Round 1 Teams

[Big Pete]

Get them while they're hot!

Knights: 1. Darius Boyd 2. James McManus 3. Wes Naiqama 4. Timana Tahu 5. Akuila Uate 6. Kurt Gidley 7. Jarrod Mullen 8. Kade Snowden 9. Danny Buderus 10. Adam Cuthbertson 11. Chris Houston 12. Zeb Taia 13. Neville Costigan
Bench: 14. Matt Hilder 15. Richie Fa'aoso 16. Joel Edwards 17. Alex McKinnon

Dragons: 1. Kyle Stanley 2. Brett Morris 3. Beau Scott 4. Matt Cooper 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Jamie Soward 7. Ben Hornby (c) 8. Jeremy Latimore 9. Mitch Rein 10. Michael Weyman 11. Matt Prior 12. Ben Creagh 13. Dean Young
Interchange: 14. Nathan Fien 15. Leeson Ah Mau 16. Trent Merrin 17. Jack De Belin

Eels: 1. Luke Burt 2. Ken Sio 3. Esi Tonga 4. Ryan Morgan 5. Cheyse Blair 6. Ben Roberts 7. Chris Sandow 8. Tim Mannah 9. Matt Keating 10. Mitchell Allgood 11. Nathan Hindmarsh 12. Taniela Lasalo 13. Justin Horo
Interchange: 14. Casey McGuire 15. Fuifui Moimoi 16. Justin Poore 17. Reni Maitua 19. Taulima Tautai

Brisbane: Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday (capt), Alex Glenn, Ben Te'o, Corey Parker.
Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Scott Anderson.

Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Blake Ferguson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Shaun Berrigan 5. Reece Robinson 6. Terry Campese (c) 7. Josh McCrone 8. David Shillington 9. Travis Waddell 10. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 11. Josh Papalii 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Shaun Fensom
Interchange (from): 14. Glen Buttriss 15. Joel Thompson 16. Dane Tiles 17. Brett White 18. Trevor Thurling

Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Matt Duffie 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Justin O'Neill 5. Anthony Quinn 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Bryan Norrie 11. Sika Manu 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Todd Lowrie
Interchange (from): 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Kevin Proctor 16. Siosaia Vave 17. Michael Greenfield 18. Sisa Waqa 19. Rory Kostjasyn

Panthers: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. David Simmons 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Tighe 5. Michael Gordon 6. Travis Burns 7. Luke Walsh 8. Sam McKendry 9. Kevin Kingston 10. Tim Grant 11. Luke Lewis (c) 12. Cameron Ciraldo 13. Nathan Smith
Interchange: 14. Dayne Weston 15. Chris Armit 16. Nafe Seluini 17. Clint Newton 18. Blake Austin 20. Danny Galea

Bulldogs: 1. Ben Barba 2. Steve Turner 3. Josh Morris 4. Jonathan Wright 5. Bryson Goodwin 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Ennis (c) 10. Sam Kasiano 11. Frank Pritchard 12. Dene Halatau 13. David Stagg
Interchange (from): 14. James Graham 15. Greg Eastwood 16. Corey Payne 17. Joel Romelo 19. Kris Keating 20. Martin Taupau

Cowboys: 1. Matthew Bowen 2. Ashley Graham 3. Brent Tate 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Johnathan Thurston (c) 7. Ray Thompson 8. Matthew Scott (c) 9. Aaron Payne 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Glenn Hall 13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange: 14. James Segeyaro 15. Scott Bolton 16. Jason Taumalolo 17. Ashton Sims

TITANS: William Zillman, Steve Michaels, Jamal Idris, Dominique Peyroux, David Mead, Jordan Rankin, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Kayne Lawton, Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange (from): Luke Douglas, Matt White, Ben Ridge, Matt Srama, Luke O'Dwyer

Warriors: 1. Kevin Locke 2. Bill Tupou 3. Konrad Hurrell 4. Jerome Ropati 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. James Maloney 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Russell Packer 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ben Matulino 11. Feleti Mateo 12. Simon Mannering (c) 13. Elijah Taylor
Bench (from): 14. Lewis Brown 15. Sione Lousi 16. Ben Henry 17. Ukuma Ta'ai 18. Glen Fisiiahi 19. Krisnan Inu 20. Alehana Mara.

Manly: 1. Brett Stewart 2. Michael Oldfield 3. Jamie Lyon (c) 4. Steve Matai 5. David Williams 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Jason King (c) 9. Matt Ballin 10. Brent Kite 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Tony Williams 13. Glenn Stewart
Interchange (from): 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Vic Mauro 16. Darcy Lussick 17. George Rose 18. Jorge Taufua

Sharks:1. Nathan Gardner 2. Stewart Mills 3. Ben Pomeroy 4. Colin Best 5. Matthew Wright 6. Wade Graham 7. Todd Carney 8. Bryce Gibbs 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Ben Ross 11. Jeremy Smith 12. Anthony Tupou 13. Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange (from): 14. Andrew Fifita 15. Sam Tagataese 16. John Morris 17. Mark Taufua 18. Jayson Bukuya 19. Jon Green

Tigers: 1. James Tedesco 2. Beau Ryan 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Matt Utai 6. Benji Marshall 7. Tim Moltzen 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah (c) 10. Keith Galloway 11. Adam Blair 12. Gareth Ellis 13. Chris Heighington
Interchange: 14. Liam Fulton 15. Matt Groat 16. Matt Bell 17. Tom Humble 18. Joel Reddy

