NRL Round 1 squad announcements

Storm: Bench hooker Tyson Smoothy is a late inclusion, replacing Nicho Hynes on the interchange, and is set to give Brandon Smith a breather at dummy-half. Darryn Schonig also dropped out of the squad an hour before kick-off, after Cooper Johns and Trent Loiero were the first two players omitted from the squad on Wednesday.

Smoothy played at last year's NRL Nines with Penrith before linking with first the Sunshine Coast and then the Storm this summer on a train-and-trial deal.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been named at lock to cover for Dale Finucane, who faces six weeks out with a calf injury. Brenko Lee (hamstring) is out after only getting through limited training on Monday and his place in the centres is filled by former Bulldog Reimis Smith.

Nicho Hynes is the current utility named in Melbourne's 17 but may yet make way for Smoothy to offer cover for Smith.

George Jennings will take the wing spot vacated by Suliasi Vunivalu's move to rugby. The Storm have won nine of their past 10 games against the Rabbitohs.

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17. Winger Alex Johnston came through the Bunnies' captain's run unscathed after failing to finish training on Monday and is good to go.

Apart from Liam Knight, who suffered a concussion during a training scrimmage leading into the Charity Shield, coach Wayne Bennett had pretty much a full roster to choose from. 

Recruits Josh Mansour and Jacob Host have been named to start in their club debuts while Jai Arrow and Benji Marshall will come off the bench.

Bench forward Hame Sele is out for a fortnight with a rib injury, centre Braidon Burns (knee) and Brock Gardner (Achilles) are sidelined indefinitely. The Rabbitohs face Melbourne without Cameron Smith for the first time in 17 years.

Patrick Mago and Jaxson Paulo were the final players trimmed from the reserves on game day after Tautau Moga and Troy Dargan were cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Round 1 hype - Knights v Bulldogs

Knights v Bulldogs, Friday 6pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Hymel Hunt has overcome a hamstring injury and is a late inclusion on the wing in jersey 18. Gehamat Shibasaki drops out. In another late switch Sauaso Sue will start the game at lock and Connor Watson shifts to the bench.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga (knee) and winger Edrick Lee (foot) are both missing as is five-eighth Blake Green (knee).

Tex Hoy slots in at fullback and Kurt Mann at five-eighth.

Star recruit Tyson Frizell will launch his Knights career in the second row while Jayden Brailey is back from a knee reconstruction at hooker. Back-rower Mitch Barnett will reportedly take on the goal-kicking duties while Ponga is sidelined.

The Knights have opened the season with a win for the past three years.

Jack Johns and Simi Sasagi were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Shibasaki and Pasami Saulo were omitted an hour before game time.

Bulldogs: Trent Barrett's side is 1-17 as named. Prop Dylan Napa (knee), five-eighth Jake Averillo (elbow), back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ankle) and winger Nick Cotric (ankle) all take their place but Jeremy Marshall-King (foot) is another week away.

There was some concern about Averillo's fitness, with playmaker Brandon Wakeham included on the extended bench as cover, but Wakeham and Ava Seumanufagai were the first two players cut from the squad on Thursday.

Train-and-trialist hooker Bradley Deitz has been named on the bench in Marshall-King's absence. The 26-year-old has been given an NRL exemption to play from outside the club's top 30 given Marshall-King’s injury with Sione Katoa starting as the Bulldogs’ other hooking option.

Former Rabbitoh Corey Allan will make his Bulldog debut at fullback with former Rooster Kyle Flanagan to steer the ship from halfback. The Bulldogs have won eight of their past nine games against the Knights.

Chris Smith and Tuipolotu Katoa were cut from the squad an hour before kick-off.

Round 1 hype - Broncos v Eels

Broncos v Eels, Friday 8.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Kevin Walters' team will start 1-17, with Tom Dearden and Richie Kennar the last two players omitted. Brodie Croft will get first crack at the No.7 jersey and partner Anthony Milford in the halves. Herbie Farnworth will start at centre having recently undergone surgery on a chest infection. Veteran David Mead will return as a Bronco on the left wing while 19-year-old Tesi Niu has switched to right centre in the absence of Kotoni Staggs (ACL).

