2022 NRL Team Lists: Round 1

Panthers: With Nathan Cleary (shoulder) ruled out until at least round four, Sean O'Sullivan makes his club debut at halfback. Izack Tago and Stephen Crichton are the centres with Charlie Staines back on the wing. Liam Martin and Viliame Kikau start in the back row following Kurt Capewell's move to the Broncos.

Robert Jennings, J'maine Hopgood, Taylan May, Kurt Falls and Soni Luke were omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. 

Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau'atu has surprisingly been named to make an early return from an elbow injury suffered against the Raiders in the trials. Ethan Bullemor is his second-row partner with Josh Schuster currently sidelined by an ankle injury. Exciting rookie Tolutau Koula makes his debut off the bench with Dylan Walker absent. Toff Sipley starts alongside Marty Taupau in the front row.

Andrew Davey, James Roumanos, Jorge Taufua, Alec Tuitavake and Kaeo Weekes were cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Raiders v Sharks, Friday 6pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: After debuting in round 11 last year against the Storm, Brad Schneider is back for his second NRL game, taking the halfback role in the absence of Jamal Fogarty (knee).

James Schiller debuts in the centres alongside Matt Timoko. Veteran centre Jarrod Croker will return via reserve grade.

Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has kept Xavier Savage out of the 17.

Former Bulldog Adam Elliott makes his club debut from the bench.

Sharks: Ronaldo Mulitalo starts in the centres with recruit Matt Ikuvalu on the wing and Connor Tracey not in the squad.

Teig Wilton replaces injured skipper Wade Graham in the back row, recruit Dale Finucane captains the side from lock and Andrew Fifita earns a bench spot in his first NRL game since a horror throat injury ended his 2021 season.

Broncos v Rabbitohs, Friday 8.05pm (AEDT), 7.05pm (local time) at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Billy Walters and Albert Kelly are the halves pairing with star recruit Adam Reynolds ruled out of round one following a COVID diagnosis.

Jamayne Isaako is the fullback with Selwyn Cobbo and Corey Oates on the wings.

Keenan Palasia starts at prop with Thomas Flegler suspended.  Kurt Capewell makes his club debut in the back row with Ryan James and Tyrone Roberts doing likewise from the interchange.

Rabbitohs: No surprises in Jason Demetriou's first team list with Blake Taaffe deputising for the suspended Latrell Mitchell at fullback and Lachlan Ilias replacing Adam Reynolds in the No.7 jersey.

Jaxson Paulo slides into the centres, Taane Milne starts on the wing, Jai Arrow starts on an edge and Michael Chee Kam makes his club debut on the bench.

Roosters v Knights, Saturday 3.00pm at SCG

Roosters: Sam Walker and Luke Keary team up for the first time in the halves as the champion No.6 returns from a knee reconstruction.

Also back on deck are Maroons prop Lindsay Collins, who injured his knee in round eight last year against this week's opponents Newcastle, and centre Joey Manu (fractured cheekbone).

Promising centre Billy Smith has been named to play just the sixth game of his career after an ankle injury cut short his 2021 season in round 19.

Connor Watson returns to the Roosters after four years in Newcastle and he'll fill the No.9 jersey with Sam Verrills not due back from suspension until round two.

Knights: Adam Clune steps up to fill Mitchell Pearce's shoes at halfback while Dane Gagai is back in Knights colours in the centres.

Blues Origin prop Daniel Saifiti is out with a small fracture in his left tibia and will be monitored for the next couple of weeks. His brother Jacob moves into the starting side and former Raiders and rugby union prop Leo Thompson will debut from the bench.

Kurt Mann has won the race for the lock position ahead of Phoenix Crossland, who comes from the bench.

With Hymel Hunt sidelined by a knee injury Dominic Young gets a shot on the wing while Chris Randall is the hooker in the absence of Jayden Brailey (achilles).

