South Sydney is desperate for the NRL to sign off an exemption for talented youngster Ashton Ward to play in round one as the club faces a halfback crisis.
Meanwhile a legal dispute between Melbourne and Parramatta has left gun centre-winger Zac Lomax in limbo days out from the two clubs clashing on the field.
Here are the predicted teams for the rest of round one, after the Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Dragons kicked the season off in Las Vegas.
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Zac Lomax and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett. Getty
All times in AEDT
THURSDAY
Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park, 8pm
Storm predicted team: 1. Sua Fa’alogo 2. Moses Leo 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Will Warbrick 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Ativalu Lisati 12. Shawn Blore 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Jack Hetherington
Analysis: Melbourne is missing superstar winger Xavier Coates for several weeks, while gun backrower Eli Katoa is out for the season. The Storm are also locked in a legal battle with the Eels, trying to bring Zac Lomax onto the books. It’s almost certain Lomax will not be lining up against his former club on Thursday night regardless. They look super thin in the outside backs and Moses Leo or Marion Seve will have to play round one, likely on a wing.
Eels predicted team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Will Penisini 4. Joash Papalii 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Junior Paulo 9. Ryley Smith 10. Jack de Belin 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. J’maine Hopgood 16. Luca Moretti 17. Kitione Kautoga
Analysis: The Eels have lost veteran winger Josh Addo-Carr for the first month of the season after thumb surgery. Sean Russell is the obvious player to come into the side and can play on the wing or at centre, with Joash Papalii also capable of doing both.
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FRIDAY
Warriors v Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium, 6pm
Warriors predicted team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Marata Niukore 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaumanga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Analysis: The Warriors have a bit of an injury crisis on their hands with Te Maire Martin and Luke Metcalf missing from the halves, as well as captain and front-rower Mitchell Barnett until mid-season. It will be a while until they see a full-strength team on the park.
Roosters predicted team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Robert Toia 4. Billy Smith 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sam Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Reece Robson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Connor Watson 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Nat Butcher 16. Egan Butcher 17. Blake Steep
Analysis: The Chooks are flying and should be able to roll out basically a full-strength side for the trip across the Tasman. Sam Walker was a star of the trials and seemed to work well alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.
Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, 8pm
Broncos predicted team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Josiah Karapani 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Payne Haas 9. Cory Paix 10. Corey Jensen 11. Jordan Riki 12. Jack Goseiewski 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Xavier Willison 16. Aublix Tawha 17. Ben Te Kura
Analysis: Brendan Piakura is out with a knee injury, while Billy Walters won’t be available until late in the season. Cory Paix started at hooker in the World Club Challenge with Ben Hunt on the bench, so expect them to do the same in round one.
Panthers predicted team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Brian To’o 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Liam Martin 12. Scott Sorensen 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner
Analysis: Penrith can thank supercoach Ivan Cleary for whatever he said at the NRL judiciary last week to get his son and superstar halfback Nathan off a suspension. Nathan will now be available for round one and the Panthers are basically full strength for the Brisbane blockbuster. Freddy Lussick will fight with Jack Cogger for the bench spot.
Broncos look dejected after losing the World Club Challenge. Getty
SATURDAY
Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans at Shark Park, 5.30pm
Sharks predicted team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Sam Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhuon 14. Billy Burns 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Siosifa Talakai
Analysis: Cam McInnes, Mawene Hiroti and Ronaldo Mulitalo are all out with knee injuries. Tom Hazleton is the other player who can fight his way into the side, having started at prop in the big trial win over Canberra.
Titans predicted team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Phillip Sami 3. Max Feagai 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Sialetili Faeamani 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Beau Fermor 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall 14. Klese Haas 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Cooper Bai 17. Josh Patston
Analysis: Gold Coast’s trials team was intriguing, with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui at prop and Chris Randall lining up at lock. Jaimin Jolliffe is out injured, while recruit Lachlan Ilias looks set to start the season on the extended bench at best as Jayden Campbell gets another crack at the halfback role.
Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders at Brookvale Oval, 7.35pm
Sea Eagles predicted team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Lehi Hopoate 3. Reuben Garrick 4. Tolu Koula 5. Jason Saab 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siua Taukieaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Joey Walsh 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Nathan Brown
Analysis: The post-Daly Cherry-Evans era begins at Brookvale and all eyes will be on new halfback Jamal Fogarty, whose combination with Luke Brooks will be crucial to their success. That, and the fitness of new captain Tom Trbojevic. Joey Walsh is the young gun halfback who should be named on the extended bench, although whether he actually gets used during the game remains to be seen. Haumole Olakau’atu was battling a shoulder injury but is expected to be named.
Raiders predicted team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matt Timoko 4. Seb Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papalii 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matty Nicholson 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Morgan Smithies 16. Simi Sasagi 17. Ata Mariota
Analysis: Canberra will trot out a new halves pairing after Jamal Fogarty packed his bags and moved to Manly in the off-season. Ethan Sanders is expected to get the halfback gig. The interesting watch will be Daine Laurie, who played at fullback and in the halves during the trials but could ultimately miss out on a spot in the round one team. Jayden Brailey is also expected to start at hooker while Tom Starling and Owen Pattie will fight it out for the back-up role. The extended six-man bench and how Ricky Stuart uses it will be intriguing.
SUNDAY
Dolphins v South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm
Ashton Ward looms as a round one selection for South Sydney. NRL Images
Dolphins predicted team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Flegler 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Brad Schneider 15. Ray Stone 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Morgan Knowles
Analysis: The Dolphins are in the wars with Francis Molo suspended until round four, as well as Jeremy Marshall-King, Max Plath, and Jack Bostock all out injured. Brad Schneider played at hooker during the trials and can fill a bench utility role, while livewire fullback Trai Fuller is expected to be included on the extended bench but may not get on the field.
Rabbitohs predicted team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Keaon Koloamatangi 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Euan Aitken 16. Lachlan Hubner 17. Thomas Fletcher
Analysis: The Rabbitohs have a halves crisis on their hands with Bud Sullivan and Jonah Glover out injured, and Jamie Humphreys suspended. The club has applied to the NRL for exemption to bring young gun Ashton Ward in from outside the squad to play round one. Aside from that, the Rabbitohs are also missing middle forwards Brandon Smith and Jai Arrow. It will be a while until Wayne Bennett can run out his first-choice starting side.
Bye: Wests Tigers