NRL 2023: Predicted teams for round one with big names set to miss

Our experts analyse injuries, suspensions and player movement ahead of next year’s season opener and they expect the Bulldoogs to field an inexperienced backline duo.

Sub image art for Rd 1 teams

More than $6 million worth of talent is already sidelined for round one. And that is on the proviso that clubs come through the pre-season and trials games unscathed – which is unlikely.

From representative stars including Ryan Matterson, Sitili Tupouniua and Francis Molo to rising players such as Taylan May, Jason Saab and Helium Luki a number of big names are already out of week one action.

Injuries and suspensions are already starting to mount for some clubs. The Eels will be without Matterson and Bailey Simonsson for their opening clash of the season against the Storm after Matterson controversially elected to miss three games instead of paying a $4000 fine.

Meanwhile the Roosters could be missing star second-rower Angus Crichton, who faces a two-game suspension after being charged for his forearm to the head of Chanel Harris-Tavita in the World Cup final.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY TEAM’S PREDICTED ROUND ONE TEAM

Ryan Matterson opted to miss three games rather than pay a $4,000 fine. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

North Queensland’s back-row is problematic with Luciano Leilua (NRL no fault stand down policy), Helium Luki (knee) and Mitchell Dunn (knee) unlikely to be available. It could mean St George Illawarra recruit Jack Gosiewski packs down alongside Kangaroos’ backrower Jeremiah Nanai.

Manly will be without Karl Lawton and Jason Saab (both knee) for their match against Canterbury.

Brisbane, Tigers and Canterbury have the cleanest bill of health while the likes of the Dolphins, Warriors, Newcastle, Cronulla and Melbourne should not be missing any big name players for their matches.

BRISBANE

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Pat Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Brendan Piakura

CANBERRA

1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsborough 14. Danny Levi 15. Corey Harawira-Naera 16. Emre Guler 17. Pasami Saulo

CANTERBURY

1. Jake Averillo 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Tevita Pangai Junior 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Luke Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Andrew Davey 13. Ryan Sutton

14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Max King 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Chris Patolo

Braden Hamlin-Uele injured his calf at the World Cup but is expected to be ready to play by round one. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

CRONULLA

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

DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Oliver Gildart 5. Edrick Lee 6. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Ray Stone 16. Jarrod Wallace 17. Herman Ese’ese

GOLD COAST

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Phillip Sami 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. JoJo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu

14. Tanah Boyd 15. Joe Stimson 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Klese Haas

Manly speedster Jason Saab will not be available in the season opener. NRL Photos

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Tolu Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Kaeo Weekes 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Toafofoa Sipley 16. Sean Keppie 17. Ben Condon

STORM

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

KNIGHTS

1. Kurt Mann 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Dom Young 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Adam Elliott

14. Tyson Gamble 15. Leo Thompson 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Helium Luki is another who will not play in round one. Picture: Alix Sweeney

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. James Tamou 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame

PARRAMATTA

1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jirah Momoisea 13. Nathan Brown

14. J’maine Hopgood 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Jack Murchie 17. Jake Arthur

PANTHERS

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

DRAGONS

1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mikaele Ravalawa 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mat Feagai 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Moses Mbye 15. Aaron Woods 16. Josh Kerr 17. Tyrell Fuimaono

Francis Molo has two games still to serve on his suspension. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Siliva Havili 15. Tom Burgess 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Jacob Host

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Joey Manu 5. Paul Momirovski 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton* 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Matt Lodge

*Facing two-game suspension after being charged with a grade B reckless strike from World Cup final

WARRIORS

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Rocco Berry 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Marata Niukore 12. Mitch Barnett 13. Josh Curran

14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Jackson Ford

TIGERS

1. Charlie Staines 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Brent Naden 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. David Klemmer 9. Api Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. John Bateman 12. Isaiah Papali’I 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Daine Laurie 15. Fonua Pole 16. Shawn Blore 17. Stefano Utoikamanu

Originally published as NRL 2023: Predicted teams for round one with big names set to miss