NRL 2024 Round 1 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Manly Sea Eagles vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Allegiant Stadium, Sunday 3 March 2024
Kick Off: 12:30pm (AEST)

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

18. Jakob Arthur 19. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 20. Aaron Woods 21. Tommy Talau 22. Brad Parker

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray

14. Siliva Havili 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess

18. Tallis Duncan 19. Michael Chee Kam 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Peter Mamouzelos 24. Dean Hawkins

Sydney Roosters vs. Brisbane Broncos
Allegiant Stadium, Sunday 3 March 2024
Kick Off: 2:30pm (AEST)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

14. Sandon Smith 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May

18. Fetalaiga Pauga 19. Angus Crichton 20. Egan Butcher 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Connor Watson

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Xavier Willison

18. Corey Oates 19. Jock Madden 20. Tristan Sailor 21. Martin Taupau 22. Jaiyden Hunt

Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders
McDonald Jones Stadium, Thursday 7 March 2024
Kick Off: 7:00pm (AEST)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott

14. Jack Cogger 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Kai Pearce-Paul

18. Jed Cartwright 19. Thomas Jenkins 20. Will Pryce 21. Brodie Jones 22. Thomas Cant

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Ata Mariota 17. Pasami Saulo

18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Zac Woolford 21. James Schiller 22. Trey Mooney

Warriors vs. Cronulla Sharks
Go Media Stadium, Friday 8 March 2024
Kick Off: 5:00pm (AEST)

NZ WARRIORS

1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris

14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Dylan Walker

18. Adam Pompey 20. Jazz Tevaga 21. Te Maire Martin 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Jacob Laban

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

14. Dale Finucane 15. Jack Williams 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton

18. Kayal Iro 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Daniel Atkinson 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Jayden Berrell

Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers
AAMI Park, Friday 8 March 2024
Kick Off: 7:05pm (AEST)

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald

18. Shawn Blore 19. Kane Bradley 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Marion Seve 22. Sualauvi Faalogo

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth

18. Daine Laurie 19. Soni Luke 20. Brad Schneider 21. Preston Riki 22. Mavrik Geyer

Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
CommBank Stadium, Saturday 9 March 2024
Kick Off: 4:30pm (AEST)

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J'maine Hopgood

14. Brendan Hands 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi

18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Daejarn Asi 20. Luca Moretti 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Blaize Talagi

CANTEBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Poasa Faamausili 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

14. Kurt Mann 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin

19. Bronson Xerri 20. Toby Sexton 21. Jake Turpin 22. Connor Tracey 23. Kitione Kautoga

Gold Coast Titans vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 9 March 2024
Kick Off: 6:35pm (AEST)

GOLD COAST TITANS

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Keenan Palasia

14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Jaimin Jolliffe

18. Joe Stimson 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Jacob Alick 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Josiah Pahulu

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack de Belin

14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Viliami Fifita 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Christian Tuipulotu 20. Jesse Marschke 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Mathew Feagai

Dolphins vs. North Queensland Cowboys
Suncorp Stadium, Sunday 10 March 2024
Kick Off: 3:05pm (AEST)

THE DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O'Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone

14. Josh Kerr 15. Max Plath 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Mark Nicholls

18. Jarrod Wallace 19. Jake Averillo 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Euan Aitken 22. Isaiya Katoa

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

18. Tomas Chester 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jake Clifford

 

[Big Pete]

Teams are in for Las Vegas.

The biggest question is how of an impact the change of scenery is going to have on the quality of the game. My expectation is there's going to be one team that never gets off the plane and we'll see a high scoring game, I'll be shocked if we see a 2 tries to 1 type of game out there.

I'm curious to see if Luke Brooks can finally break the curse and play finals footy. The Sea Eagles struggled to find a partner for Cherry-Evans last year and if Brooks can simplify his game and play like Kieran Foran, he'd be the best signing in the competition.

Souths are going to have to turn it into an arm-wrestle if they're to win. Their backrow in particular are going to have to bring their A-game and give the spine all the chances they need to weave their magic.

Sydney were my pick to challenge Penrith last year, but they never got going. Injuries and off-field dramas got the better of them and yet they still made the finals. This year they appear to be in better condition and with lower expectations, I think they will thrive and give this competition one last serious crack.

