NRL Team Lists: Pre-season Challenge Round 1

Warriors: New recruits Te Maire Martin and Luke Metcalf team up in the halves with fellow signings Brayden Wiliame (centre) and Jackson Ford (second row) also set to be unveiled. Marcelo Montoya has recovered from a knee injury and is set to start on one wing with Edward Kosi on the other. Club stalwart Bunty Afoa leads the way up front with Freddy Lussick at hooker and Tom Ale the other prop. Development players Demitric Sifakula, Ali Leiataua, Jacob Laban and Zyon Maiu'u all get a chance to impress.

Wests Tigers: Star signing Charlie Staines runs out at fullback in a squad that also includes former Bulldog Brandon Wakeham at halfback. Tommy Talau is named to return from a knee injury in the centres alongside Asu Kepaoa. The forwards will be led by Stefano Utoikamanu, who captains the team, along with promising big man Fonua Pole, workhorse Alex Seyfarth and teenage back-rower Brandon Tumeth. Exciting backline prospects Jahream Bula and Josh Feledy have been named on the interchange and will get an opportunity to showcase their talents. Big-name recruits Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali'i and David Klemmer will be held back for the second week of the Pre-Season Challenge.

Knights v Sharks, Friday 5.55pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

Knights: Adam O'Brien has named new recruits Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings in the halves while Greg Marzhew also gets an opportunity on the wing. Representative forwards Jacob and Daniel Saifiti will start up front with hooker Jayden Brailey to captain the side. Kalyn Ponga and Lachlan Miller have been left out with Bailey Hodgson to start at fullback after an injury-affected 2022 season. Also back from injury is back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder), who hasn't played since round 19 last year.

Sharks: Wade Graham will lead the Sharks' 23-man squad from five-eighth as he launches into his 16th season in the NRL. Plenty of experience in the forward pack with Toby Rudolf, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Teig Wilton, Cameron McInnes and Jack Williams set to blow out the cobwebs in Gosford. Panthers junior Niwhai Puru gets his chance to impress at halfback as do Max Riolo and Lachlan Crouch who were members of the Sharks' SG Ball team last year. Fullback Daniel Atkinson and prop Max Bradbury will have their first run in Sharks colours after joining the club this week. Bradbury is a NSW under 19s representative while Atkinson played one NRL game for the Storm in 2021 and represented Italy at the World Cup.

Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles, Friday 8.00pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

Rabbitohs: Jason Demetriou will roll out a number of top 30 squad members with Blake Taaffe to start at fullback and a host of forwards who are pushing for Round 1 spots. Jacob Host makes a return from a shoulder reconstruction while Hame Sele, Davvy Moale and Michael Chee Kam make up the forward pack. Blockbusting winger Richie Kennar bagged four tries in two NRL games last year and will again look to steamroll his way to the line in Gosford.

Sea Eagles: Prop Toafofoa Sipley captains a Manly side minus its big guns in Tom and Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans. Train-and-trialist Cooper Johns gets a chance to stake his claim at five-eighth while former Cowboy Ben Condon pulls on a Manly jersey for the first time at prop. Ben Trbojevic and Ethan Bullemor bring NRL experience to the table as does powerful winger Christian Tuipulotu. After making a big impression in his debut game against the Roosters last year Zac Fulton will bring impact from the bench along with Josh Stuckey, who also made one NRL appearance in 2022 with the Bulldogs.

Panthers v Eels, Saturday 6.00pm at BlueBet Stadium

Panthers: Experienced forward Matt Eisenhuth will skipper a youthful squad that includes rising stars Sunia Turuva and Thomas Jenkins in the centres. The 28-man squad features seven members of last year's premiership-winning NSW Cup side including five-eighth Kurt Falls, who impressed in three NRL appearances in 2022. SG Ball premiership winners Jesse McLean and Ryley Smith also get a shot. Jaeman Salmon is the only member of the NRL grand final winning side who will have a run this week with all others on hold until the World Club Challenge against St Helens on February 18.

Eels: Jake Arthur will call the shots from halfback and Shaun Lane will captain the side with regular co-captain Junior Paulo named on the extended bench. Former Raider Josh Hodgson has been named at hooker for his first game back since a knee reconstruction while fellow newcomers Daejarn Asi, Matt Doorey and Jirah Momoisea also get a run. Ryan Matterson is free to play in the Pre-Season Challenge despite having a three-game ban still to serve when the season proper commences. Mitch Rein, Makahesi Makatoa and Ofahiki Ogden add some experience to the squad. 

Dragons v St Helens, Saturday 8.05pm at WIN Stadium

Dragons: NRL regulars Blake Lawrie, Moses Suli, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, Moses Mbye, Jacob Liddle, Mat Feagai, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Francis Molo and Tautau Moga will lead the charge as the Red V look to kick off 2023 on a winning note. Treigh Stewart is named at fullback jersey with Tyrell Sloan on All Stars duty while new signing Nick Lui-Toso from Northern Pride has overcome a pectoral injury and will get his first crack in a Dragons jersey. Development list players Connor Muhleisen, Josh Coric, Sione Finau and Jackson Shereb are all part of the 28-man squad with Muhleisen lining up at five-eighth alongside veteran Mbye.

