Updated: NRL.com's Round 1 predicted teams for all 17 teams

With the Pre-Season Challenge done and dusted and the start of the Telstra Premiership season just days away, NRL.com takes a look at how all 17 clubs are shaping up Round 1. 

From the four clubs blazing a trail in Las Vegas to defending champs Penrith starting their quest for a four-peat against Round 1 specialists Melbourne, the opening round of the season will be packed with intrigue as new-look squads are unveiled and old rivalries resumed.

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Brisbane Broncos

Veteran Corey Oates looks set to beat youngster Deine Mariner to the open wing spot and Corey Jensen has emerged as the man most likely to partner Payne Haas in the front row. Brendan Piakura remains under an injury cloud after suffering a low-grade medial cruciate ligament strain in the Pre-Season Challenge and could yet miss out on playing in Vegas. 

1. Reece Walsh
2. Corey Oates
3. Selwyn Cobbo
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Jesse Arthars
6. Ezra Mam
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Payne Haas
9. Billy Walters
10. Corey Jensen
11. Brendan Piakura
12. Jordan Riki
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Tyson Smoothy
15. Kobe Hetherington
16. Xavier Willison
17. Fletcher Baker

Canberra Raiders

Two assured showings in the Pre-Season Challenge may have given Ethan Strange a slight edge over Kaeo Weekes in the race to partner Jamal Fogarty in the halves. Corey Horsburgh misses the first three games through suspension, which should give new signing Morgan Smithies a bigger role. With Seb Kris also suspended, James Schiller is set to join Matt Timoko in the centres.

1. Jordan Rapana
2. Xavier Savage
3. James Schiller
4. Matt Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali'i
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Morgan Smithies
14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Zac Hosking

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

After starting both of the club's Pre-Season Challenge matches there, Blake Taaffe is expected to be the fullback with star recruit Stephen Crichton in the centres. Toby Sexton looks like missing out on a spot for the time being with coach Cameron Ciraldo preferring Drew Hutchison and Matt Burton in the halves.

1. Blake Taaffe
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Bronson Xerri
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Jacob Kiraz
6. Matt Burton
7. Drew Hutchison
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Poasa Faamausili
11. Jacob Preston
12. Viliame Kikau
13. Jaeman Salmon
14. Kurt Mann
15. Samuel Hughes
16. Josh Curran
17. Liam Knight

Cronulla Sharks

Nicho Hynes is expected to overcome the quad injury which kept him out of the second week of the Pre-Season Challenge, which means the first-choice backline are all set to be available for Round 1. Thomas Hazelton could miss out on a spot initially, with Oregon Kaufusi and Jack Williams likely to snare bench spots. 

1. Will Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Toby Rudolph
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Braden Hamlin-Uele
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Dale Finucane
14. Cameron McInnes
15. Oregon Kaufusi
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Williams

Dolphins

Confirmation of a ruptured ACL for key forward Tom Gilbert will trigger a reshuffle in the pack, with Ray Stone likely to take the No.13 jersey and Euan Aitken shaping to start in the second row. Kodi Nikorima may have nudged ahead of Isaiya Katoa in the battle for the five-eighth job, while winger Jack Bostock comes off an impressive pre-season. 

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Sean O’Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Euan Aitken
13. Ray Stone
14. Jarrod Wallace
15. Max Plath
16. Connelly Lemuelu
17. Mark Nicholls

Gold Coast Titans

With frontline stars David Fifita, Jayden Campbell and Isaac Liu all expected to miss Round 1 due to injury, the Titans' initial squad will have quite a different look to it. Kiwi youngster Keano Kini will fill in at the back while the experienced Joe Stimson will likely come into the run-on side.

1. Keano Kini
2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
3. AJ Brimson
4. Brian Kelly
5. Phil Sami
6. Kieran Foran
7. Tanah Boyd
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Chris Randall
10. Keenan Palasia
11. Joe Stimson
12. Beau Fermor
13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
14. Sam Verrills
15. Erin Clark
16. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
17. Klese Haas

Manly Sea Eagles

The Sea Eagles start the year light on numbers up front due to Toafofoa Sipley picking up a suspension and Matt Lodge still being a couple of months away from a knee injury. Josh Schuster stayed home in Australia to recover from a calf injury so Ben Trbojevic is odds-on to start in the pack, while veteran Brad Parker will be used as an interchange back-rower in 2024. 

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jaxson Paulo
3. Reuben Garrick
4. Tolu Koula
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Karl Lawton
15. Nathan Brown
16. Brad Parker
17. Ethan Bullemor

Melbourne Storm

Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen got through the Pre-Season Challenge unscathed, with Nick Meaney set to bolster the centres following the departure of Justin Olam. Trent Loiero could be used as both an edge and middle in 2024, with new recruit Shawn Blore giving coach Craig Bellamy more options in the pack. 

