Round 1 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Bankwest Stadium, Thursday 12 March 2020
Kick Off 7:05pm

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown

14. Brad Takairangi 15. Marata Niukore 16. Kane Evans 17. Peni Terepo

18. Will Smith 19. Ray Stone 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. George Jennings

CANTEBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Will Hopoate 5. Christian Crichton 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Joe Stimson 13. Adam Elliott

14. Dean Britt 15. Renouf To'omaga 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Kerrod Holland

19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Jake Averillo 21. Sione Katoa 22. Jack Cogger

Canberra Raiders vs. Gold Coast Titans
GIO Stadium, Friday 13 March 2020
Kick Off 5:00pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Corey Horsburgh 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joe Tapine

14. Siliva Havili 15. Emre Guler 16. Sia Soliola 17. Michael Oldfield

18. Jack Murchie 19. Sam Williams 20. Semi Valemei 21. Tom Starling

GOLD COAST TITANS

1. Phillip Sami 2. Anthony Don 3. Kallum Watkins 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Dale Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Sam Lisone 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai Arrow

14. Nathan Peats 15. Jai Whitbread 16. Brian Kelly 17. Jaimin Jolliffe

18. Sam Stone 19. Jonus Pearson 20. Moeaki Fotuaika 21. AJ Brimson

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Brisbane Broncos
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Friday 13 March 2020
Kick Off 7:05pm

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Valentine Holmes 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neil 4. Esan Marsters 5. Ben Hampton 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Michael Morgan 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Reece Robson 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Shane Wright 17. Francis Molo

18. Corey Jensen 19. Connelly Leumelu 20. Tom Opacic 21. Jake Clifford

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Jack Bird 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Darius Boyd 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. David Fifita 12. Tevita Pangai Jr 13. Patrick Carrigan (c)

14. Jamayne Isaako 15. Andrew McCullough 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Jamil Hopoate

18. Xavier Coates 19. Herbie Farnworth 20. Tom Dearden 21. Ethan Bullemor

Newcastle Knights vs. Warriors
McDonald Jones Stadium, Saturday 14 March 2020
Kick Off 2:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitch Barnett 13. Herman Ese'ese

14. Connor Watson 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Tim Glasby 17. Aidan Guerra

18. Pasami Saulo 19. Starford To'a 20. Mason Lino 21. Brodie Jones

NZ WARRIORS

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Patrick Herbert 3. Peta Hiku 4. David Fusitu'a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Blake Green 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Wayde Egan 10. Lachlan Burr 11. Adam Blair 12. Tohu Harris 13. Isaiah Papalii

14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Karl Lawton

18. King Vuniyayawa 20. Hayze Perham 21. Leivaha Pulu 22. Taane Milne

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Cronulla Sharks
ANZ Stadium, Saturday 14 March 2020
Kick Off 4:30pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Dane Gagai 3. James Roberts 4. Braidon Burns 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Cameron Murray 13. Liam Knight

14. Mark Nicholls 15. Ethan Lowe 16. Hame Sele 17. Alex Johnston

18. Bryson Goodwin 19. Bayley Sironen 20. Troy Dargan 21. Keaon Koloamatangi

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Morris 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Wade Graham 12. Briton Nikora 13. Jack Williams

14. Connor Tracey 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Scott Sorensen

18. Billy Magoulias 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Royce Hunt 21. Jackson Ferris

Penrith Panthers vs. Sydney Roosters
Panthers Stadium, Saturday 14 March 2020
Kick Off 6:30pm

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Caleb Aekins 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Api Koroisau 10. Zane Tetevano 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

14. Stephen Crichton 15. James Fisher-Harris 16. Moses Leota 17. Jack Hetherington

18. Billy Burns 19. Matt Burton 20. Jed Cartwright 21. Kaide Ellis

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Angus Crichton 4. Joseph Manu 5. Ryan Hall 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Warea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley

14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Lindsay Collins

18. Matt Ikuvalu 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. Lachlan Lam 21. Asu Kepaoa

Manly Sea Eagles vs. Melbourne Storm
Lottoland, Sunday 15 March 2020
Kick Off 3:05pm

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Dylan Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Lachlan Croker 15. Sean Keppie 16. Morgan Boyle 17. Haumole Olakau'atu

18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Tevita Funa 21. Zac Saddler

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tui Kamikamica 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane

14. Harry Grant 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 16. Max King 17. Tom Eisenhuth

18. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 19. Brenko Lee 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Darryn Schonig

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Wests Tigers
WIN Stadium, 15 March 2020
Kick Off 5:15pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Zac Lomax 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Brayden Williame 4. Tim Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Issac Luke 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Blake Lawrie

14. Trent Merrin 15. Tyrell Fuimaono 16. Billy Brittain 17. Jacob Host

18. Jackson Ford 19. Adam Clune 20. Euan Aitken 21. Josh Kerr

WESTS TIGERS

1. Corey Thompson 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Robert Jennings
6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Billy Walters 10. Alex Twal 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Elijah Taylor

14. Thomas Mikaele 15. Josh Reynolds 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Chris Lawrence

18. Michael Chee-Kam 19. Oliver Clark 20. Matthew Eisenhuth 21. Paul Momirovski

 

[Big Pete]

Merry Team List Tuesday everyone! I hope Seibold was kind to you all and gave you all the selections you wanted.