Saints: England World Cup stars Tommy Makinson, Jack Welsby, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees are joined by some faces very familiar to fans in Australia in Konrad Hurrell, Curtis Sironen, Will Hopoate, Sione Mata'utia, Agnatius Paasi and Joey Lussick. Captained by 37-year-old James Roby, the Saints squad features all 17 members of the grand final side that downed Leeds 24-12 in September to claim the Super League crown.

Storm v Roosters, Sunday 1.50pm at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Storm: Star prop Christian Welch has been named as he continues to work his way back from the Achilles injury which ruined his 2022 season. Centre Reimis Smith (pectoral) and five-eighth Tyran Wishart (ankle) have also been included in a 28-man squad. Justin Olam, Chris Lewis and Josh King bring plenty of experience to the table while new recruits Joe Chan, Aaron Pene and Eliesa Katoa have been named to make their club debuts. Train-and-trial hopefuls Lazarus Vaalepu, Bronson Garlick, Young Tonumaipea and AJ Gudgeon get a chance to show their wares.

Roosters: Star signing Brandon Smith has been named to play his first match in the Tricolours - ironically against the Storm - after Trent Robinson included him at hooker for Sunday's clash. Robinson has named a strong core side for the first Pre-Season Challenge match with Luke Keary, Sam Walker, Joseph Suaali'i and Victor Radley also included but prolific winger Daniel Tupou has been ruled out with injury after initially being named on Tuesday. Alfred Smalley has been called in on the wing with former Rabbitohs flyer Jaxson Paulo on the other wing. Ex-Bronco Jake Turpin will come off the bench. Matt Lodge, Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley are part of a powerful forward pack.

Raiders v Bulldogs, Sunday 3.55pm at Ack Weyman Oval, Moruya

Raiders: The Green Machine's 28-man squad will be captained by club legend Jarrod Croker in his return from a shoulder injury. Xavier Savage will play fullback, experienced playmaker Matt Frawley slots in at five-eighth and Brad Schneider at halfback. Recruits Danny Levi and Pasami Saulo step out for the first time alongside NRL regulars Emre Guler, Corey Horsburgh and Zac Woolford. Penrith's premiership winning Jersey Flegg captain Hohepa Puru is one to keep an eye on in 2023. The lock was named player of the match in the Flegg decider on the back of 185 running metres and 36 tackles. 

Bulldogs: New coach Cameron Ciraldo will unveil recruits Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton, Fa'amanu Brown, Franklin Pele and Andrew Davey in Moruya and save Viliame Kikau for another day while Hayze Perham is on All Stars duty. Favourite son Josh Reynolds partners Kyle Flanagan in the halves with Jacob Kiraz, Jake Averillo, Jayden Okunbor and Paul Alamoti offering pace and power out wide. Engishman Luke Thompson leads a strong pack that includes Max King, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Mahoney and Sutton. Former Australian Sevens rugby representative Jeral Skelton played six NSW Cup games in 2022 and gets an early chance to stake his claim for an NRL call-up.

Cowboys v Dolphins, Sunday 6.00pm at Barlow Park, Cairns

Cowboys: New Cowboys recruits Gehamat Shibasaki and Jack Gosiewski are among a low-key squad named by Todd Payten for the clash with the Dolphins. Payten has included Ben Hampton alongside rising playmaker Tom Duffy in the halves while Tom Chester gets a chance at fullback. Exciting winger Laitia Moceidreke scored 11 tries in 18 games for Mackay in 2022 and the 22-year-old will be out to add to his lone NRL appearance which came against the Eels late in the 2021 season.

Dolphins: Wayne Bennett will roll out several big names for the club’s first Pre-Season Challenge match with Anthony Milford to start at five-eighth alongside young gun Isaiya Katoa. Former Titan Jamayne Isaako gets an opportunity at fullback with promising rake Harrison Graham named at hooker to make up the spine. Former Bronco Tesi Niu teams with Euan Aitken in the centres while Jarrod Wallace will captain the side at prop. Ray Stone has been included to play his first game since rupturing his ACL in March last year.

Broncos v Titans, Sunday 8.05pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Broncos: Brisbane fans get their first look at Reece Walsh in the No.1 jersey as part of a powerful line-up that also includes Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth in the centres, Ezra Mam at five-eighth, Cory Paix at hooker, Thomas Flegler and Payne Haas in the front row and new signing Martin Taupau on the bench. Tristan Sailor and Logan Bayliss have been named on the interchange after strong showings in last weekend's trial win over Wynnum Manly.

Titans: Big guns David Fifita, Jayden Campbell and Toby Sexton step out alongside new recruits Aaron Schoupp and Chris Randall. Halfback Tanah Boyd will skipper the side which also features Phil Sami, Jaimin Jolliffe, Joe Stimson, Erin Clark and Sam McIntyre. Former Rooster Sam Verrills continues his recovery from a shoulder injury and could be right to face the Dolphins in round two of the Pre-Season Challenge.