Rabbitohs: 1. Dylan Farrell 2. Matt King 3. Shaune Corrigan 4. Greg Inglis 5. Nathan Merritt 6. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Sam Burgess 9. Nathan Peats 10. Roy Asotasi 11. Dave Taylor 12. Eddy Pettybourne 13. Michael Crocker
Interchange (from): 14. Dave Tyrell 15. Chris McQueen 16. Scott Geddes 17. Jason Clark 18. Necrom Areaiiti 19. Fetuli Talanoa

Roosters: 1. Anthony Minichiello 2. Justin Carney 3. Joseph 'BJ' Leilua 4. Mitchell Aubusson 5. Sam Perrett 6. (c) Braith Anasta 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Lama Tasi 11. Aidan Guerra 12. Boyd Cordner 13. Frank Paul Nuuausala
Interchange: 14. Tinirau Arona 15. Mose Masoe 16. Martin Kennedy 17. Daniel Mortimer 18. Anthony Mitchell 19. Peni Tagive

 

[ethos]

Such depth in the Warriors squad when you consider Lillyman, Luck and the Rapira brothers weren't even considered due to injury. If they're mentally switched on this year, they're going to be tough to beat.

 

[The Pearl]

wow so much talent.

I'm very keen to see how Hurrell goes. He dominated U20's. Excited for the warriors this year, they have a very strong side on paper.

 

[Broncoman]

Round 1 should be a cracker

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

These lists are killing my fantasy league team i drafted.

Merrit and M. gordon named on wings
Tolman a 50% chance of playing
Burgess at prop
Lafai and blair not even named

gonna be a long year

 

[Bucking Beads]

West Tigers are always last to name a team. Another reason to hate Sheens.

 

[Foordy]

wasn't Inglis meant to miss round 1

 

[Jeba]

Madness putting Gordon on the wing. I seriously think he's the best fullback in NSW.

 

[Porthoz]

Madness putting Gordon on the wing. I seriously think he's the best fullback in NSW.

Hearing strong rumours that chooks and Tigers are after him...

 

[Bucking Beads]

Roosters are after everyone!!! Maloney and now the rumoured SBW.

 

[Foordy]

Hearing strong rumours that chooks and Tigers are after him...

he was also saying that unless he was playing fullback he would seek to leave the Panthers

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

Madness putting Gordon on the wing. I seriously think he's the best fullback in NSW.

100% agree. He is a machine at fullback. He's big, strong and doesnt mind putting his body on the line. Whenever he plays at number 1, he has a blinder! He is waaaaaaaaaay better than coote.

 

[Jeba]

Look, Gordon should just let his actions speak louder than words.

He's already done that in his opportunities at fullback. His performances there have been better than Coote's and I think when you've got someone as good as Gordon is at fullback, you just play him at fullback.

Coote is good, don't get me wrong. And I can also see why he is at fullback and Gordon on the wing, but I don't agree with it. Gordon given the opportunity could be a star. He is wasted on the wing.

 

[m1c]

Coote's a far better fullback. Gordon had success in a short stint at the back, however that has been done plenty of times before. He's a fullback in a weak team and a backup in a stronger one. Think Burt.

Coote is a gun, he has never been far behind Dugan in under-aged teams. He's even performed better in some instances. He's been hampered by a groin injury and also been involved in some poor structures at Penrith. I'd expect him to improve tenfold this year if he's rehabbed his groin properly.

Gordon just strikes me as wanting fullback money.

 

[Broncoman]

Gee that Gordon is a great player in my view one of the best in the world, but Josh Dugan and Brett Stewart are the best fullbacks in NSW it's either one of them that will get picked for origin.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

He's already done that in his opportunities at fullback. His performances there have been better than Coote's and I think when you've got someone as good as Gordon is at fullback, you just play him at fullback.

Coote is good, don't get me wrong. And I can also see why he is at fullback and Gordon on the wing, but I don't agree with it. Gordon given the opportunity could be a star. He is wasted on the wing.

Gordon should be at centre at the very least!

 

[Broncoman]

Around origin time I'll post my NSW origin team

 

[Big Pete]

The Gordon/Coote debate is really interesting. Both players are talented and at this level you need to find a way to get both into your side. I like QLDers suggestion, Gordon to centre would be a good compromise. I wonder why Elliott or Cleary didn't think of it, it isn't as if he's foreign to the position either, it's where he made his debut.

That Parra line-up looks extremely weak but I wouldn't be surprised to see Hayne, Willie Tonga or both on the field on Friday. Either way, I just hope the Broncos approach the game as if they're going to play and our intensity is right from the start. Would hate to see Sandow blitz us early and Norman is trying to play catch up footy.

Warriors depth looks amazing. No Rapira, Luck or Lillyman and they just replace them with 3 International players. Coupled with the debuts of Henry & Hurrell they're looking like a much better line-up than last year's counterpart. Still get the feeling they won't do as well in the finals with Maloney going but they're going to be a lot of fun to watch this year.

What do you guys make of Farrell at fullback? While I didn't think Merritt was the answer back there based on what I saw in the Charity Shield I would have played him ahead of Farrell who looked a little loss at sea. Will be interesting to see how Farrell plays this year, he looks talented but was thrown in the deep end too early.

On that topic, I reckon O'Neil is going to be one to watch for the Storm on Saturday. He's had a couple of promising performances over the last couple of years but injuries or inexperience has kept him out of the NRL for long spurts. As a Queenslander, I hope he has an injury-free start and gives us some more depth in the backline.

And that's enough for now.