Reading through a lot of predicted line-ups, I don't expect there to be too many surprises. I've got my fingers crossed for a few changes but right now the most daring selection news we've heard is 28 year former Melbourne and Manly reserve grade centre Braden Williame coming in for Aitken. Mary is such a bore, apparently his other bold move is switching Frizell and Sims to different edges.

I'll marathon every game, but outside of the obvious Sea Eagles/Storm game which 90% of the time deliver, I'm going to be glued to the couch for all three Saturday games. The Warriors will be in dire straights if RTS is ruled out and I'm keen to see what a real coach will do for the Knights. I've been harsh on Brown, but it was clear he was nothing more than a caretaker to take the blame as the Knights rebuilt, he was never going to be the coach to take them to the next level. I'm curious to see how the players will respond to O'Brien, particularly the two young Queensland centres. Tuala in particular sounds like he's really been impressive. I'd keep an eye on him, Green has a knack of letting good up and comers walk out on the team (B. Smith, Viliame, Horsburgh, Hamlin-Uele etc.).

I'm keen to see how South Sydney start the competition. On paper they have a premiership winning roster, but we've got to see that in practice and see how Bennett handles what appears to be an inbalance in the squad. They've moved on Doueihi but they could afford to move on another back and bolster their forward pack with a physically mature player. It's a shame they couldn't find their own version of O'Donnell because that would be the final piece of the puzzle. I'm curious to see how they handle life without Sam Burgess and if somebody can step up alongside Cameron Murray. I know they've got Tom Burgess, but Cam is the only player I consider World Class. This is will be a good test to start the season, they should win, but the Sharks have a few forwards who can just win it for their team. In fact that's what happened last time when Wade Graham, in one of his rare 2019 appearances, just ripped up.

Similarly, I'm curious to see how Sydney will go. At their best, nobody could go with them, but they could never maintain that standard and they had some really dicey moments through out their back to back title campaigns. Now they're without Latrell, Cronk and with their depth in the shape that it is, a couple of changes could really knock them down a peg or three. They'll still have games where they'll simply outclass their opposition and win easy, but I'm wary of them at this stage.

Penrith should shape up as a good challenge as well. For the past however many years, they've been trying to find the identity of the side. Every senior player has let them down and that class of 2013 didn't pan out either. I'm talking about guys like DWZ, Waqa, the Jet, Bryce, RCG etc. the pick of the lot and they just never delivered for Penrith. I think now that they've cut bait, they'll be closer to an Ivan Cleary side, which means they'll be more gritty in defence and will do enough with the football to make it a contest. This is a style that the Roosters don't like and now that they're missing some key personnel, they'll actually have to play well if they want to win.

 

[Harry Sack]

Really rate Manly this year unfortunately.

 

[broncos4life]

Really rate Manly this year unfortunately.

Until they get 2 injuries...

 

[PNG Broncos fan88]

Cheers @Big Pete
Really hoping the bottom 8 teams from last year step up and show a bit of fight against the usual suspects.

Won't miss the upcoming 640mins minutes of football in round 1, bring it on.

 

[Waynesaurus]

Really rate Manly this year unfortunately.

Des will get them in the top eight especially if they are as gritty as they were last year.

 

[Clintos]

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 PATRICK HERBERT
3 DAVID FUSITU’A
4 PETA HIKU
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
7 BLAKE GREEN
8 LEESON AH MAU
9 WAYDE EGAN
10 LACHLAN BURR
11 ADAM BLAIR
12 TOHU HARRIS
13 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
Interchange:
14 KODI NIKORIMA
15 JAMAYNE TAUNOA-BROWN
16 ELIESA KATOA
17 KARL LAWTON

18 KING VUNIYAYAWA
20 HAYZE PERHAM
21 LEIVAHA PULU
22 TAANE MILNE

Let's name a centre on the wing and a winger in the centers and then put 3 hookers in the team!

 

[Sproj]

But funnily enough, Kodi I'm-a-halfback Nikorima back into the old 14 hey.

 

[Porthoz]

But funnily enough, Kodi I'm-a-halfback Nikorima back into the old 14 hey.

Beat me to it...

 

[Foordy]

But funnily enough, Kodi I'm-a-halfback Nikorima back into the old 14 hey.

good to see, leaving us to avoid being an bench impact player is working out for him

Beat me to it...

and me, lol

 

[Sproj]

Goodness, how much does Wade Graham sound like Siebs...sort of looks a bit like him too just quietly.

 

[Sproj]

And Lockyer and Proctor Haha

Proctor should make prank calls.

 

[Big Pete]

Both Okunbor and Harawira-Naera have been stood down for disciplinary reasons and the NRL are conducting an investigation.

The blows just keep on coming for Canterbury.

 

[mrslong]

Mary naming Brayden Williame in the centres makes me Lol. Dragons fans heads will explode.
They still might have Aitken, remember when he was almost named for the Blues.

 

[mrslong]

Both Okunbor and Harawira-Naera have been stood down for disciplinary reasons and the NRL are conducting an investigation.

The blows just keep on coming for Canterbury.

Betting on the nines. lol.

 

[Waynesaurus]

I can't believe the Cowgirls went with O'Neil over Opacic.

 

[Big Pete]

Both Okunbor and Harawira-Naera have been stood down for disciplinary reasons and the NRL are conducting an investigation.

The blows just keep on coming for Canterbury.

 

[broncos4life]

Jesus Christ. With all the women that would throw themselves at these guys surely they can stay away from school girls FFS.