Luai returns in big Panthers boost; Storm make call on Munster — NRL Teams Rd 1

The teams for the final six games of Round 1 are in with a number of big selection calls in the games kicking off on Thursday night.

The Panthers welcome back Jarome Luai as he bids to win a fourth and final title before switching to the Tigers.

Cameron Munster has been named to take on the Panhters but is still fighting to prove his fitness with a final call expected on Wednesday.

Read below for the remaining Round 1 teams and analysis!

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THURSDAY MARCH 7

Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium, 8.00pm AEDT

Knights team: 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

Analysis: Co-captain Jayden Brailey is out with hamstring issue, with Phoenix Crossland starting at hooker. Dylan Lucas starts in the back row, with new recruit Kai Pearce-Paul named on the bench. Jack Cogger begins the year on the bench, with Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble in the halves.

Raiders team: 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

Analysis: Young gun Ethan Strange has won the battle to to replace Jack Wighton in the No.6 and will line up alongside Jamal Fogarty in the halves. With Seb Kris out suspended, Jordan Rapana is the fullback, with Xavier Savage named on the wing. English recruit Morgan Smithies will make his NRL debut at lock, playing lock for the suspended Corey Horsburgh, while fellow new recruit Zac Hosking starts in the second row. Danny Levi starts at hooker with Tom Starling on the bench, which means Zac Woolford shifts to the reserves.

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FRIDAY MARCH 8

New Zealand Warriors vs. Cronulla Sharks at Go Media Stadium, 6.00pm AEDT

Warriors team: 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

Analysis: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring) is out, with Taine Tuaupiki filling in at fullback, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns to the NRL at centre. Luke Metcalf getsfirst crack at five-eighth with Te Maire Martin in the reserves. There is no room for Jazz Tevaga, with Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale joining Dylan Walker on the bench.

Sharks team: 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

Analysis: Nicho Hynes has been cleared to return from a quad injury alongside Braydon Trindall in the halves. Enforcer Braden Hamlin-Uele is out with a knee injury, with Oregon Kaufusi and Royce Hunt starting up front, while Toby Rudolf is on the bench.

Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park, 8.05pm AEDT

Storm team: 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

Analysis: Cameron Munster is named but will need to overcome a groin injury to play. Joe Chan starts in the back row, with Trent Loiero moving to lock and new recruit Shawn Blore named 18th man. Ryan Papenhuyzen is back in the No.1 jersey, with Sualauvi Faalogo in the reserves.

Panthers team: 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

Analysis: Jarome Luai returns for his first game since the grand final, while Sunia Turuva is set to line up on the wing despite an injury in the World Club Challenge. Taylan May gets first crack at filling the centre void created by Stephen Crichton’s departure to the Bulldogs. In the absence of the suspended Mitch Kenny, Luke Sommerton starts at No.9, with Tyrone Peachey named on the bench.

SATURDAY MARCH 9

Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT

Eels team: 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

Analysis: After a pre-season of wanting an 80-minute hooker, Brad Arthur caved and picked both Joey Lussick and Brendan Hands. With Maika Sivo suspended, Bailey Simonsson shifts to the wing and Morgan Harper makes his club NRL debut in the centres. Wiremu Greig will miss the season opener due to a hamstring injury.

Bulldogs team: 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

Analysis: Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz makes up the centre pairing, with Kiraz overcoming a pre-season back injury. Blake Taaffe takes the fullback spot, with Drew Hutchison winning the halves battle over Toby Sexton. In another selection battle, Jaeman Salmon has won the No.13 jersey, with Josh Curran being resigned to a role off the bench. Poasa Faamausili starts at prop with Sam Hughes on the bench.

Gold Coast Titans vs. St George Illawarra Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm AEDT

Titans team: 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

Analysis: In a new-look forward pack, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will play at prop and recruit Keenan Palasia will take up the lock role after joining from the Broncos. With David Fifita and Jayden Campbell sidelined due to injury, Klese Haas and Keano Kini will take their respective positions in the backrow and at fullback. AJ Brimson is good to go after a HIA in the final pre-season clash.

Dragons team: 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

Analysis: As expected, Tyrell Sloan has been named at fullback and Zac Lomax will play on the wing. Despite lingering injury concerns, both Blake Lawrie and Jacob Liddle have been named to take the field. Connor Muhleisen wins a bench spot over Jesse Marschke, while Viliami Fifita will make his NRL debut off the pine. Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Michael Molo round out the bench.

SUNDAY MARCH 10

Dolphins vs. North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm AEDT

Dolphins team: 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

Analysis: With a season-ending injury to Tom Gilbert, Ray Stones takes up a position at lock. Kodi Nikorima has beaten out Isaiya Katoa for the five-eighth role. In a shock move, Tesi Niu has won a spot in the centres, with Jake Averillo not in the starting 17. Jack Bostock has been named on the wing, while Connelly Lemuelu has been named on an edge while Euan Aitken has also been left out of the run on team. Max Plath has been named on the bench as a utility.

Cowboys team: 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

Analysis: Zac Laybutt has won the battle for the vacant centre spot and will play alongside Kyle Feldt who has beaten out Semi Valemei on the wing. Jason Taumalolo starts at prop alongside Jordan McLean, with Reuben Cotter at lock. Sam McIntyre wins the vacant bench spot, with Tom Mikaele missing out.