Warriors v Dragons, Saturday 5.30pm (AEDT), 4.30pm (local time) at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Warriors: Chanel Harris-Tavita starts at fullback in the absence of Reece Walsh, who is due back in round two. Shaun Johnson is back in Warriors colours in the No.7 and he'll be partnered in the halves by Kodi Nikorima.

Teenage centre Viliami Vailea plays his third career game.

Storm recruit Aaron Pene makes his club debut as part of a strong bench which includes Jazz Tevaga, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Bayley Sironen.

Dragons: Coach Anthony Griffin obviously liked what he saw in the Charity Shield, naming the same starting 13 for the season opener. Young gun Tyrell Sloan gets the nod at fullback with Cody Ramsey on the wing while another rising star, Talatau Amone, partners skipper Ben Hunt in the halves.

Aaron Woods and Blake Lawrie are the starting props with Francis Molo and Josh Kerr backing them up from the bench.

Utility Moses Mbye returns from a quad injury to take his place on the bench alongside Molo, Kerr and forrmer Sea Eagle Jack Gosiewski.

George Burgess and Tariq Sims are the notable absentees from Griffin's first squad of 2022.

Wests Tigers v Storm, Saturday 7.35pm at Campbelltown Stadium

Wests Tigers: Jackson Hastings, Oliver Gildart and Tyrone Peachey have been named to play their first game for the club. Hastings will play five-eighth alongside Luke Brooks while Gildart is in the centres and Peachey on the interchange.

Jake Simpkin starts at hooker with Jacob Liddle sidelined by a knee injury while Alex Twal starts for co-captain James Tamou, who returns from suspension in round two.

Luke Garner has recovered from an ankle injury to take his place on the bench.

Storm: Jesse Bromwich is out after being deemed a close contact of a COVID-19 case and will be replaced by Tepai Moeroa in the 24-man squad.

A huge boost for the Storm with star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle) named to play while the man who filled the No.1 jersey in the trials, Nick Meaney, has been named at five-eighth.

Brandon Smith will start at hooker with Harry Grant suspended. Impressive rookie Tyran Wishart has won a spot on the bench alongside Jayden Nikorima, Trent Loiero and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Former Knight Josh King starts at lock and former Bronco Xavier Coates is on the wing.

Eels v Titans, Sunday 4.05pm at CommBank Stadium

Eels: Brad Arthur has named the same 17-man squad which was so impressive against premiers Penrith in the trials.

Co-captains Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo lead a powerful squad which includes new recruit Bailey Simonsson among a sea of familiar faces.

Such is Parramatta's depth that quality first-graders Nathan Brown, Mitch Rein and Bryce Cartwright are among the reserves for the season opener.

Titans: Former Rooster Isaac Liu brings 203 games of experience into the front row, where he will partner Moeaki Fotuaika.

After starting every game last year in the front row Jarrod Wallace has been named among the reserves.

Another recruit Will Smith makes his club debut from the bench alongside Sam Lisone, Jaimin Joliffe and Kevin Proctor.

Cowboys v Bulldogs, Sunday 6.15pm (AEDT), 5.15pm (local time) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Inspirational skipper Jason Taumalolo is back on deck after missing the trials with a minor hamstring complaint. Along with promising back-rower Jeremiah Nanai, they are the two new faces into the side which took care of the Broncos in impressive fashion in the club's final trial.

Chad Townsend, Peta Hiku and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are set to make their Cowboys debuts.

Hiku has been named at centre, while Taunoa-Brown has completed an impressive pre-season with a starting front-row berth alongside Coen Hess.

Bulldogs: The dawn of a new era with Matt Dufty, Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden, Matt Burton, Paul Vaughan, Tevita Pangai jnr, Max King and Braidon Burns all making their club debuts.

Burns has beaten out Aaron Schoupp for a spot in the centres.

Jake Averillo will call the shots from halfback alongside Burton, while Jeremy Marshall-King fills the vital dummy half role with Bailey Biondi-Odo backing him up from the bench.