All 12 NRL teams for Round 1 games on Australian soil have been confirmed, with a number of coaches raising eyebrows.
The Canberra Raiders sit at the top of that list with a pair of big decisions made, while the opening round will also be headlined by fullbacks, returning stars and another intriguing call at the premiers.
Here are all the team list talking points for Round 1, rapid fire style.
Melbourne Storm
- No real surprises, but Sua Fa'alogo wins the fullback spot after Ryan Papenhuyzen's exit.
- The Melbourne are considerably understrength to start the season. There is no Xavier Coates, Eliesa Katoa, Shawn Blore or Trent Loiero.
- Nick Meaney slides out to the wing, with Moses Leo to play centre after impressing during the pre-season challenge.
- Joe Chan, Ativalu Lisati and Alex MacDonald are the new-look back-row.
- Cooper Clarke and Preston Conn are the surprise names on the bench, with Lazarus Vaalepu only able to be named at 20th man.
- Davvy Moale also makes his club debut.
Parramatta Eels
- The Eels are without Josh Addo-Carr. Sean Russell moves to the wing and Brian Kelly makes his club debut at centre.
- Parramatta are at full strength otherwise. Jonah Pezet makes his club debut at five-eighth, and Jack de Belin starts at lock, with Dylan Walker playing from the bench.
2026-03-06T07:00:00Z
Warriors WON BY 24 POINTS
New Zealand Warriors
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira misses an expected wing spot, with Ali Leiataua and Adam Pompey both part of the back five. They line up in the centres, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are the wingers.
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad plays at fullback, with Taine Tuaupiki securing a bench spot.
- Tanah Boyd plays at halfback with Luke Metcalf out, while Jackson Ford starts at prop with Mitchell Barnett not fit yet.
- Jacob Laban starts in the second-row, with Leka Halasima on the bench... Intriguing given Halasima played in the centres and from the bench during the pre-season challenge.
Sydney Roosters
- The Roosters back seven looks full strength, with Trent Robinson confirming Sam Walker will be the halfback, and Daly Cherry-Evans the five-eighth.
- Benaiah Ioelu starts at hooker with Reece Robson out. Connor Watson is the 14. Blake Steep wins the race for a spot at lock.
- Nat Butcher starts in the second-row with Victor Radley suspended.
- Cody Ramsey wins a spot on the six-man bench.
2026-03-06T09:00:00Z
Panthers WON BY 26 POINTS
Brisbane Broncos
- No surprises to the back seven for the Broncos. Grant Anderson and Jesse Arthars are both on the six-man bench.
- Cory Paix wins the race to start at hooker. Ben Hunt will instead come from the bench. Blake Mozer is not named in the 19, but is 20th man.
- Corey Jensen starts at prop, with Xavier Willison and Ben Talty on the bench. Aublix Tawha wins a spot on the bench.
Penrith Panthers
- Paul Alamoti wins a spot on the wing ahead of Thomas Jenkins (who is on the bench) in an otherwise unsurprising back seven.
- Liam Martin is out with an injury. Luke Garner and Scott Sorensen are the second-row combination, with Isaiah Papali'i to play from the bench.
- Luron Patea and Kalani Going win spots on the bench.
2026-03-07T06:30:00Z
Sharks WON BY 40 POINTS
Cronulla Sharks
- Sam Stonestreet takes the wing spot from the injured Ronaldo Mulitalo.
- Thomas Hazelton wins the race to start at prop alongside Addin Fonua-Blake, with middles Toby Rudolf, Oregon Kaufusi, Braden Uele and Hohepa Puru on the bench.
- Billy Burns starts with Teig Wilton not yet fit.
- Chris Vea'ila may be the next back into the side if there are other injuries - he is named on the six-man bench, while Michael Gabrael is only 21st man.
Gold Coast Titans
- Sialetili Faeamani wins the race for a wing spot, while Max Feagai is in the centres for a club debut. Jaylan de Groot misses out.
- Lachlan Ilias is the halfback with Jayden Campbell to miss a fortnight.
- Arama Hau starts in the second-row in a big shock, edging out Josh Patston who misses the 19 entirely.
- Chris Randall starts at lock, while Kurtis Morrin and Tukimihia Simpkins are the surprises on the bench with Jaimin Jolliffe out for the year.
Manly Sea Eagles
- The Sea Eagles look essentially full strength for Round 1. Tom Trbojevic plays fullback, with Lehi Hopoate on the wing.
- Jamal Fogarty makes his club debut at halfback, while Kobe Hetherington can only win a spot on the bench. Jake Trbojevic remains at lock, with Siosiua Taukeiaho to start at prop.
- Corey Waddell is overlooked for a spot. Joey Walsh, Nathan Brown, Clayton Faulalo and Brandon Wakeham are all on the bench which features Hetherington and Nathan Brown.
Canberra Raiders
- Matthew Timoko has surprisingly been left out. He will be part of the reserves, with Simi Sasagi to start at centre.
- Ethan Sanders goes into the halfback role vacated by Jamal Fogarty who is now at Manly. Coby Black is not in the 22-man squad.
- Tom Starling starts at hooker, Jayden Brailey plays from the bench, and Owen Pattie misses out - Ricky Stuart has already confirmed it's so he plays more minutes developing in the NSW Cup.
- Noah Martin wins a surprise start in the second-row. Zac Hosking only makes the bench, and Matty Nicholson is 20th man.
2026-03-08T05:05:00Z
Rabbitohs WON BY 10 POINTS
The Dolphins
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow plays at fullback, so Trai Fuller is only part of the six-man bench.
- Jack Bostock's injury makes the rest of it easy. Jamayne Isaako and Selwyn Cobbo are the wingers, and Jake Averillo joins Herbie Farnworth in the centres.
- Tom Gilbert and Thomas Flegler are the new-look props with Daniel Saifiti out, while Connelly Lemuelu wins a spot in the second-row alongside Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
- Max Plath is still injured alongside Jeremy Marshall-King, so Kurt Donoghoe plays at hooker, Morgan Knowles at lock and Brad Schneider is 14.
- Sebastian Su'a and Brent Woolf win places on the six-man bench.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Ashton Ward will start the season at halfback for the Rabbitohs in an otherwise unsurprising back seven.
- Bronson Garlick wins the race to start at hooker, with Peter Mamouzelos on the bench. Brandon Smith is out with a calf strain.
- Euan Aitken joins David Fifita in the second-row. Tallis Duncan comes from the bench.
- Cameron Murray is back at lock. Lachlan Hubner plays from the bench, while Sean Keppie and Jayden Sullivan are also among the six on the pine.
Jack Howarth IS in the Storm 19 man squad and Leka MUST have a starting spot for the Warriors.