchange: 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Spencer Leniu
Blake Taaffe will start at fullback in place of Latrell Mitchell (suspension) while Lachlan Ilias steps up to fill Adam Reynolds’ vacant number seven jersey. Jai Arrow played on an edge in the Charity Shield and looks set to do so again in round one.
1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jaxson Paulo 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Mark Nichols 11. Jai Arrow 12. Keaon Koloamatangi 13. Cameron Murray Interchange: 14. Tom Burgess 15. Siliva Havili 16. Michael Chee Kam 17. Jacob Host
Tyrell Sloan looks set to wear the number one jersey to start the year with Talatau Amone to play alongside Ben Hunt in the halves. Jack Bird could start in the back row if Tariq Sims, who didn’t play in the trials, misses round one, while Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh McGuire are both suspended until round six.
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mikaele Ravalawa 3. Zac Lomax 4. Moses Suli 5. Cody Ramsey 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Aaron Woods 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin Interchange: 14. Jack Bird 15. Josh Kerr 16. George Burgess 17. Moses Mbye
Sam Verrills and Joseph Suaalii will both miss the opening round, meaning Kevin Naiqama and Connor Watson will both likely start at wing and hooker respectively. Luke Keary and Sam Walker will start in the halves for their first game together, while James Tedesco will be right to play despite sitting out the trial matches.
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Nat Butcher 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Fletcher Baker
Warriors
Shaun Johnson’s return back to the Warriors will see him start in the halves alongside Kodi Nikorima, who appears set to win the number six jersey after strong performances in the Harvey Norman All Stars and trials. Reece Walsh’s one-game suspension will likely see Chanel Harris-Tavita start at fullback for Round 1, while Bunty Afoa could start for Matt Lodge.
New recruits Oliver Gildart, Jackson Hastings and Tyrone Peachey all appear set to win starting spots at their new club. Jake Simpkin will start at hooker with Jacob Liddle suffering another knee injury, while Alex Twal will start for co-captain James Tamou, who is suspended for the opening round.
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Oliver Gildart 4. James Roberts 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Luke Brooks 8. Alex Twal 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Stefano Utoikamanu 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Tyrone Peachey Interchange: 14. Kelma Tuilagi 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Thomas Mikaele
