Our experts check out teams for NRL round 1 and offer their tips

THE NRL season is upon us once again which means it’s time to get those footy tips in. And with round one the hardest to pick we’ve got you covered thanks to our experts.

Our expert tipsters.

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THE NRL season is upon us once again which means it’s time to get those footy tips in.

Unfortunately, round one can be the hardest round to tip with the form of so many teams unkown.

Follow Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie, Michael Carayannis, Matty Logue, Paul Crawley, Barry Toohey, Christian Nicolussi, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw, James Phelps and Paul Kent throughout the season for advice and tips.

Be sure to check out Phelps - he was last year’s winner in the Daily Telegraph office.

Have they got it right for round one or are some of them way off the mark?

ROUND 1 FIXTURES: Sharks v Broncos, Sharks v Broncos, Bulldogs v Storm, Rabbitohs v Tigers, Dragons v Panthers, Cowboys v Raiders, Titans v Roosters, Warriors v Knights, Sea Eagles v Eels.

   Paul Crawley's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Couldn't tip Dragons after watching Charity Shield.

Upset: Bookies don't give Raiders a hope in Townsville, I do.

Coin toss: Manly v Parra is always a humdinger.

   Michael Carayannis's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Roosters to beat Titans. Nathan Peats missing and Jarryd Hayne not at full fitness against a full-strength Roosters team.

Upset: Bulldogs to beat Melbourne. Top 17 for the Bulldogs against an undermanned Storm side.

Coin toss: Rabbitohs to beat the Tigers. No Adam Reynolds and question marks surrounding their halves pairing, give the Tigers a real chance.

   Paul Kent's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: If Warriors don't win this then close the curtains.

Upset: I can't believe the Sharks, the premiers at home, are underdogs against the Broncos.

Coin toss: Cowboys are at home but who knows if the Raiders will turn it on?

   Matt Logue's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Warriors over Knights. The New Zealanders will be far too strong for the Knights on home turf.

Upset: Brisbane. Wayne Bennett's men to spoil the defending premiers party in the Shire.

Coin toss: Parramatta have the cattle to cash in and beat Manly at Lottoland.

   Christian Nicolussi's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Penrith will have way too many points in them and class in the outside backs.

Upset: Manly won't be pushovers, especially with the calming influence of Blake Green and a refreshed Tommy T.

Coin toss: The Tigers always start well, and the loss of Souths halfback Adam Reynolds is huge. H.U.G.E.

   James Phelps's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: The Panthers - who most are tipping to win the competition - should romp home against the Dragons, the team most are tipping to win the wooden spoon.

Upset: The Bulldogs have had little luck since returning to Belmore, but they did destroy the Storm in the first ever game back at their spiritual home. They will be looking to do it again and return Belmore to a place that other teams fear.

Coin toss: I've gone for the Sea Eagles but really this game is a 'lotto'. He he, get it? Lotto at Lottoland.

   David Riccio's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Eels. Taking on new-look Manly, who we won't see the best from until mid-year.

Upset: Dragons. Not as bad as most believe in Charity Shield and injuries to Mansour and Watene-Zelezniak will hurt Penrith coming out of their own end.

Coin toss: Sharks. Without Barba, Ennis and Holmes, the premiers could take time to hit their straps.

   Dean Ritchie's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Panthers have too many weapons for an ordinary looking Dragons side.

Upset: Sea Eagles. Blake Green and DCE combination will gel to guide Manly home over the Eels.

Coin toss: Bulldogs to just get the better of an understrength Storm at Belmore.

   Phil Rothfield's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Sharks. Too strong, too classy.

Upset: Bulldogs to knock off Melbourne Storm.

Coin toss: Sea Eagles and Eels will go down to the wire.

   Barry Toohey's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Can't see Dragons holding out the enterprising Panthers.

Upset: An early statement from the Knights. Get on them.

Coin toss: Was tough (maybe downright stupid) tipping against Cowboys in Townsville.

   Nick Walshaw's top tips:

   Score so far: 0 

No brainer: Can the Knights win a game this year? Definitely. But it won't be first up, away. So Warriors.

Upset: Wests Tigers are $2.25 outsiders against a Bunnies side without Adam Reynolds. Good value.

Coin toss: The Tooheys commercial that is Manly versus Parramatta at Brookvale Oval.

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Originally published as Our experts check out teams for NRL round 1 and offer their tips