They do come up against a quality opposition in the Brisbane Broncos, but it's probably the best time to face them as they'll need to work out combinations and get some of their younger players settled into the team. As long as the Roosters don't do anything stupid, I'd expect them to really challenge the Broncos around the edges.

 

[Sproj]

Teams are in for Las Vegas.

The biggest question is how of an impact the change of scenery is going to have on the quality of the game. My expectation is there's going to be one team that never gets off the plane and we'll see a high scoring game, I'll be shocked if we see a 2 tries to 1 type of game out there.

I'm curious to see if Luke Brooks can finally break the curse and play finals footy. The Sea Eagles struggled to find a partner for Cherry-Evans last year and if Brooks can simplify his game and play like Kieran Foran, he'd be the best signing in the competition.

Souths are going to have to turn it into an arm-wrestle if they're to win. Their backrow in particular are going to have to bring their A-game and give the spine all the chances they need to weave their magic.

Sydney were my pick to challenge Penrith last year, but they never got going. Injuries and off-field dramas got the better of them and yet they still made the finals. This year they appear to be in better condition and with lower expectations, I think they will thrive and give this competition one last serious crack.

They do come up against a quality opposition in the Brisbane Broncos, but it's probably the best time to face them as they'll need to work out combinations and get some of their younger players settled into the team. As long as the Roosters don't do anything stupid, I'd expect them to really challenge the Broncos around the edges.

I'm really interested in seeing how the Sea Eagles go this year. On paper, talent wise they look so good but they have three handbrakes that are glaring:
- Seibold
- Brooks (who I think is PERFECT for DCE too)
- Shushter

Add to that the fact they will inevitably lose TTurbo for the year, I can see all the hype disappearing very quickly and the season going pear shaped and knives coming out for Seibold.

 

[JayPee]

I really dont get the love for the roosters this year. I have tried to see it but I wouldnt surprised if they missed the 8. Alot of their players have got to have a massive bounce back year and they just might be over the hill

 

[Big Pete]

I really dont get the love for the roosters this year. I have tried to see it but I wouldnt surprised if they missed the 8. Alot of their players have got to have a massive bounce back year and they just might be over the hill

Despite having a horrific year, they still managed to pick up a finals win and were within moments of beating Melbourne. Their backline that night was made up of:

2. Pauga 3. Momirovski 4. Allan 5. Paulo

With everybody settled and healthy, you'd have to expect them to equal what they did last year, if not improve upon it.

 

[Sproj]

Despite having a horrific year, they still managed to pick up a finals win and were within moments of beating Melbourne. Their backline that night was made up of:

2. Pauga 3. Momirovski 4. Allan 5. Paulo

With everybody settled and healthy, you'd have to expect them to equal what they did last year, if not improve upon it.

They’ll be up there but there are some concerns. Suaalii looks like he checked out 8 months ago. JWH is well past his best and Tedesco is turning into Boyd 2.0. They tried to get rid of Crichton and Keary is one head knock from retirement.

 

[Big Pete]

They’ll be up there but there are some concerns. Suaalii looks like he checked out 8 months ago. JWH is well past his best and Tedesco is turning into Boyd 2.0. They tried to get rid of Crichton and Keary is one head knock from retirement.

I'm not handing them the premiership right away, but there's still plenty of talent there for them to challenge.

You're right about Suaalii, but with the deal set in stone, he's had enough time to focus on the Roosters and develop his game. It always takes time to transition from wing to centre and I think he lacked confidence. If anything I think fans are sleeping on him, and if he finds his best, watch out.

I don't think they need Angus, Tupouniua is a big inclusion, they've missed him big time and he'll allow them to find their rhythm. Wong similarly was also impressive in the back-end and it could allow the Roosters to go back to that 2018-19 style that worked so well for them then.

Tedesco is the one that concerns me and while he can still provide a role at the back, he's obviously got to adjust his game since he's last that step or two in pace. I still think he can easily be a Dylan Edwards clone, especially if Origin is off the cards and that might be all they need.

 

[Xzei]

I really dont get the love for the roosters this year. I have tried to see it but I wouldnt surprised if they missed the 8. Alot of their players have got to have a massive bounce back year and they just might be over the hill

think tedesco and smith are the key if they are bog average again they will be lucky to be a .500 side

 

[BroncsFan]

I'm not handing them the premiership right away, but there's still plenty of talent there for them to challenge.

