<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/predictions/round-1-tips-2026">Round 1 of the 2026 NRL season</a> gets underway this weekend in Las Vegas with a double-header consisting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-9835591">Knights vs Cowboys</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-9835589">Bulldogs vs Dragons.</a></p> <p>The rest of the competition will then follow suit a week later, albeit on home soil instead of stateside, as the new season bursts into life.</p> <p>Between now and then, there are still plenty of questions to be answered, with the main one on everyone’s lips being “who will play in Round 1?”</p> <p>Whether you’re piecing together a fantasy team, crafting a multi, or preparing for your work tipping comp, a bit of inside info on potential personnel never goes astray.</p> <p>In the hopes of providing a sneak peak to punters, we’ve put together a predicted lineup for every side featuring in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/round-1">Round 1</a>.</p> <p>With plenty of big names returning from injury lay offs and moving clubs in the offseason, nearly every team looks at least a little different then the one that ended last season.</p> <p>Here are our NRL Round 1 predicted teams.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL Round 1 Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Newcastle Knights Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Kalyn Ponga (c)</p> <p>2. Greg Marzhew</p> <p>3. Dane Gagai</p> <p>4. Bradman Best</p> <p>5. Dominic Young&nbsp;</p> <p>6. Dylan Brown</p> <p>7. Sandon Smith</p> <p>8. Jacob Saifiti</p> <p>9. Phoenix Crossland</p> <p>10. Trey Mooney&nbsp;</p> <p>11. Thomas Cant</p> <p>12. Dylan Lucas</p> <p>13. Tyson Frizell</p> <p>14. Fletcher Hunt</p> <p>15. Fletcher Sharpe</p> <p>16. Jermaine McEwen</p> <p>17. Pasami Saulo</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>North Queensland Cowboys Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Scott Drinkwater</p> <p>2. Braidon Burns</p> <p>3. Jaxon Purdue</p> <p>4. Jaxson Paulo</p> <p>5. Murray Taulagi</p> <p>6. Jake Clifford</p> <p>7. Tom Dearden (c)</p> <p>8. Coen Hess</p> <p>9. Reed Mahoney</p> <p>10. Jason Taumalolo</p> <p>11. Heilum Luki</p> <p>12. Sam McIntyre</p> <p>13. Reuben Cotter (c)</p> <p>14. John Bateman</p> <p>15. Matthew Lodge</p> <p>16. Kai O'Donnell</p> <p>17. Thomas Mikaele</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Canterbury Bulldogs Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Connor Tracey</p> <p>2. Marcelo Montoya</p> <p>3. Bronson Xerri</p> <p>4. Stephen Crichton (c)</p> <p>5. Jacob Kiraz</p> <p>6. Matt Burton</p> <p>7. Lachlan Galvin</p> <p>8. Max King</p> <p>9. Bailey Hayward</p> <p>10. Samuel Hughes</p> <p>11. Viliame Kikau</p> <p>12. Jacob Preston</p> <p>13. Jaeman Salmon</p> <p>14. Kurt Mann</p> <p>15. Josh Curran</p> <p>16. Sitili Tupouniua</p> <p>17. Harry Hayes</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>St. George Illawarra Dragons Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Clint Gutherson (c)</p> <p>2. Setu Tu</p> <p>3. Moses Suli</p> <p>4. Valentine Holmes</p> <p>5. Christian Tuipulotu</p> <p>6. Kyle Flanagan</p> <p>7. Daniel Atkinson</p> <p>8. Toby Couchman</p> <p>9. Damien