NRL 2026, Rugby League Las Vegas, official team lists, injuries, updates, round 1

NRL Team Lists: Rugby League Las Vegas 2026

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 03:59 PM

Official team lists, updates and injury news for Round 1 of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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NRL Team Lists: Round 1

Knights v Cowboys, Sunday 1.15pm (AEDT) at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 1 Mar

2:15 am

Knights

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Dylan Brown

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney

Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Sam McIntyre
Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson Frizell

Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Sandon Smith

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Thomas Cant

Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Harrison Edwards
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Kai O'Donnell
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt

Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Griffin Neame
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Francis Manuleleua

Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 John Bateman

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Tyson Gamble

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Liam Sutton
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Cody Hopwood

Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Matthew Lodge
Reserve for Knights is number 22 James Schiller

Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Robert Derby

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 2/24/2026 6:22:20 AM

Knights: A huge boost for the Knights with skipper Kalyn Ponga set to play his first game since Round 17 last year having fully recovered from a foot injury. Centre Dane Gagai (hamstring) and five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe (hamstring) are also good to go for the season opener. Sharpe will partner star signing Dylan Brown in the halves while former Rooster Sandon Smith wears the No.14 jersey. Fletcher Hunt and Francis Manuleleua are listed as No.18 and No.19 while Tyson Gamble and James Schiller are part of the extended squad. The Knights are out to continue an impressive opening round record that has seen them win six of their past eight Round 1 games.

Cowboys: The two-game ban handed to Zac Laybutt for a lifting tackle during the Pre-Season Challenge sees Tom Chester come into the centres for his first NRL game since Round 17 in 2024. Chester missed the 2025 season due to an ACL injury. Jake Clifford and Tom Dearden are the halves with Jaxon Purdue in the centres. Star recruit Reed Mahoney starts at hooker alongside experienced big men Coen Hess and Jason Taumalolo. Former Panther Soni Luke gets the nod in the No.14 role while Griffin Neame (shoulder/calf) and John Bateman (wrist) are listed as No.18 and No.19 on their return from injury. Young gun Liam Sutton and PNG international Robert Derby are part of the extended squad.

Bulldogs v Dragons, Sunday 3.30pm (AEDT) at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 1 Mar

4:30 am

Bulldogs

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen Crichton

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Setu Tu
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Daniel Atkinson

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Samuel Hughes

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hamish Stewart

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili Tupouniua

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ryan Couchman
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Sean O'Sullivan

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Lyhkan King-Togia
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Jake Turpin

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 David Fale

Reserves

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Enari Tuala

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Jacob Halangahu
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jonathan Sua

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Mathew Feagai
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Alekolasimi Jones

Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Tyrell Sloan

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 2/24/2026 6:42:30 AM

Bulldogs: Five-eighth Matt Burton is good to go after a hamstring scare during the Pre-Season Challenge while winger Marcelo Montoya makes his return from an ankle injury suffered in Round 27 last year. Jacob Kiraz will play his first game of the season on the other wing. Apart from the two wingers, every other member of the squad named to face the Dragons took the field in the Pre-Season Challenge win over the Knights a fortnight ago. With the introduction of a six-man bench, Cameron Ciraldo has named Kurt Mann, Sitili Tupouniua, Harry Hayes, Josh Curran, new signing Sean O'Sullivan and Jake Turpin on his interchange.

Dragons: Forwards Josh Kerr (ankle) and Hame Sele (head knock) and centre Val Holmes (shoulder) have all been named to play at Allegiant Stadium. Former Shark Dan Atkinson play his first NRL game for the Red V on the big stage in Las Vegas while winger Setu Tu makes his NRL debut after coming across from the Warriors. Playmaker Lyhkan King-Togia and Panthers recruit David Fale are the No.18 and No.19. Clint Gutherson will skipper a Dragons outfit looking to return to the finals for the first time since 2018.