All official team lists for the opening round of the 2018 Telstra Premiership season, as named by their clubs.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Brisbane Broncos, 8.05pm (AEDT) Thursday, Jubilee Oval
Dragons: 18 Matthew Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14 Luciano Leilua, 15 Kurt Mann, 16 Leeson Ah Mau, 19 Jeremy Latimore
Star signings Ben Hunt and James Graham will make their Red V debuts, with Tariq Sims taking the second-row spot vacated by Joel Thompson. Euan Aitken and Tim Lafai will start in the centres with Kurt Mann the backline utility on the bench. Blake Lawrie and Josh Kerr have dropped off the extended bench.
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 10 Samuel Thaiday, 14 Tevita Pangai Jnr, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Josh McGuire
Interchange: 9 Andrew McCullough, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 Jaydn Su'a
With new signing Jack Bird (shoulder) to miss the opening few weeks of the season, Jordan Kahu moves to centre with Jamayne Isaako getting a start on the wing, while recruit Matthew Lodge starts in the front row. Jonus Peason and George Fai have dropped off the extended bench.
Newcastle Knights v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, 6pm Friday, McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: New faces Kalyn Ponga, Tautau Moga, Connor Watson, Mitchell Pearce, Herman Ese'ese, Slade Griffin, Jacob Lillyman and Aidan Guerra all start, with fellow recruit Chris Heighington named on the bench. Brock Lamb in the backline option on the bench, meaning Danny Levi misses out on a spot in the 17. Danny Levi and Luke Yates have both been omitted from Nathan Brown's final squad.
1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Tautau Moga, 5 Nathan Ross, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Herman Ese'ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Jacob Lillyman, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Aidan Guerra, 13 Mitchell Barnett
Interchange: 14 Brock Lamb, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Jamie Buhrer (c), 17 Daniel Saifiti
Sea Eagles: With Darcy Lussick out injured Addin Fonua-Blake starts at prop, while new recruit Joel Thompson is in the second row. Jackson Hastings, Jack Gosiewski, Lloyd Perrett and Bradley Parker are omitted from the final squad.
1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Matthew Wright, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Lachlan Croker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Apisai Koroisau, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Curtis Sironen, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Shaun Lane, 16 Frank Winterstein, 17 Kelepi Tanginoa
North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, 7.05pm (8.05pm AEDT) Friday, 1300SMILES Stadium
Cowboys: 1 Ben Hampton, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O'Neill, 4 Javid Bowen, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 14 Te Maire Martin, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 15 Coen Hess, 16 Scott Bolton, 17 John Asiata, 18 Corey Jensen
Ben Hampton replaces the injured Lachlan Coote (hamstring) at fullback, with Jordan McLean joining a very strong forward pack. Co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott are back in the side for Thurston's 300th NRL match.
Sharks: 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Josh Dugan, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Sione Katoa, 6 Matthew Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matthew Prior, 18 Kurt Capewell, 12 Wade Graham, 14 Jayson Bukuya
Interchange: 13 Paul Gallen (c), 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Avagalu Seumanufagai, 17 Joseph Paulo
Big-name recruits Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan start in the backline, with rookie Sione Katoa getting his NRL debut on the wing.
Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters, 4.30pm Saturday, ANZ Stadium
Wests Tigers: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea, 2 Corey Thompson, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 14 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Pita Godinet, 17 Matthew Eisenhuth, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Robbie Rochow, 13 Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 10 Ben Matulino, 15 Alex Twal, 16 Michael Chee Kam, 18 Matt McIlwrick.
David Nofoaluma has dropped out of the top 17 with Corey Thompson taking his spot on the wing, with Tui Lolohea starting at fullback. New signing Pita Godinet starts at hooker, with fellow new faces Josh Reynolds and Russell Packer also starting. Benji Marshall has been named on the bench despite struggling with a calf injury. No Josh Reynolds due to a hamstring injury, with Benji Marshall to start in his Tigers return. Matt McIlwrick comes onto the bench. Matthew Eisenhuth is promoted to the starting prop spot as Ben Matulino shifts to the bench. Tim Grant drops off the extended bench.
Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 5 Blake Ferguson, 4 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 2 Daniel Tupou, 6 Mitchell Cornish, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Sio Siua Taukeiaho, 16 Ryan Matterson, 12 Mitchell Aubusson, 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange: 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 14 Dylan Napa, 15 Zane Tetevano, 17 Victor Radley
James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk will make their Roosters debuts on Saturday while goal-kicking forward Sio Siua Taukeiaho will start at prop. In a surprise move, Boyd Cordner will drop to the bench with Ryan Matterson to start in the back-row.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v New Zealand Warriors, 4pm (7pm AEDT) Saturday, Perth Stadium
Rabbitohs: 1 Alex Johnston, 2 Richie Kennar, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Greg Inglis (c), 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Mark Nicholls, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess
Interchange: 14 Cameron Murray, 16 George Burgess, 17 Tevita Tatola, 20 Hymel Hunt.
Greg Inglis will make his return from injury in the centres with Alex Johnston starting at fullback and Richie Kennar joining the backline on the wing. Damien Cook has won the race for the hooker position with Robbie Farah among the reserves in jersey 18. Young forward Tevita Tatola gets a spot on the bench. Tyrell Fuimaono and Adam Doueihi drop off the extended bench for Souths.
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitua, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Isaiah Papali'i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Ligi Sao
Interchange: 14 Sam Cook, 15 Leivaha Pulu, 16 Sam Lisone, 17 Bunty Afoa
The Warriors are unchanged from their side named on Tuesday, with both Jazz Tevaga and Anthony Gelling dropping off the bench prior to kick-off. Simon Mannering is out with a shoulder injury. New signings Peta Hiku, Blake Green, Adam Blair and Tohu Harris start, as do young forwards Isaiah Papali'I and Ligi Sao, while hooker Sam Cook will make his NRL debut off the bench.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm, 6.05pm (9.05pm AEDT) Saturday, Perth Stadium
Bulldogs: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Will Hopoate, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Matthew Frawley, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Joshua Jackson (c), 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13 Danny Fualalo
Interchange: 14 Adam Elliott, 15 Aiden Tolman, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Jeremy Marshall-King
Matthew Frawley joins Kieran Foran in the halves with Moses Mbye lining up at fullback, while youngsters Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Danny Fualalo have earned starting berths in the back row. New recruit Jeremy Marshall-King - younger brother of Benji - is the bench utility.
Storm: 1 Cameron Munster, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ryley Jacks, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Tim Glasby, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Christian Welch, 20 Sam Kasiano
Sam Kasiano replaces Joe Stimson on the bench. Cameron Munster moves to fullback to cover for the injured Billy Slater (shoulder), with Ryley Jacks joining Brodie Croft in the halves. Nelson Asofa-Solomona starts in the front row while the returning Ryan Hoffman is in the second row in place of the departed Jordan McLean and Tohu Harris.
Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels, 4.10pm Sunday, Panthers Stadium
Panthers: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Waqa Blake, 4 Tyrone Peachey, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 James Maloney, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 James Tamou, 9 Peter Wallace (c), 16 Moses Leota, 17 James Fisher-Harris, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14 Corey Harawira-Naera, 15 Sam McKendry, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Viliame Kikau.
James Maloney will line up for his new team in the halves, and in late changes Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris will start with Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Viliame Kikau to come off the interchange bench.
Eels: 1 Bevan French, 2 Josh Hoffman, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 Kirisome Auva'a, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Tim Mannah (c), 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Nathan Brown.
Interchange: 14 Beau Scott (c), 15 Brad Takairangi, 16 Suaia Matagi, 17 Kane Evans.
Jarryd Hayne will make his return in Eels colours at centre with Bevan French playing fullback. Tepai Moeroa has won a starting spot in the second row meaning Brad Takairangi will come off the bench along with new signing Kane Evans.
Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders, 5.30pm (6.30 AEDT) Sunday, Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Dale Copley, 4 Konrad Hurrell, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Kane Elgey, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jai Arrow, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Leilani Latu, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Ryan James (c), 13 Bryce Cartwright
Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Max King, 16 Will Matthews, 17 Morgan Boyle
Recruits Jai Arrow, Leilani Latu and Bryce Cartwright all start in a new-look forward pack that features skipper Ryan James in an edge role. Mitch Rein is also into the squad as a bench hooker.
Raiders: 1 Jack Wighton, 2 Nick Cotric, 3 Jarrod Croker (c), 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Jordan Rapana, 14 Blake Austin, 7 Sam Williams, 17 Iosia Soliola, 9 Siliva Havili, 10 Shannon Boyd, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Joseph Tapine, 13 Elliott Whitehead
Interchange: 6 Aiden Sezer, 15 Luke Bateman, 16 Dunamis Lui, 8 Junior Paulo
Sam Williams was named in the halfback jersey, with Aidan Sezer at five-eighth and Blake Austin on the bench. Siliva Havili was selected as the starting hooker.