Thomas Flegler has been cleared after copping a knock in the trial but fellow prop Payne Haas is suspended until round four. Rhys Kennedy and Cory Paix were cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Eels: The Eels will start 1-17, with Haze Dunster and Joey Lussick the last two players dropped from the squad. With veteran Michael Jennings suspended for an alleged performance-enhancing drugs violation, former Cowboy Tom Opacic will start in the centres. Former Titan Keegan Hipgrave will make his Eels debut from the bench alongside ex-Warrior Isaiah Papali'i, who will fill the hole left by Marata Niukore's suspension.

Jordan Rankin and David Hollis were the first two omitted from the 21-man squad on Thursday.

Round 1 hype - Warriors v Titans

Warriors v Titans, Saturday 3pm at Central Coast Stadium

Warriors: The team temporarily based in Gosford will start 1-17 after Adam Pompey and Sean O'Sullivan were omitted an hour before kick-off.

Wayde Egan has recovered from an elbow injury suffered in the trials and will start at hooker. Jazz Tevaga provides dummy-half cover on the bench.

Former Dragon Euan Aitken will start in the centres while fellow recruits Addin Fonua-Blake and Bayley Sironen are in the run-on side and Ben Murdoch-Masila  on the bench.

Chanel Harris-Tavita (quadriceps) and Eliesa Katoa (cheekbone) have both recovered from injury and are good to go for the start of the Nathan Brown era. 

Second-rower Eliesa Katoa (cheekbone) is fit and good to go. Tom Ale and Josh Curran were omitted from the reserves on Friday. The Warriors are chasing back-to-back wins over the Titans for the first time since 2010.

Titans: Like the Warriors, Gold Coast will start 1-17 after Phillip Sami and Beau Fermor will left out an hour before the match. Off-season recruits Herman Ese'ese and Sam McIntyre were dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off.

Patrick Herbert will line up at centre against his old club while big-name recruits David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui join captain Kevin Proctor in a powerful back row.

Star fullback AJ Brimson is fit and firing after missing the first 11 rounds of 2020 with a back issue and then suffering a foot injury in his State of Origin debut.

Tyrone Peachey had an excellent finish to the 2020 season at lock but with two high-profile No.13s coming on board he has been moved to the bench and will provide impact alongside Sam Lisone.

Round 1 hype - Roosters v Sea Eagles

Roosters v Sea Eagles, Saturday 5.30pm at Sydney Cricket Ground

Roosters: The Roosters will start 1-17 after Fletcher Baker and Sam Walker were the two players left out an hour before game time. Luke Keary, who sat out their trial clash with a hamstring issue, will take his place after training on Monday. Lachlan Lam will be his halves partner with Adam Keighran grabbing a bench spot.

Lindsay Collins has earned a start at prop with veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sliding to the bench. Angus Crichton will line up on the left edge in place of skipper Boyd Cordner with Sitili Tupouniua slotting into the retired Mitch Aubusson's right side back-row position. Victor Radley and Sam Verrills (both ACL) will be kept on ice for at least another week.

Matt Ikuvalu and Freddy Lussick were omitted from the 21-man squad on Friday.

The Roosters have lost their opening round game for the past three seasons.

Sea Eagles: Des Hasler's team will start 1-17 after Josh Schuster and Sean Keppie were the last two players omitted. Dylan Walker is the surprise replacement for star fullback Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) and his switch gives Brad Parker a start in the centres alongside Moses Suli.

Back-rower Jack Gosiewski has seen off the challenge of veteran recruit Andrew Davey, who will start from the bench.

Much of the attacking responsibility will now fall onto the shoulders of veteran halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran. Josh Aloiai takes over from Addin Fonua-Blake in the front row.

Lachlan Croker has recovered from his hamstring issue to get the start at No.9 with Cade Cust returning from a thumb injury in the NSW Cup, while centre Tevita Funa has earned a bench spot. The Sea Eagles will play their first game at the SCG in seven years.

Toafofoa Sipley and Morgan Harper were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Round 1 hype - Panthers v Cowboys

Panthers v Cowboys, Saturday 7.35pm at Panthers Stadium

Panthers: The Panthers will line up 1-17 with Robert Jennings and Mitch Kenny omitted an hour before kick-off.