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Will Warbrick
3. Nick Meaney
4. Reimis Smith
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Tui Kamikamica
9. Harry Grant
10. Christian Welch
11. Trent Loiero
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Josh King
14. Tyran Wishart
15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
16. Shawn Blore
17. Aaron Pene

Newcastle Knights

The signs point to Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings getting first crack in the halves, but premiership-winning playmaker Jack Cogger is likely to feature somewhere, such is his value. Enari Tuala is most likely to fill the void on the wing created by Dom Young's departure to the Roosters. 

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Enari Tuala
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jackson Hastings
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Leo Thompson
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Dylan Lucas
13. Adam Elliott
14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Jack Cogger

North Queensland Cowboys

A knee injury for Coen Hess in the Pre-Season Challenge means a rethink for coach Todd Payten in the forwards. After falling down the pecking order for periods of last year veteran wing Kyle Feldt responded in a big way with three tries in the club's final Pre-Season Challenge match, while Zac Laybutt is likely to take a centre spot. 

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Valentine Holmes
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jason Taumalolo
9. Reece Robson
10. Jordan McLean
11. Jeremiah Nanai
12. Heilum Luki
13. Reuben Cotter
14. Jake Granville
15. Sam McIntyre
16. Griffin Neame
17. Thomas Mikaele

Parramatta Eels

With Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo making their injury return in week two of the Pre-Season Challenge, the Eels were on track to be at full strength for Round 1 but Maika Sivo's three-game ban for a high shot against the Titans will force a backline reshuffle. A hamstring injury could see prop Wiremu Greig sidleined for Round 1, with Ofahiki Ogden likely to be given an opportunity on the bench in the season opener. Joey Lussick and Brendan Hands look like sharing the job at hooker.

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Will Penisini
4. Morgan Harper
5. Sean Russell
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitch Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Joey Lussick
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Bryce Cartwright
13. J'maine Hopgood
14. Joe Ofahengaue
15. Ryan Matterson
16. Ofahiki Ogden
17. Brendan Hands

Penrith Panthers

Taylan May performed well at centre in the World Club Challenge so should get the nod to replace Stephen Crichton. Tyrone Peachey's utility value will likely see him included on the bench, while a promotion from the lower grades looms for prop Liam Henry. 

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Izack Tago
4. Taylan May
5. Brian To’o
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Mitch Kenny
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Scott Sorensen
12. Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Soni Luke
15. Lindsay Smith
16. Tyrone Peachey
17. Liam Henry

South Sydney Rabbitohs

In the absence of Jack Wighton, who will return from suspension in Round 3, Taane Milne is set to start in the centres. After missing the All Stars match in order to recover from a calf injury Cody Walker is expected to be good to go in Vegas. 

1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Isaiah Tass
4. Taane Milne
5. Tyrone Munro
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damien Cook
10. Sean Keppie
11. Keaon Kolomatangi
12. Jai Arrow
13. Cameron Murray
14. Siliva Havili
15. Tom Burgess
16. Davvy Moale
17. Tallis Duncan

Sydney Roosters

Dom Young's club debut will be delayed by a neck injury, which will probably see Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii move one spot wider to the wing and Billy Smith start at centre. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out suspended until Round 2, but the Roosters have plenty of depth in the forwards this season. 

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Billy Smith
4. Joey Manu
5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Lindsay Collins 
9. Brandon Smith
10. Egan Butcher
11. Siua Wong
12. Nat Butcher
13. Victor Radley
14. Connor Watson
15. Angus Crichton
16. Spencer Leniu
17. Sitili Tupouniua

St George Illawarra Dragons

Jack Bird moves back to the centres, the position he won a premiership in with coach Shane Flanagan back in 2016, while Zac Lomax will start on the wing but likely swap positions with fullback Tyrell Sloan throughout matches. Luciano Leilua should go straight into the starting side after being signed from the Cowboys in late February. 

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Zac Lomax
3. Moses Suli
4. Jack Bird
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Ben Hunt
8. Francis Molo
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Blake Lawrie
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack de Belin
14. Jesse Marschke
15. Tom Eisenhuth
16. Hame Sele
17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Warriors

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is likely to be kept in cotton wool for Round 1 as he battles a hamstring issue, which will mean Taine Tuaupiki starts at the back with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at centre. Luke Metcalf looks to have played himself into the No.6 jersey with a strong showing in the club's final Pre-Season Challenge match.

1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Rocco Berry 
4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Jackson Ford
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris
14. Dylan Walker
15. Jazz Tevaga
16. Marata Niukore
17. Tom Ale

Wests Tigers

Rookie coach Benji Marshall is shaping to give Jayden Sullivan and Aidan Sezer first crack in the halves after leaning that way through the Pre-Season Challenge. Charlie Staines will step into the spot of the now departed David Nofoaluma, with new recruit Justin Olam adding some punch to the backline at centre. 

1. Jahream Bula
2. Charlie Staines
3. Justin Olam
4. Starford To'a
5. Junior Tupou
6. Jayden Sullivan
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali'i
12. John Bateman
13. Fonua Pole
14. Samuela Fainu
15. Alex Twal
16. Asu Kepaoa
17. Jake Simpkin