The Roosters have been dealt a tough blow on the eve of their season opener, with gun centre Rob Toia ruled out.
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The Warriors are set to welcome back star half Luke Metcalf earlier than expected in a massive boost for the club.
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Meanwhile, the Storm and Eels have trimmed their squads with Melbourne set to unleash a talented teen prop. The Storm are hoping the 19-year-old can help fill the void left by Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Read on for the Early Mail for Round 1.
THURSDAY MARCH 5
Melbourne Storm vs. Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park, 8:00pm AEDT
Storm Team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Alec MacDonald 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Davvy Moale 18. Preston Conn 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 22. Trent Toelau
Players cut: 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Angus Hinchey
Early Mail: The Storm drop a pair of forwards from their extended bench, meaning young gun Cooper Clarke will make his NRL debut. Coach Craig Bellamy detailed some of the 19-year-old’s journey, which has included trimming down from 145kg. “He is a kid that has worked hard for it. Just presenting his jumper, it was mentioned that when he first came into the Under 19s he was 145kg. That is a big boy, so he has certainly worked hard to get down to the weight he is now and to be playing good footy,” Bellamy told reporters on Wednesday. “He can play a little bit on the edge and can play through the middle, so he gives us a little bit of versatility there.”
Eels Team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Brian Kelly 5. Sean Russell 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Tallyn Da Silva 18. Kelma Tuilagi 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Jordan Samrani
Players cut: 21. Charlie Guymer 22. Teancum Brown
Early Mail: The Eels trimmed their squad to 20 at the 24-hour update with that number to be cut to 19 an hour and a half before kick off. Jack de Belin is set to make his Eels debut, named to start at prop. The versatile Joash Papali’i will likely be the team’s utility reserve.
Mam lauds Reynolds’ early impact | 01:22
FRIDAY MARCH 6
New Zealand Warriors vs. Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium, 6:00pm AEDT
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Demitric Vaimauga 16. Leka Halasima 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Morgan Gannon 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22. Luke Hanson 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Players cut:
Early Mail: Star playmaker Luke Metcalf is closing in on an early return from a serious knee injury. Thought to be returning in Round 7, Metcalf will likely be back in the line-up a few weeks earlier than that. “I’ve passed all my testing, so tomorrow I’ll be back. Last week was my first week knowing I’m not really restricted in much, so now’s the good part. I get to actually train with the boys and do all the good stuff … I don’t really have a week, but I know it’ll be pretty early,” Metcalf said on The Big League Podcast. For the meantime, the Warriors will roll with Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves. Te Maire Martin is out for a couple of months with a broken leg.
Roosters Team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Blake Steep 14. Connor Watson 15. Siua Wong 16. Egan Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Cody Ramsey 20. Salesi Foketi 21. Tommy Talau 22. Toby Rodwell
Players cut: 4. Robert Toia
Early Mail: Star centre Rob Toia has been ruled out and will be replaced by Junior Pauga in the starting side according to Code Sports. Toia suffered a foot injury in the Pacific Championships last year. In turn, he had an interrupted pre-season and didn’t feature in either trial game for the Chooks.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, 8:00pm AEDT
Broncos Team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Xavier Willison 16. Ben Talty 17. Aublix Tawha 18. Grant Anderson 19. Jesse Arthars 20. Blake Mozer 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Thomas Duffy
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Panthers Team:1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Luron Patea 16. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Kalani Going 18. Thomas Jenkins 19. Freddy Lussick 20. Billy Phillips 21. Jack Cole 22. Sione Fonua
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
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Grant opens up on Bellamy re-signing | 01:19
SATURDAY MARCH 7
Cronulla Sharks vs. Gold Coast Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium, 5:30pm AEDT
Sharks Team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Chris Veaila 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Michael Gabrael 22. Niwhai Puru
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Titans Team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Max Feagai 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Tukimihia Simpkins 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Zane Harrison 20. Jaylan De Groot 21. Jenson Taumoepeau 22. Josh Patston
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Manly Sea Eagles vs. Canberra Raiders at 4 Pines Park, 7:35pm AEDT
Sea Eagles Team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Joey Walsh 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Brandon Wakeham 20. Corey Waddell 21. Blake Wilson 22. Paul Bryan
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Raiders Team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Daine Laurie 19. Jed Stuart 20. Matt Nicholson 21. Matthew Timoko 22. Owen Pattie
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Who will LIGHT UP round 1?! | 04:08
SUNDAY MARCH 8
Dolphins vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm AEDT
Dolphins Team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Brad Schneider 15. Oryn Keeley 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Trai Fuller 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. Brent Woolf 20. Lewis Symonds 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Rabbitohs Team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Lachlan Hubner 17. Sean Keppie 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Liam Le Blanc 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
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