NRL 2021: Round One teams and KFC SuperCoach NRL trade talk

The first NRL team lists of the season are in! See how every team will look in Round 1 and all the selection shocks and SuperCoach analysis.

MERRY LISTMAS! It’s the greatest day of the year for NRL fans and KFC SuperCoaches, the first Team List Tuesday of the season.

See full teams below and re-live our live blog in the comments section.

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SUPERCOACH COMMENT

STORM: KFC SuperCoaches have lost a cheapie in Dean Ieremia. He was in the running for a Melbourne wing spot following the injury to Brenko Lee (hamstring) after winning a slot for the final trial, but has been replaced by the more experienced George Jennings for round one. Reimis Smith scores Lee’s centre spot and looms as a serious mid-range buy in the backline. Christian Welch starts at prop, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona is an intriguing choice at lock for the injured Dale Finucane (calf, round six). With Harry Grant sidelined by a medial ligament strain, Brandon Smith starts at hooker.

RABBITOHS: Back rower Jaydn Su’A is a key inclusion after he failed to play in the final trial due to injury. Even with Su’A back, Jacob Host scores a starting edge spot and comes into KFC SuperCoach calculations. Josh Mansour scores a wing spot ahead of Jaxson Paulo in a reversal from the final trial. Jai Arrow and Benji Marshall will make their club debuts.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

KNIGHTS: Newcastle start with a number of players on the injury list with Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder), Blake Green (ACL), Edrick Lee (foot), Jirah Momoisea (Achilles) and Kalyn Ponga (shoulder) all unavailable. Kurt Mann and Mitch Barnett both missed the final trial due to personal reasons, but come into the squad with Mann partnering Mitchell Pearce in the halves and Barnett starting on the left edge. As expected, Connor Watson scores the lock spot and is therefore hot property for KFC SuperCoach. Tex Hoy wins the fullback and goal kicking roles from the injured Ponga.

BULLDOGS: Unknown hooker Bradley Deitz is a shock inclusion on the bench with Sione Katoa to start and Jeremy Marshall-King (foot) a week away. Dylan Napa (knee), Jake Averillo (elbow), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ankle) and Nick Cotric (ankle) have all been named despite pre-season injury concerns. Star recruits Kyle Flanagan and Corey Allan make their club debuts.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

BRONCOS: Coach Kevin Walters has dropped the first selection bombshell of his career with Tom Dearden axed as halfback in favour of Brodie Croft. Brisbane also welcome back Herbie Farnworth (chest) and Anthony Milford (thumb), who both missed the final trial. Tom Flegler has been named despite suffering a shoulder injury in the trial and will have to prove his fitness. David Mead wins the left wing position ahead of Richie Kennar. With Corey Paix snubbed for a bench role, Jake Turpin could play 80 minutes at hooker. Corey Oates has been dropped altogether and will play Queensland Cup. Jordan Riki is a huge inclusion for KFC SuperCoaches after scoring the edge back row spot of David Fifita (Titans).

EELS: As predicted, with Marata Niukore missing due to suspension. However, expect to see a major switch up from 2020 with Mitchell Moses and Ryan Matterson changing over to the left edge, with Shaun Lane and Dylan Brown switching over to the right. Tom Opacic wins the vacant left centre position of Michael Jennings (provisional suspension).

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

WARRIORS: Huge news for the Warriors with hooker Wayde Egan (elbow) and backrower Eliesa Katoa (cheekbone) cleared of injury and named to start. Unfortunately for KFC SuperCoaches, Bayley Sironen has scored the edge back row spot ahead of Ben Murdoch-Masila. David Fusitu’a returns on the wing after missing most of last year due to family reasons. Euan Aitken, Addin Fonua-Blake, Bayley Sironen and Murdoch-Masila make their club debuts.

TITANS: Fully fit squad. Star recruits David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui make their club debuts. Corey Thompson wins a wing spot ahead of Queensland Origin player Philip Sami. AJ Brimson has been named in the No. 1 after returning in the final trial to play 40 minutes at fullback, having recovered from a foot injury suffered in Origin.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

ROOSTERS: Lachlan Lam has won the halfback role as expected but there’s some surprises for the Roosters too. Lindsay Collins has ousted Jared Waerea-Hargreaves from the starting side with JWH joined on the bench by the promising bullock Daniel Suluka-Fifita. New recruit Adam Keighran wins the utility 14 jersey and you would expect he’ll take the kicks at goal when on the field.

SEA EAGLES: Dylan Walker is the man to fill Tommy Trbojevic’s large boots at fullback and at just $300K he must be an option now. Andrew Davey has not won a starting role but is to come off the bench, you can put a line through him and Jack Gosiewski. Cheapie winger Jason Saab is named to start while Reuben Garrick held on to his spot and would, I imagine take the shots at goal which is a blow to Daly Cherry-Evans owners.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

PANTHERS: No shocks in the backline with Paul Momirovski at centre and the most popular player in the game, Charlie Staines, on a wing. Liam Martin was superb on the right edge last year but he has lost his spot to Kurt Capewell with Martin moving to the bench where he is expected to play through the middle. Cheapie FRF Spencer Leniu will compete for bench minutes with Martin and Eisenhuth. It doesn’t put a line through him but does hurt his capacity to make money fast.

COWBOYS: As predicted, Val Holmes has lost the battle to wear the No. 1 jersey and will start on the wing with Josh Drinkwater at fullback. Francis Molo starts at prop relegating Josh McGuire to the bench while Mitch Dunn partners Coen Hess in the second row. The bench is...interesting...with Jake Granville there as reserve hooker and Reuben Cotter, a hooker, named as a back up to lock Jason Taumalolo.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

RAIDERS: Bailey Simonsson will be pitchforked into plenty of teams after the cheapie was named on the wing. Sebastian Kris is starting at centre but don’t be sucked in as Croker is not too far away. Ryan James has been named on the bench but will struggle to make much money.

TIGERS: We knew it was coming but it’s nice to see Daine Laurie named to start at fullback. He and teammate James Roberts will be CTW cheapies in a majority of teams. Jacob Liddle’s stocks have soared with no utility named, but beware as the return of Adam Douehi (suspended till Rd 2) could well see Moses Mbye take that role in Round 2. Three props on the bench which does not bode well for the minutes of rookie darling Stefano Utoikamanu.

SUPERCOACH COMMENT

DRAGONS: New recruits Jack Bird (centre) and Andrew McCullough (hooker) are named to start but neither are SC relevant. Josh Kerr has moved to an edge but his $370K price is awkward. KFC SuperCoaches will be interested in Tyrell Fuimaono at lock though — he could be a genuine cheapie if he holds that spot. Whispers that Poasa Faamausili would start have proved wrong and the former Rooster is instead on the bench.

SHARKS: We all expected it but it’s nice to see Matt Moylan has made it this far, named to start at five-eighth. Connor Tracey was going to be the cheapie HFB we all needed if named at fullback but that’s come to naught with Tracey instead filling the utility role. Andrew Fifita has fallen far with the one-time Origin star failing to even hold a spot on the bench and instead named in the reserves.