Cook (c)</p> <p>10. Emre Guler</p> <p>11. Luciano Leilua</p> <p>12. Jaydn Su'A</p> <p>13. Hamish Stewart</p> <p>14. Hame Sele</p> <p>15. Ryan Couchman</p> <p>16. Josh Kerr</p> <p>17. Tyrell Sloan</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Melbourne Storm Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Sua Fa'alogo&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Will Warbrick</p> <p>3. Jack Howarth</p> <p>4. Marion Seve</p> <p>5. Nick Meaney</p> <p>6. Cameron Munster</p> <p>7. Jahrome Hughes</p> <p>8. Stefano Utoikamanu</p> <p>9. Harry Grant (c)</p> <p>10. Josh King</p> <p>11. Shawn Blore</p> <p>12. Ativalu Lisati</p> <p>13. Tui Kamikamica</p> <p>14. Tyran Wishart&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Alec MacDonald</p> <p>16. Jack Hetherington</p> <p>17. Josiah Pahulu</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Parramatta Eels Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Isaiah Iongi&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Bailey Simonsson</p> <p>3. Will Penisini</p> <p>4. Sean Russell</p> <p>5. Josh Addo-Carr</p> <p>6. Jonah Pezet</p> <p>7. Mitchell Moses (c)</p> <p>8. J'maine Hopgood</p> <p>9. Ryley Smith</p> <p>10. Junior Paulo</p> <p>11. Jack Williams</p> <p>12. Kitione Kautoga</p> <p>13. Jack de Belin</p> <p>14. Tallyn Da Silva</p> <p>15. Dylan Walker</p> <p>16. Sam Tuivaiti</p> <p>17. Kelma Tuilagi</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>New Zealand Warriors Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad</p> <p>2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak</p> <p>3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck</p> <p>4. Adam Pompey</p> <p>5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira</p> <p>6. Chanel Harris-Tavita</p> <p>7. Tanah Boyd</p> <p>8. James Fisher-Harris (c)</p> <p>9. Wayde Egan</p> <p>10. Mitch Barnett (c)</p> <p>11. Leka Halasima</p> <p>12. Kurt Capewell</p> <p>13. Erin Clark</p> <p>14. Sam Healey</p> <p>15. Marata Niukore</p> <p>16. Jackson Ford</p> <p>17. Demitric Vaimauga</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Sydney Roosters Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. James Tedesco (c)</p> <p>2. Daniel Tupou</p> <p>3. Billy Smith</p> <p>4. Robert Toia</p> <p>5. Mark Nawaqanitawase</p> <p>6. Sam Walker</p> <p>7. Daly Cherry-Evans</p> <p>8. Naufahu Whyte</p> <p>9. Benaiah Ioelu</p> <p>10. Lindsay Collins</p> <p>11. Angus Crichton</p> <p>12. Siua Wong</p> <p>13. Connor Watson</p> <p>14. Spencer Leniu</p> <p>15. Egan Butcher</p> <p>16. Nat Butcher</p> <p>17. Blake Steep</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Brisbane Broncos Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Reece Walsh</p> <p>2. Josiah Karapani</p> <p>3. Kotoni Staggs</p> <p>4. Gehamat Shibasaki</p> <p>5. Deine Mariner</p> <p>6. Ezra Mam</p> <p>7. Adam Reynolds (c)</p> <p>8. Corey Jensen</p> <p>9. Ben Hunt</p> <p>10. Payne Haas</p> <p>11. Jack Gosiewski</p> <p>12. Jordan Riki</p> <p>13. Patrick Carrigan</p> <p>14. Cory Paix</p> <p>15. Xavier Willison</p> <p>16. Ben Talty</p> <p>17. Aublix Tawha</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>&nbsp;Penrith Panthers Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Dylan Edwards&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Paul