For the second year, the NRL will kick off the season in what many consider the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas.
It will be almost full-strength sides for the four participating teams who will be looking to put on a show, with only a few injuries across the line-ups.
Nathan Cleary headlines the names, returning to the No.7 jersey after training strongly in recent weeks following shoulder surgery in October. Jack Cole has won the race to partner with him in the halves ahead of Blaize Talagi following Jarome Luai‘s departure from the club last season.
Livewire Penrith speedster Brian To’o has withdrawn with a hamstring injury.
On the injury front, Sharks winger Sione Katoa is set to miss the majority of the NRL season with a shoulder injury, while the Warriors’ Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will miss at least the first six rounds of the season after breaking his wrist.
Round 1 teams
All times AEDT
Raiders vs Warriors at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas: 11.00am, Sunday March 2
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Danny Levi 19. Trey Mooney 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Chevy Stewart 22. Jed Stuart
Zac Hosking has recovered from a calf injury suffered at training and has been named in the side for the season opener, starting in the second row.
Owen Pattie will make his NRL debut off the bench, with former Dragon Savelio Tamale starting the game on the wing after Albert Hopoate stayed home for the birth of his child.
Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies will pack down together in the forwards after getting in strife then apologising for their hotel altercation in Vegas.
Jamal Fogarty. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
It’s a full-strength spine with Ricky Stuart having the luxury of naming Jamal Fogarty and Ethan Strange in the halves, with Kaeo Weekes and Tom Starling at fullback and dummy half.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Eddie Ieremia 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
It will be the first appearance for former Panther James Fisher-Harris who will partner Mitch Barnett in the starting front row for the Warriors.
Chanel Harris-Tavita has beaten out Te Maire Martin for the No.6 jersey with the 25-year-old to partner Luke Metcalf in the halves, following last season’s retirement of Shaun Johnson.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reverts from centre back to his former position on the flank, where he won the Dally M winger of the year in 2013.
Erin Clark returns to the Warriors after five years at the Titans and slots in at lock.
Panthers vs Sharks at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas: 3.30pm, Sunday March 2
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luron Patea 18. Brad Schneider 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Jesse McLean 21. Luke Sommerton 23. Blaize Talagi
In addition to Cleary’s return, Panthers superstars Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards have been cleared to take to the field at Allegiant Stadium with all three hampered by shoulder injuries in the pre-season.
Brian To’o, scoring in the corner. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But the premiers have suffered a setback with star winger Brian To’o missing the match due to a hamstring injury. Casey McLean made so much of an impression on his Test debut for the Kiwis last year, scoring four tries, Ivan Cleary has named him as the starting replacement.
Lindsay Smith takes over from Fisher-Harris at prop, with former Tiger Isaiah Papalii and utility Daine Laurie named on the bench.
Second-rower Luke Garner is a surprise selection at centre with Paul Alamoti on the wing and Talagi on the bench.
“He is still really learning and really trying to just take everything in here as well,” Edwards said of Talagi.
“It’s a good time for him to bide his time and see how everything works out. Blaize is a quality player, he will get his shot eventually and I am sure he will take it with both hands. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sam Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru
Sam Stonestreet will start on the wing after Katoa’s absence through injury.
It’s an exciting forward pack for the team from the Shire, with star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake joining Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton and Cam McInnes. After injury last season, Jesse Ramien is the starting centre but Siosifa Talakai has been put back to the bench.
