NRL Round 1 teams 2025: SuperCoach teams analysis, the cheapies to hire and fire

NRL team announcements for the remainder of round 1 are in and SuperCoaches finally know which cheapies to hire and fire. Analysis via TOM SANGSTER

NRL team announcements for the remainder of round 1 are here and SuperCoaches finally know which cheapies to hire and fire.

Check out our full Cheapie Bible here.

Plus Tom Sangster’s teams analysis below.

SHOCK WINNERS

Lachlan Hubner – Near bottom-dollar cheapie wins the starting lock spot of Cameron Murray (Achilles) and must be seriously considered.

Gehamet Shibasaki – Somewhat of a bolt from the blue, the NRL journeyman will play centre for the Broncos. Job security is also good given he’d seemingly locked in the spot even before the injury to Kotoni Staggs.

SHOCK LOSERS

Sione Finau – Scored four tries in the final trial and therefore surged in ownership. But that wasn’t enough to earn a starting wing role at the Dragons, with Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) returning from injury to nab the spot. Sell.

Dylan Brown – Mitchell Moses is out with a foot injury, which doesn’t suit Brown, who will now need to run the team. The New Zealand international’s output dropped considerably last year when Moses didn’t play. “Mitch is experiencing soreness from a previous injury, we’re taking a cautious approach to ensure his foot heals properly and he can play his best football for the team,” the Eels said. “We will continue to monitor Mitch’s recovery and make an assessment on a return date next week.” Meanwhile, Ronald Volkman has scored the halfback role and could be a sneaky POD cheapie when added to the game on Wednesday.

Lachlan Hubner will play lock for the Rabbitohs.

CHEAPIES TO LOCK IN

Isaiah Iongi, Robert Toia, Sandon Smith – The most popular cheapies in SuperCoach have been named and have good job security. We’ve been writing about them all pre-season so won’t bang on, just lock them in.

Jaxon Purdue – Named in the centres for the Cowboys in place of the departed Valentine Holmes (Dragons) and therefore a SuperCoach must, especially with main rival Zac Laybutt nowhere to be seen.

Tom Duffy – Wins the Cowboys’ starting halfback spot ahead of Jake Clifford. Will surge from 10th most popular player well into the top five.

Peter Mamouzelous – Starts at hooker for Souths and should play decent minutes, with his main rival for game time Jamie Humphreys named at halfback. Siliva Havili or Jayden Sullivan will likely spell Mamouzelous at some stage but SuperCoaches can safely lock in 50 minutes.

Naufahu Whyte – Named to start at prop for the Roosters in place of Spencer Leniu (suspended) and therefore a very popular option.

Kobe Hetherington – Named at lock for the Broncos with Patrick Carrigan shifting to prop in 2025. Has the work rate to make decent SuperCoach gains.

Isaiah Iongi is a cheapie to lock in. Picture: NRL Images

POPULAR CHEAPIES TO SELL

Jack Bird – Named on the bench for the Tigers so don’t go there.

Ethan Roberts – The Roosters young gun is at 18% ownership but has missed selection.

Charlie Guymer – Misses a starting edge back row spot for the Eels despite pre-season hype, instead named on the bench. Conversely, Kelma Tuilagi has won an edge role and is a mid-range POD.

Josh Schuster – Not named for the Rabbitohs and may not play this season.

Billy Smith – Still owned by many but not named for the Roosters due to a hip injury.

Tom Amone – Popular prop cheapie didn’t make the 17 for the Bulldogs.

Ben Te Kura – Another popular prop cheapie but it’s back to the drawing board after missing the 17 for the Broncos.

Loko Pasifika-Tonga – Yet another popular prop cheapie (are you sensing a theme here?) misses out for the Dragons.

NAMED BUT ARE THESE CHEAPIES WORTH IT?

Jamie Humphreys – Scores the halfback spot at the Rabbitohs. But job security isn’t great with Lewis Dodd due back from suspension next week, while Tom Duffy is almost impossible to ignore in the position. Watch closely but don’t buy.

Royce Hunt – Named on the bench for the Tigers and it’s hard to see him getting the minutes, despite huge popularity. But with most/all prop cheapies falling over on teams day, we may be forced to go there.

Jesse Arthars – Named on the wing for the Broncos but just isn’t a SuperCoach player. Has never averaged over 40 in his career despite playing close to 80 minutes every season.

Cory Paix – Wins the hooker spot at the Broncos but could be hard to fit in given Sandon Smith and Peter Mamouzelous are calling in the position.

Jack Gosiewski – Named to start on the edge for the Broncos but this looks trappy. He averages only 0.65 PPM over his career so would need to play significant minutes to see price movement. Brendan Piakura on the bench is a big worry.

Coen Hess – Sneaks in for a bench spot at the Cowboys but was only average in the trials and may struggle for minutes on return from an ACL injury.

ROUND ONE TEAMS

8PM THURSDAY MARCH 6 AT ALLIANZ STADIUM, SYDNEY

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. NLindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi Va’a

Reserves: 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Pat Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter 20. Martin Taupau 21. Ben Te Kura 22. Jaiyden Hunt

6PM FRIDAY MARCH 7 AT CAMPBELLTOWN SPORTS STADIUM, SYDNEY

Tigers

1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Adam Elliott

8PM FRIDAY MARCH 7 AT SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert

Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone

Reserves: 18. Kenneath Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O’Sullivan 21.Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blank 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata

5:30PM SATURDAY MARCH 8 AT NETSTRATA JUBILEE STADIUM, SYDNEY

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart

Reserves: 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama

7:35PM SATURDAY MARCH 8 AT 4 PINES PARK, SYDNEY

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolu Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21.Jake Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Tom Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Tom Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

4:05pm Sunday March 9 at AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Kane Bradley

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jake Tago 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Charlie Guymer

Reserves: 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Jordan Samrani 20. Toni Mataele 21. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Joey Lussick

Originally published as NRL Round 1 teams 2025: SuperCoach teams analysis, the cheapies to hire and fire