Our experts check out teams for NRL round 1 and offer their tips
IT’S round one and our expert NRL tipsters are looking to get off on the right foot. Check out their selections for round one plus their no brainers, upsets and coin tosses.
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IT’S a new season and our panel of experts is looking to get off on the right foot.
Nick Walshaw claimed bragging rights ahead of Michael Carayannis last season so the rest of the panel will be keen to turn the tables starting with tonight’s Dragons v Broncos season opener.
Follow Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie, Michael Carayannis, Matty Logue, Paul Crawley, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw, James Phelps and Paul Kent throughout the season for advice and tips.
With only trial form on the board have they got it right for round 1?
ROUND 1 FIXTURES: Dragons v Broncos, Knights v Sea Eagles, Cowboys v Sharks, Wests Tigers v Roosters, Rabbitohs v Warriors, Bulldogs v Storm, Panthers v Eels, Titans v Raiders.
Phil Rothfield's top tips: Score so far: 0
broncos
knights
sharks
roosters
rabbitohs
storm
eels
raidersNo brainer: The same every week - whoever is playing the Warriors
Upset: The Knights to knock off Manly - but it will be close
Coin toss: Nothing separating Panthers and Eels in the derby
Michael Carayannis's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons knights
cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: The Roosters to run away against the Tigers. James Tedesco to put on a show against his former club.
Upset: he Dragons to beat Brisbane. St George-Illawarra will take some time to build into their season but they have an early chance to impress against former coach Wayne Bennett.
Coin toss: A reformed Newcastle side to start their new era with a home win against Manly.
Fatima Kdouh's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons
eagles cowboys roosters
warriors storm eels raidersNo brainer: Panthers were rubbish in their last trial against the Bulldogs. Eels for the easy win.
Upset: Warriors are on a six-game losing streak against the Rabbitohs. That streak will end this weekend.
Coin toss: Raiders to win, just. But if the Titans manage a victory it could prove they won't be the easy beats of the season.
Paul Crawley's top tips: Score so far: 0
broncos eagles cowboys roosters warriors storm eels raidersNo brainer: No sure thing in the first round.
Upset: I’m stunned the Eels are outsiders against Penrith.
Coin toss: Dragons v Broncos should be a beauty.
James Phelps's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons knights cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: Cooper Cronk-led Roosters to comfortably see off the Tigers. Watch James Tedesco tear through his old team.
Upset: Dragons v Broncos. Should be a tight season opener. Will Ben Hunt's inside knowledge bring down a Broncos side possibly distracted by the Matt Lodge drama?
Coin toss: Panthers looked terrible a fortnight ago in their trial against the Bulldogs. Will they come out strong for under-fire coach Anthony Griffin? Can Jarryd Hayne inspire the Eels on his return?
Nick Campton's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons knights cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: Melbourne have won their first game of the season for the last 10,000 years, they're good things in Perth.
Upset: I've gone all favourites because deep down I'm a coward.
Coin toss: Knights-Manly could be an early season classic and will go right down to the wire.
Nick Walshaw's top tips: Score so far: 0
broncos eagles cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: Parramatta ... and a triumphant return of the Hayne Plane celebration.
Upset: Taking Brisbane over St George-Illawarra, whose spine could take a few weeks to get synced. Certainly looked a little clunky in the Charity Shield loss.
Coin toss: Gold Coast/Canberra. Went the Raiders but would not be surprised if the underdog Titans, led by star No.7 Ash Taylor, start strongly at home.
Dean Ritchie's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons eagles cowboys roosters rabbitohs
bulldogs eels raidersNo brainer: Roosters should account for the Tigers pretty easily.
Upset: Bulldogs to roll a Storm side that's missing Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater over in Perth.
Coin toss: Sea Eagles to spoil Mitch Pearce's welcoming party in front of a near full house in Newcastle.
David Riccio's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons knights cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: Roosters. Too much class for new-look Tigers.
Upset: The betting markets have installed Parra as outsiders here. Not sure why. Much more settled than their opposition.
Coin toss: Raiders. No Josh Hodgson is a major concern.
Paul Kent's top tips: Score so far: 0
dragons eagles cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels raidersNo brainer: Long season ahead if the Roosters can’t get the better of the Tigers.
Upset: I don’t have the Eels as the underdogs but the bookies do, apparently.
Coin toss: Rabbitohs and Warriors is tough to pick. Who turns up?
Matt Logue's top tips: Score so far: 0
broncos knights cowboys roosters rabbitohs storm eels
titansNo brainer: The Cowboys will be too good for the Sharks in Townsville.
Upset: Knights over Manly in Newcastle.
Coin toss: The Panthers versus Eels clash will go down to the wire.