You're right about Suaalii, but with the deal set in stone, he's had enough time to focus on the Roosters and develop his game. It always takes time to transition from wing to centre and I think he lacked confidence. If anything I think fans are sleeping on him, and if he finds his best, watch out.

I don't think they need Angus, Tupouniua is a big inclusion, they've missed him big time and he'll allow them to find their rhythm. Wong similarly was also impressive in the back-end and it could allow the Roosters to go back to that 2018-19 style that worked so well for them then.

Tedesco is the one that concerns me and while he can still provide a role at the back, he's obviously got to adjust his game since he's last that step or two in pace. I still think he can easily be a Dylan Edwards clone, especially if Origin is off the cards and that might be all they need.

The team selected for the rorters looks pretty similar to last year and seems like Robbo is planning to play a similar style if not double down on it.

BSmith is most dangerous running and close to the line, so I suspect Robbo still wants those quick ptbs and targetting through the middle behind the ruck... that's where Teddy used to carve teams apart, and in that sense I'm surprised Watson hasn't been selected in the 17... I expect him to be a late in.

They've got Leniu starting hoping he can get early ptb's and create a roll on for Bsmith, but that seems a risk to me... he'll be up against Haas and Patty... IF broncos can control the ball and get into a groove those two just eat up meters and Leniu could be spending his time on the field defending and burning up energy. Would not be surprised to see him dropped back to the bench, but not sure who could actually come into the starting side. May is a serious talent, but found a home bringing impact from the bench, is he going to have the same issue as Leniu up against Patty and Haas?

Whyte seems like he doesn't get trusted enough from Robbo to start and play some decent minutes. Maybe they go Butcher, but he might be a bit undersized to be dealing with Haas and Patty... but he might be the most likely to start and then maybe shift to the edge, but I'm not sure how they'll work those second rowers.

Victor playing 13 is the stock standard that rorters have played for some years now... and would expect them to spread it wide off him out to Keary or Walker on the back of quick ptbs to get it to the edges. It may have been falling down over the last couple years, because that ownership of the middle between Victor, Walker and Keary seems a little uncertain. If Victor is there and is ball playing then I'm assuming Walker and Keary are operating either side of the field and then they're relying on Teddy to play both sides and finish backline movements.

Is that the best approach for them?? possibly not based on the last few years. Teddy has been a bit of a handbrake and utilising Walker to dig into the line and dump out the back to Teddy potentially isn't the best use of him. Keary does it and does it well, but I think Robbo wants to move on from him, but he just can't seem to get the balance right.

If all else fails they do have their two giants on either wing as easy targets for the cross field kicks.... and that is something we struggle to deal with, because our centres are not the best at blocking the opposition kick chasers.

 

[Sproj]

I expect to win and win well.

 

[BroncsFan]

I expect to win and win well.

If we complete our sets and hold the ball we will smash them

 

[JayPee]

So is this vegas field actually smaller in diameter or what?

 

[Sproj]

If we complete our sets and hold the ball

This cost us the GF ultimately, so I’m looking for improvement here. I don’t want them to lose the flair that makes this version of the Broncs so exciting but it needs to be more controlled against the better teams.

 

[BroncsFan]

This cost us the GF ultimately, so I’m looking for improvement here. I don’t want them to lose the flair that makes this version of the Broncs so exciting but it needs to be more controlled against the better teams.

Yep definitely ... that's the next step for this team, being ruthless and knowing when they've got the opposition on the ropes and time to put the foot down.

With Payne we make a lot of meters and often in a great spot to kick... we've then got Reynolds finishing off sets and wedging teams in the corner.

If they complete sets that cycle repeated over and over will destroy teams.

It's about being patient and wearing the opposition down and then pulling the trigger when they're stuffed... and we can pull the trigger from anywhere at any time.

Too many times last year we just weren't patient.

 

[Foordy]

So is this vegas field actually smaller in diameter or what?

yes. it's about 4m shorter and 5m narrower

 

[JayPee]

yes. it's about 4m shorter and 5m narrower

Going to be extremely hard to score tries on the goal line then. That is wild.

 

[Super Freak]

Going to be extremely hard to score tries on the goal line then. That is wild.

Very little difference between the Vegas field and the fields in England. I don't think there's going to be any dramas.

 

[Waynesaurus]

yes. it's about 4m shorter and 5m narrower

Its going to have a negative impact on the quality of the game IMO, our speed men will have much less space to work in, tighter gaps in the defensive line and shallow in goals.