NRL round 1 teams 2025: SuperCoach teams analysis, Isaiah Papali’i among big guns left out
It’s back to the drawing board for NRL SuperCoaches with a number of top buys copping blows in the round one teams. Full lowdown by TOM SANGSTER
It’s back to the drawing board for SuperCoaches with a number of top buys copping blows in the round one teams.
Here’s a brief summary, plus read on for full teams analysis below.
THE BAD
– Isaiah Papali’i has been benched by the Panthers and is therefore a SuperCoach no-go.
– Brian To’o will miss round one due to a hamstring injury but is hopeful for round two.
– Even with the injury to To’o, popular cheapie Jesse McLean has missed the 17 with Luke Garner preferred in the backline.
– Popular cheapie Jacob Laban has missed the Warriors squad altogether
– Blaize Talagi has missed out on the Penrith five-eighth spot following a disrupted pre-season due to shoulder surgery.
THE GOOD
– Corey Horsburgh starts at prop for the Raiders and is a must-have.
– Zac Hosking starts in the back row for Ricky Stuart’s side and is arguably POD of the year at just two per cent ownership.
BRONCOS COP ROUND ONE BLOW
The Broncos have suffered a major blow with strike centre Kotoni Staggs to miss the season opener against the Sydney Roosters – and possibly up to a month of the 2025 premiership.
The injury curse that cruelled Brisbane’s 2024 season has reared its head again, with Jock Madden (hamstring) also sidelined, while Payne Haas (ankle) and Jack Gosiewski (concussion) are racing the clock for round 1.
Scans revealed Staggs will miss four to six weeks on the sidelines after injuring his quadriceps in Brisbane’s final pre-season trial against the Bulldogs last Saturday night.
In a double whammy for the Broncos, back-up playmaker Madden has also been ruled out of the premiership opener after straining his hamstring in Brisbane’s NRL Pre-Season Challenge title win.
Staggs lasted just 13 minutes of Brisbane’s 30-14 win and despite hobbling off Kayo Stadium, Broncos medicos were initially confident the NSW Origin ace would be fit for their round 1 clash against the Roosters on Thursday week.
But the damage was worse than first feared, with Staggs in danger of missing the first four rounds in a crushing setback to Brisbane’s hopes of a flying premiership start under new coach Michael Maguire.
Staggs is Brisbane’s premier outside back and his absence puts pressure on Brisbane’s three-quarter stocks, with journeyman Gehamat Shibasaki and Deine Mariner shaping as a centre combination for the Roosters blockbuster at Allianz Stadium.
Madden has suffered a low-grade hamstring tear.
While Maguire celebrated a flawless 3-0 pre-season, the Broncos coach lamented a costly Bulldogs win, with Haas and Gosiewski also casualties at Kayo Stadium.
Haas came off in the 18th minute limping on his recently-operated left ankle, although the Broncos remain hopeful the damage is not serious and expect their No.1 prop to be on deck against the Roosters.
Cowboys reject Gosiewski suffered a head knock against the Bulldogs and his hopes of a stunning resurrection to win a starting Broncos back-row berth will hinge on being cleared under the NRL’s concussion protocols.
NRL ROUND ONE TEAMS ANALYSIS
RAIDERS V WARRIORS
Sunday March 2 at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies
Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota
Reserves: 18. Danny Levi 19. Trey Mooney 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Chevy Stewart 22. Jed Stuart
SuperCoach analysis
- A SuperCoach gift from the gods on Vegas TLT with popular cheapie/mid Corey Horsburgh named to START! He’s already in 43 per cent of teams and that will rise.
- Owen Pattie will debut for the Raiders and is no doubt a great talent. His running/attacking style definitely suits SuperCoach, but will he get the minutes to be relevant? The short answer is no. Especially given hooker is, for once, a red-hot position with the likes of Sandon Smith, Peter Mamouzelous, Cory Paix and Phoenix Crossland.
- Young forward Myles Martin was one of the buzz buys of the pre-season at 22 per cent ownership but he has missed the squad. Sell.
- Savelio Tamale has been named on the wing but likely only gets one game before Albert Hopoate (birth of child) returns next round. Risky buy. I’ll likely avoid.
- While I talk up Ali Leiataua as POD of the year below, Zac Hosking isn’t far behind after winning a starting back row role.
- Popular SuperCoach buy Matty Nicholson has missed the squad entirely. Sell.
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima
Reserves: 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Eddie Ieremia 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
SuperCoach analysis
- Luke Metcalf is a must after a strong pre-season. He will run the team, kick goals and starts around $130,000 underpriced due to an injury-affected game.
- Top cheapie Demitric Vaimauga has scored a bench spot so lock him into your teams. He’s a point per minute beast and has talent to burn, so the bench spot isn’t a worry in this case, although it will likely be a slow burn.
- Popular SuperCoach cheapie Jacob Laban has missed the squad despite a strong showing in the All Stars. Sell.
- After playing mostly centre last year, Roger Tuivasa-Scheck has been named on the wing, which suits him for SuperCoach. More runs, more tackle busts and more tries. He’s going to be tough to leave out.
- Ali Leiataua wins a starting centre spot after a great pre-season and is the potential POD of year at just two per cent. The $513,900 starting price is turning many off, but a quick look at his 2024 and trials highlights will change your mind.
PANTHERS V SHARKS
Sunday March 2 at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luron Patea
Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Jesse McLean 21. Luke Sommerton 23. Blaize Talagi
SuperCoach analysis
- Huge blow for 19 per cent of SuperCoaches with Isaiah Papali’i named on the bench and Scott Sorensen to start. Sell.
- Is Nathan Cleary a SuperCoach must? He’s coming back from shoulder surgery but his easy schedule to start the year may be too hard to ignore.
- Brian To’o is out with a hamstring injury that has plagued his pre-season. Hopefully he’s available at a discount later on.
- There was hope popular cheapie Jesse McLean would replace To’o for round one but Luke Garner has been named in the backline.
- However, Jesse’s brother Casey has won Sunia Turuva’s vacated wing spot and is therefore a very solid mid-ranger in such a good attacking side.
- Star recruit Blaize Talagi missed out on the five-eighth spot as he eases back from off-season shoulder surgery. Jack Cole wins the role.
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton
Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru
SuperCoach analysis
- Nicho Hynes is only at 19 per cent ownership after a poor year by his standards, mainly due to injury. That’s POD ownership for a guy who has been arguably the best player in SuperCoach over the last four seasons.
- Is Addin Fonua-Blake worth the big bucks? He’s on the record saying he will play less minutes in 2025 so he’s a risky purchase to start, especially with pressing buys in the backline.
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