Spherical 1 squads introduced; Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire benches Billy Walters as Cory Paix wins hooking battle

Billy Walters was the Broncos‘ chief hooker throughout his dad’s reign as Brisbane coach however Michael Maguire has arrived and relegated him to the bench.

Cory Paix is ready for his first NRL recreation since spherical 27, 2023 after Maguire named the 25-year-old at No.9 for the Broncos’ season-opening match towards the Roosters, to be performed at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night time.

Kevin Walters was usually accused of favouring his son throughout his time as Brisbane’s coach, which ended when he was sacked on the finish of the Broncos’ disastrous 2024 marketing campaign.

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Paix has received a four-way hooking battle by beating Walters, Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy to Brisbane’s No.9 jersey.

Ben Hunt is predicted to shuffle to hooker as soon as suspended five-eighth Ezra Mam is accessible to return in spherical 10, however the off-contract Paix shall be doing every thing he can to impress within the No.9 jumper as he goals to attain a brand new deal.

Try beneath the opening-round squads of every membership.

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THURSDAY

Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, Allianz Stadium (8pm)

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Younger 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Roosters evaluation: Entrance-rower Spencer Leniu will miss the primary two rounds as a result of suspension, which has paved the best way for Naufahu Whyte to start out at prop. Sam Walker and Brandon Smith will each miss the primary half of the season as they recuperate from ACL accidents. Veteran halfback Chad Townsend will make his Roosters debut as centre Robert Toia and backrower Salesi Foketi play their first NRL video games.

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter 20. Martin Taupau 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Jaiyden Hunt

Broncos evaluation: Deine Mariner and Gehamat Shibasaki will play within the centres after Kotoni Staggs (quadriceps) was dominated out for a couple of month, with Shibasaki set to make his Broncos debut.

FRIDAY

Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights, Campbelltown Stadium (6pm)

Tigers

1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell Might 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Chook 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Package Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter

Tigers evaluation: Heath Mason will line up at fullback as Jahream Bula continues his shoulder rehabilitation. Adam Doueihi to play within the centres after Brent Naden suffered a long-term knee harm. Tristan Hope has been named within the No.14 jumper for his NRL debut, whereas making their Tigers debuts shall be skipper Jarome Luai in addition to Sunia Turuva, Jeral Skelton, Terrell Might, Royce Hunt and Jack Chook. Star hooker Apisai Koroisau is suspended.

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Greatest 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 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Adam Elliott

Knights evaluation: The Knights are nearly unchanged after their 48-10 thumping of the Roosters within the trials. Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger to get first crack within the halves.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Dolphins, CommBank Stadium (8pm)

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Grey 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 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata

Rabbitohs evaluation: Harm carnage struck South Sydney late within the pre-season when Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) and Cameron Murray (Achilles) went down. Younger gun Jye Grey will fill in for Mitchell at fullback as Lachlan Hubner takes Murray’s spot at lock. Jamie Humphreys to play at halfback as English import Lewis Dodd serves a suspension. Hubner, Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan to make their South Sydney debuts. Prop Tevita Tatola to play his first NRL match since spherical six of final season, having overcome a damaged foot.

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 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai

Dolphins evaluation: New Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert will play his first NRL recreation since spherical 12, 2023, slotting in at lock after an injury-ravaged 2024 marketing campaign. Junior Tupou to interchange winger Jack Bostock, who’s sidelined with a knee harm. Tupou, front-rower Daniel Saifiti and second-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to make their Dolphins debuts. Prop Tom Flegler stays sidelined with a neck/shoulder harm.

SATURDAY

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Kogarah Oval (5.30pm)

Dragons

1. Clint 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 dinner 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Dragons evaluation: Mathew Feagai and Christian Tuipulotu to play on the wings after successful a battle for these positions. Francis Molo continues to be sidelined amid his messy contract dispute. Making their membership debuts shall be Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook dinner, Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias and Emre Guler, whereas Hamish Stewart will make his NRL debut off the bench.

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 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama

Bulldogs evaluation: Blake Wilson has been named on a wing because the substitute for Jacob Kiraz, who’s coping with a again harm. New Bulldogs recruit Sitili Tupouniua to be injected off the bench after overcoming an undisclosed harm. Ahead Josh Curran is suspended.

Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys, Brookvale Oval (7.35pm)

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai

Sea Eagles evaluation: Winger Tommy Talau is sidelined with a hamstring harm, which has opened the door for Lehi Hopoate to get a begin. Jazz Tevaga to play at hooker on his Manly debut as Lachlan Croker recovers from a knee harm. Entrance-rower Siua Taukei’aho can also be set for his Sea Eagles debut, and his first NRL look since 2022, after getting back from the Tremendous League.

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

Cowboys evaluation: Townsville junior Tom Duffy to play at halfback on his NRL debut, linking with Tom Dearden within the halves. Heilum Luki suffered an ACL rupture in December, however gun recruit John Bateman will change him within the second row on his North Queensland debut. Karl Lawton will even make his Cowboys debut, coming off the bench. Coen Hess to play his first NRL recreation since 2023 after overcoming an ACL rupture.

SUNDAY

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels, AAMI Park (4.05pm)

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 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Kane Bradley

Storm evaluation: Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is ready to play after scuffling with a knee harm in the course of the pre-season, as is winger Xavier Coates after his battle with an ankle situation. Stefano Utoikamanu to start out within the entrance row as he makes his Storm debut. Large prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is suspended.

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 Arms 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Jordan Samrani 20. Toni Mataele 21. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Joey Lussick

Eels evaluation: Parramatta has suffered a serious blow with captain and celebrity halfback Mitchell Moses being dominated out indefinitely with a foot harm. Making issues worse for brand new Eels coach Jason Ryles is Moses’ back-up, Dean Hawkins, can also be unavailable as a result of a leg harm. That is resulted in train-and-trial playmaker Ronald Volkman being known as as much as play at halfback alongside five-eighth Dylan Brown. Low season recruits Isaiah Iongi, Zac Lomax, Jack Williams and Volkman to make their Parramatta debuts.