Moses Leota can't be expected to fill in for the experience left by James Tamou, but he'll need to replicate his consistent level of performance when he steps out as James Fisher-Harris's front-row partner. Bench forward Spencer Leniu will also be expected to help fill that void. The Panthers' bench is a work in progress with Scott Sorensen still sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Paul Momirovski won the race to be Stephen Crichton's centre partner ahead of Tyrone May, who claimed a bench spot, with Brent Naden not being considered for selection in the first four rounds after his positive cocaine test in grand final week. J'Maine Hopgood and Matt Burton were the two players left out 24 hours before kick-off.

Penrith are aiming for their 10th consecutive win at Panthers Stadium.

Cowboys: No late changes for the Cowboys. Scott Drinkwater has won the battle for the No.1 jersey with Valentine Holmes named on the wing. Veteran forward Josh McGuire will be eased back from a hamstring injury on the bench with Francis Molo partnering Jordan McLean in the front row.

Hookers Jake Granville and Reuben Cotter (jersey 19), who can also play in the back row, have both been named on the bench. Coach Todd Payten has confirmed that Cotter will play as a lock. Flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has a chance to strut his stuff in the centres.

Tom Gilbert was unavailable for selection after suffering a leg fracture during a training ground mishap. 

Shane Wright and Murray Taulagi were dropped on the eve of the match and Ben Hampton and Lachlan Burr were cut an hour before kick-off..

The Cowboys have not won at Penrith since 2016.

Raiders v Wests Tigers, Sunday 4.05pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Canberra will start 1-17 after Sam Williams and Harley Smith-Shields were the last two players dropped from the squad. Sebastian Kris is a left-field selection in place of co-captain Jarrod Croker (shoulder), beating out Matthew Timoko.

Croker had been given the all-clear to resume full squad training and was thought a chance of being fit for the season opener after it was initially feared he would be out for the first month. 

Veteran recruit Ryan James will play in the No.17 jersey. Tom Starling and Emre Guler were the two players left out 24 hours before kick-off.

Forward duo Corey Horsburgh and Corey Harawira-Naera have both missed selection in the initial 21-man squad after being suspended for one and two weeks respectively over off-season drink-driving charges.

Defy impossible: The chase

Wests Tigers: Michael Maguire's side will start 1-17 after Jock Madden and Michael Chee-Kam were omitted an hour before the match. Moses Mbye will start at No.6 after shaking off hamstring concerns.

Daine Laurie has won the fullback jersey and fellow recruit James Roberts will line up in the centres alongside Joey Leilua, who is set to return after missing the big trial win over Manly with a minor foot injury. On the wing, Tommy Talau has been relegated to the bench by Asu Kepaoa.

Tukimihia Simpkins and Alex Seyfarth were dropped 24 hours before kick-off.

Dragons v Sharks, Sunday 6.15pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Anthony Griffin's side will start 1-17 after Jackson Ford and Kaide Ellis were the two players left out an hour before the game.

Former Roosters prop Poasa Faamausili has successfully progressed through HIA protocols after suffering a concussion in the Charity Shield. He has been named on the bench alongside fellow forward recruit Daniel Alvaro. 

With Cameron McInnes out for the season with a torn ACL, veteran Andrew McCullough will slot in at hooker with Tyrell Fuimaono winning the race for the No.13 jersey. Blake Lawrie has been named at prop, with veteran Trent Merrin on the bench.

Jordan Pereira and Max Feagai were cut from the 21-man squad on Saturday.

The Dragons won only two from six at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in 2020.

Defy impossible: The leap

Sharks: Cronulla will start 1-17 after Mawene Hiroti and Teig Wilton were the last two players omitted. Andrew Fifita has missed out on a spot in the 17. He was cut from the extended squad on Saturday along with Braydon Trindall.

Josh Dugan, Toby Rudolf and 2021 recruit Aiden Tolman shook off their respective leg injuries to be named for the short trip to Kogarah. Royce Hunt (knee) and Siosifa Talakai (shoulder) are still at least a week away from returning.

Matt Moylan will start the season at five-eighth and Will Kennedy at fullback with Shaun Johnson still a couple of months away from returning after Achilles surgery.

The Sharks have lost their past seven Round 1 games.

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