Round 1 squads announced; Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire benches Billy Walters as Cory Paix wins hooking battle

Billy Walters was the Broncos‘ chief hooker during his dad’s reign as Brisbane coach but Michael Maguire has arrived and relegated him to the bench.

Cory Paix is set for his first NRL game since round 27, 2023 after Maguire named the 25-year-old at No.9 for the Broncos’ season-opening match against the Roosters, to be played at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

Kevin Walters was regularly accused of favouring his son during his time as Brisbane’s coach, which ended when he was sacked at the end of the Broncos’ disastrous 2024 campaign.

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Paix has won a four-way hooking battle by beating Walters, Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy to Brisbane’s No.9 jersey.

Hunt is expected to shuffle to hooker once suspended five-eighth Ezra Mam is available to return in round 10, but the off-contract Paix will be doing everything he can to impress in the No.9 jumper as he aims to score a new deal.

Check out below the opening-round squads of each club.

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THURSDAY

Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, Allianz Stadium (8pm)

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Roosters analysis: Front-rower Spencer Leniu will miss the first two rounds due to suspension, which has paved the way for Naufahu Whyte to start at prop. Sam Walker and Brandon Smith will both miss the first half of the season as they recover from ACL injuries. Veteran halfback Chad Townsend will make his Roosters debut as centre Robert Toia and backrower Salesi Foketi play their first NRL games.

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter 20. Martin Taupau 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Jaiyden Hunt

Broncos analysis: Deine Mariner and Gehamat Shibasaki will play in the centres after Kotoni Staggs (quadriceps) was ruled out for about a month, with Shibasaki set to make his Broncos debut.

FRIDAY

Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights, Campbelltown Stadium (6pm)

Tigers

1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter

Tigers analysis: Heath Mason will line up at fullback as Jahream Bula continues his shoulder rehabilitation. Adam Doueihi to play in the centres after Brent Naden suffered a long-term knee injury. Tristan Hope has been named in the No.14 jumper for his NRL debut, while making their Tigers debuts will be skipper Jarome Luai as well as Sunia Turuva, Jeral Skelton, Terrell May, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird. Star hooker Apisai Koroisau is suspended.

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Adam Elliott

Knights analysis: The Knights are virtually unchanged after their 48-10 thumping of the Roosters in the trials. Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger to get first crack in the halves.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Dolphins, CommBank Stadium (8pm)

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata

Rabbitohs analysis: Injury carnage struck South Sydney late in the pre-season when Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) and Cameron Murray (Achilles) went down. Young gun Jye Gray will fill in for Mitchell at fullback as Lachlan Hubner takes Murray’s spot at lock. Jamie Humphreys to play at halfback as English import Lewis Dodd serves a suspension. Hubner, Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan to make their South Sydney debuts. Prop Tevita Tatola to play his first NRL match since round six of last season, having overcome a broken foot.

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai

Dolphins analysis: New Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert will play his first NRL game since round 12, 2023, slotting in at lock after an injury-ravaged 2024 campaign. Junior Tupou to replace winger Jack Bostock, who’s sidelined with a knee injury. Tupou, front-rower Daniel Saifiti and second-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to make their Dolphins debuts. Prop Tom Flegler remains sidelined with a neck/shoulder injury.

SATURDAY

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Kogarah Oval (5.30pm)

Dragons

1. Clint Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Dragons analysis: Mathew Feagai and Christian Tuipulotu to play on the wings after winning a battle for those positions. Francis Molo is still sidelined amid his messy contract dispute. Making their club debuts will be Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook, Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias and Emre Guler, while Hamish Stewart will make his NRL debut off the bench.

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama

Bulldogs analysis: Blake Wilson has been named on a wing as the replacement for Jacob Kiraz, who’s dealing with a back injury. New Bulldogs recruit Sitili Tupouniua to be injected off the bench after overcoming an undisclosed injury. Forward Josh Curran is suspended.

Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys, Brookvale Oval (7.35pm)

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai

Sea Eagles analysis: Winger Tommy Talau is sidelined with a hamstring injury, which has opened the door for Lehi Hopoate to get a start. Jazz Tevaga to play at hooker on his Manly debut as Lachlan Croker recovers from a knee injury. Front-rower Siua Taukei’aho is also set for his Sea Eagles debut, and his first NRL appearance since 2022, after returning from the Super League.

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

Cowboys analysis: Townsville junior Tom Duffy to play at halfback on his NRL debut, linking with Tom Dearden in the halves. Heilum Luki suffered an ACL rupture in December, but gun recruit John Bateman will replace him in the second row on his North Queensland debut. Karl Lawton will also make his Cowboys debut, coming off the bench. Coen Hess to play his first NRL game since 2023 after overcoming an ACL rupture.

SUNDAY

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels, AAMI Park (4.05pm)

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Kane Bradley

Storm analysis: Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to play after struggling with a knee injury during the pre-season, as is winger Xavier Coates after his battle with an ankle issue. Stefano Utoikamanu to start in the front row as he makes his Storm debut. Giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is suspended.

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jake Tago 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Jordan Samrani 20. Toni Mataele 21. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Joey Lussick

Eels analysis: Parramatta has suffered a major blow with captain and superstar halfback Mitchell Moses being ruled out indefinitely with a foot injury. Making matters worse for new Eels coach Jason Ryles is Moses’ back-up, Dean Hawkins, is also unavailable due to a leg injury. That’s resulted in train-and-trial playmaker Ronald Volkman being called up to play at halfback alongside five-eighth Dylan Brown. Off-season recruits Isaiah Iongi, Zac Lomax, Jack Williams and Volkman to make their Parramatta debuts.