Our experts check out teams for NRL 2019 round 1 and offer tips

Another season of NRL is about to get underway so once again we pitch our experts against each other to find the best tipster. Fox League’s Matty Johns joins the fray on the eve of 2019’s kick-off.

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March 14, 2019 - 7:00AM

NRL

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Another season of NRL is about to get underway so it’s tipping time. We pitch our experts against each other to find the best tipster.

Fox League’s Matty Johns joins the fray on the eve of 2019’s kick-off in what’s shaping to be a tough round to pick.

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Follow Johns, Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie, Michael Carayannis, Matty Logue, Paul Crawley, Fatima Kdouh, Nick Campton, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw, James Phelps and Paul Kent throughout the season for advice and tips.

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

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

Matty Johns's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Knights

Roosters

Bulldogs

Cowboys

Tigers

Panthers

Titans

No brainer: I really like the Tigers against Manly. Manly are missing key man Tom Trbojevic, while I expect the Tigers to start the year strongly under Michael Maguire. Maguire’s disciplined, hard-nosed coaching style will suit the Tigers perfectly.

Upset: The Dogs will travel to New Zealand super confident they can upset the Warriors. The Warriors are disrupted in key positions, while for the Dogs, their pack of forwards are highly underrated, and with Kieran Foran back and healthy, Canterbury will really fancy themselves.

Coin toss: Extremely hard to split the Raiders and Titans. Both clubs enter the season confident they will exceed external expectations, both need to start the year strong.

Nick Walshaw's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Sharks

Roosters

Warriors

Tigers

Dragons

Panthers

Titans

No brainer: Penrith over Parramatta out west on Sunday.

Upset: Load up on TAB outsiders and famed fast starters St George Illawarra to beat North Queensland.

Coin toss: Difficult to split Wests Tigers and Manly. But given it's being played at the world's seventh wonder, Leichhardt Oval, we'll tip the Tiges.

Michael Carayannis's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Sharks

Roosters

Warriors

Tigers

Cowboys

Panthers

Titans

No brainer: Too early to declare any side a certainty but the Cowboys at home against the Dragons look the goods.

Upset: The Knights at home against a Cronulla side is arguably the toughest match of the opening round to pick.

Coin toss: The Tigers v Manly. Who knows what you're going to get from either side.

Paul Crawley's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Roosters

Tigers

Dragons

Panthers

Sharks

Warriors

Raiders

No brainer: Too tough to call in round 1.

Upset: Dragons over Cowboys.

Coin toss: Raiders v Titans.

Fatima Kdouh's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Knights

Roosters

Warriors

Tigers

Cowboys

Panthers

Raiders

No brainer: Tigers at Leichhardt Oval are a shoe-in against a severely under strength Sea Eagles side.

Upset: Titans go in as favourites but I reckon the Raiders will get them.

Coin toss: The battle of the west will go down to the wire.

Matt Logue's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Knights

Roosters

Bulldogs

Tigers

Cowboys

Panthers

Raiders

No brainer: Storm to beat the Broncos.

Upset: Rabbitohs over the Roosters.

Coin toss: Warriors and the Bulldogs could easily go either way.

Dean Ritchie's top tips: Score so far: 0

Broncos

Knights

Rabbitohs

Warriors

Tigers

Cowboys

Panthers

Raiders

No brainer: Warriors should prove too strong at home against Canterbury.

Upset: Newcastle will bounce out strongly and topple Cronulla.

Coin toss: All eight games!

James Phelps's top tips: Score so far: 0

Storm

Knights

Roosters

Bulldogs

Tigers

Cowboys

Panthers

Raiders

No brainer: The only team I didn't hesitate tipping was the Panthers. It's a tough round and one could end up being a good score.

Upset: Bulldogs to upset the Warriors in New Zealand if Kieran Foran fires.

Coin toss: I've gone Raiders to beat the Titans but this one is tough to split. Probably should have taken the home team!

Nick Campton's top tips: Score so far: 0

Broncos

Sharks

Roosters

Warriors

Tigers

Dragons

Panthers

Raiders

No brainer: Nothing comes easy in Round 1 but I do think the Tigers are good things at Leichhardt against Manly.

Upset: Cronulla can give the Knights a reality check to start the year but the home crowd will give Newcastle a boost.

Coin toss: The season opener is a very tough call. I'm going Brisbane because their spine is more established but Melbourne's record in their first game of the season is outstanding.