NRL Team Lists: Round 1
Official team lists, updates and injury news for Round 1 of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership.
The new rules allow teams to carry six men on the interchange bench but only four are permitted to enter the action on game day.
Two players will be omitted from the squads 24 hours out from the match, with the final 19 to be confirmed 90 minutes before kick-off.
NRL Team Lists: Round 1
Storm v Eels, Thursday 8.00pm (AEDT) at AAMI Park
Storm: Excitement machine Sua Fa'alogo is the new No.1 with Ryan Papenhuyzen having departed the club while Moses Leo gets his shot in the centres and Nick Meaney pushes out to the wing with Xavier Coates (achilles) sidelined. A new-look back row with Joe Chan, Ativalu Lisati and Alec MacDonald replacing grand final trio Eli Katoa, Shawn Blore (ankle) and Trent Loiero (suspended). Rising stars Cooper Clarke and Preston Conn have been named on the bench for their NRL debuts. Lazarus Vaalepu and Angus Hinchey dropped out when the squad was trimmed 24 hours before kick-off.
Eels: Mitch Moses joins forces with former Storm man Jonah Pezet in the halves while Jack de Belin and Brian Kelly also make their debut in Eels colours. The loss of Josh Addo-Carr (thumb) sees Sean Russell shift to the wing and Kelly line up at centre. Junior Paulo leads a full-strength forward pack that will look to pick up where it left off in an impressive pre-season win over the Roosters two weeks ago. Kelma Tuilagi and Joash Papalii are the No.18 and 19 on the six-man bench. The squad was cut to 20 on Wednesday with Charlie Guymer and Teancum Brown dropping out.
Warriors v Roosters, Friday 6.00pm (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita (calf) will take their place in the opener but Mitch Barnett (knee) and Marata Niukore (calf) remain sidelined and Alofiana Khan-Pereira (concussion) is part of the extended squad. Tanah Boyd gets the job at halfback with Luke Metcalf recovering from an ACL injury. After helping the Warriors to NSW Cup grand final glory, Ali Leiataua plays his first NRL game since Round 12 last year with Adam Pompey the other centre. James Fisher-Harris leads a powerhouse pack that includes Erin Clark, Jackson Ford and Jacob Laban in starting roles and Leka Halasima, Demitric Vaimauga and Tanner Stowers-Smith on the bench. Englishman Morgan Gannon is part of the six-man bench as he chases an NRL debut.
Roosters: Sam Walker wears the No.7 and Daly Cherry-Evans the No.6 in a star-studded backline that also includes Rob Toia in his return from a foot injury. With star recruit Reece Robson (thumb) sidelined until Round 7, Benaiah Ioelu has been named to start at hooker with Connor Watson in the No.14. Former Dragon Cody Ramsey is part of the six-man interchange bench as he chases his first NRL appearance since Round 25, 2022.
Broncos v Panthers, Friday 8.00pm (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: The Broncos launch their premiership defence with a powerful squad missing only three men who were part of the grand final win - injured back-rower Brendan Piakura and departed duo Kobe Hetherington and Tyson Smoothy. Adam Reynolds is joined in the halves by Ezra Mam, with Ben Hunt shifting to the bench and Cory Paix starting at hooker. Jack Gosiewski comes into the back row and new recruits Grant Anderson and Aublix Tawha are part of the six-man bench.
Panthers: The loss of star back-rower Liam Martin to a calf injury sees Luke Garner start the game in the only change to the starting side from last year's heartbreaking preliminary final loss to the Broncos. Recruits Jack Cogger, Kalani Going and Freddy Lussick are all part of the six-man interchange named by Ivan Cleary. Superstar playmaker Nathan Cleary takes his place having successfully challenged the grading of a dangerous contact charge at the judiciary and lines up alongside Blaize Talagi.
Sharks v Titans, Saturday 5.30pm (AEDT) at Ocean Protect Stadium
Sharks: Winger Sione Katoa (groin) is good to go as Craig Fitzgibbon rolls out a strong squad for the opener. Sam Stonestreet takes the wing spot vacated by Ronaldo Mulitalo (ACL). Back-rower Teig Wilton is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery so Briton Nikora starts alongside Billy Burns and Jesse Colquhoun. The interchange features big men Siosifa Talakai, Toby Rudolf, Oregon Kaufusi and Braden Uele with Hohepa Puru and Veaila the No.18 and 19.
Titans: With playmaker Jayden Campbell set to miss at least two weeks with a hamstring injury the task of guiding the Titans around the park goes to former Dragon Lachlan Ilias. Auckland-born rookie Siale Faeamani makes his NRL debut on the wing after impressing in the Pre-Season Challenge while former Dolphin Max Feagai makes his club debut in the centres. Arama Hau has edged out Josh Patston to start in the back-row. Ex-Bulldog Kurtis Morrin is part of the interchange alongside Tuki Simpkins, Klese Haas and Cooper Bai while Luke Sommerton and Zane Harrison are the 18 and 19.
Sea Eagles v Raiders, Saturday 7.35pm (AEDT) at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: A huge boost for Manly with barnstorming back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu ready to rumble after a shoulder reconstruction while prop Taniela Paseka plays his first NRL game since Round 3 last year having recovered from a ruptured achilles. Tom Trbojevic will captain the side at fullback while brothers Ben and Jake line up in the back row. Former Raider Jamal Fogarty steers the ship alongside Luke Brooks with young gun Joey Walsh in the No.14. Broncos premiership winner Kobe Hetherington makes his club debut off the bench alongside Ethan Bullemor and Nathan Brown.
Raiders: Ethan Sanders takes over the halfback role in just his fifth NRL game and will partner Kangaroo tourist Ethan Strange at the scrumbase. Simi Sasagi has won a starting centre berth ahead of Matt Timoko, who has been battling a minor foot injury over the past three weeks and is set to play NSW Cup. Noah Martin comes into the back row for his seventh NRL game. Former Knight Jayden Brailey makes his club debut in the No.14 jersey as back-up to Tom Starling. Also part of the interchange for Ricky Stuart are Zac Hosking, Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies while Daine Laurie and Jed Stuart round out the six-man bench.
Dolphins v Rabbitohs, Sunday 3.05pm (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: The men from Redcliffe boast an electric backline spearheaded by Isaiya Katoa at halfback, Herbie Farnworth in the centres, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback and new recruit Selwyn Cobbo on the wing. Tom Gilbert captains the side in his first NRL appearance since rupturing his pectoral muscle in Round 11 last year and Tom Flegler makes a triumphant return after almost two years in the sideline with a serious shoulder injury that threatened his career. Morgan Knowles and Brad Schneider also line up for their game in Dolphins colours and livewire Trai Fuller has been named on the interchange. Prop Daniel Saifiti remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Rabbitohs: Wayne Bennett has named a strong squad that includes new faces David Fifita and Bronson Garlick along with favourite sons Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Alex Johnston and captain Cameron Murray. With Jamie Humphreys suspended, the No.7 jersey goes to Ashton Ward in just his seventh NRL game with Peter Mamouzelos grabbing the No.14 role. Key forward Jai Arrow remains sidelined indefinitely as he recovers from a nerve injury in his shoulder and Brandon Smith is nursing a calf injury. The Bunnies' bench also features Tallis Duncan, Sean Keppie, Lachlan Hubner and former Warrior Moala Graham-Taufa.