Alamoti</p> <p>3. Izack Tago</p> <p>4. Casey McLean</p> <p>5. Brian To'o</p> <p>6. Blaize Talagi</p> <p>7. Jack Cogger</p> <p>8. Moses Leota&nbsp;</p> <p>9. Mitch Kenny</p> <p>10. Lindsay Smith&nbsp;</p> <p>11. Liam Martin</p> <p>12. Scott Sorensen&nbsp;</p> <p>13. Isaah Yeo (c)</p> <p>14. Freddy Lussick</p> <p>15. Isaiah Papali'i</p> <p>16. Liam Henry</p> <p>17. Luke Garner</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cronulla Sharks Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Will Kennedy</p> <p>2. Chris Vea’ila</p> <p>3. Jesse Ramien</p> <p>4. KL Iro</p> <p>5. Sam Stonestreet</p> <p>6. Braydon Trindall</p> <p>7. Nicho Hynes</p> <p>8. Addin Fonua-Blake</p> <p>9. Blayke Brailey (c)</p> <p>10. Oregon Kaufusi</p> <p>11. Briton Nikora</p> <p>12. Teig Wilton</p> <p>13. Jesse Colquhoun</p> <p>14. Sifa Talakai</p> <p>15. Toby Rudolf</p> <p>16. Thomas Hazelton</p> <p>17. Billy Burns</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Gold Coast Titans Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Keano Kini</p> <p>2. Phillip Sami</p> <p>3. Max Feagai</p> <p>4. Jojo Fifita</p> <p>5. Sialetili Faeamani</p> <p>6. AJ Brimson</p> <p>7. Jayden Campbell</p> <p>8. Moeaki Fotuaika</p> <p>9. Sam Verrills</p> <p>10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (c)</p> <p>11. Beau Fermor&nbsp;</p> <p>12. Josh Patston</p> <p>13. Klese Haas</p> <p>14. Luke Sommerton</p> <p>15. Chris Randall</p> <p>16. Kurtis Morrin</p> <p>17. Cooper Bai</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Manly Sea Eagles Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Tom Trbojevic (c)</p> <p>2. Jason Saab</p> <p>3. Tolu Koula</p> <p>4. Reuben Garrick</p> <p>5. Lehi Hopoate</p> <p>6. Luke Brooks</p> <p>7. Jamal Fogarty</p> <p>8. Taniela Paseka</p> <p>9. Jake Simpkin</p> <p>10. Jake Trbojevic</p> <p>11. Haumole Olakau'atu</p> <p>12. Ben Trbojevic</p> <p>13. Kobe Hetherington</p> <p>14. Joey Walsh</p> <p>15. Ethan Bullemor</p> <p>16. Corey Waddell</p> <p>17. Siosiua Taukeiaho</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Canberra Raiders Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Kaeo Weekes</p> <p>2. Savielo Tamale</p> <p>3. Matt Timoko</p> <p>4. Sebastian Kris</p> <p>5. Xavier Savage</p> <p>6. Ethan Strange</p> <p>7. Ethan Sanders</p> <p>8. Josh Papalii</p> <p>9. Tom Starling</p> <p>10. Joe Tapine (c)</p> <p>11. Hudson Young</p> <p>12. Zac Hosking</p> <p>13. Corey Horsburgh</p> <p>14. Daine Laurie</p> <p>15. Simi Sasagi</p> <p>16. Owen Pattie</p> <p>17. Morgan Smithies</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Dolphins Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow</p> <p>2. Jamayne Isaako</p> <p>3. Jake Averillo</p> <p>4. Herbie Farnworth</p> <p>5. Selwyn Cobbo</p> <p>6. Kodi Nikorima</p> <p>7. Isaiya Katoa</p> <p>8. Daniel Saifiti</p> <p>9. Kurt Donoghoe</p> <p>10. Tom Flegler</p> <p>11. Tom Gilbert (c)</p> <p>12. Tom Flegler</p> <p>13. Morgan Knowles</p> <p>14. Felise Kaufusi</p> <p>15. Brad Schneider</p> <p>16. Connelly Lemuelu</p> <p>17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>South Sydney Rabbitohs Predicted Team</h3> <p>1. Jye Gray</p> <p>2. Alex Johnston</p> <p>3. Latrell Mitchell</p> <p>4. Jack Wighton</p> <p>5. Campbell Graham</p> <p>6. Cody Walker</p> <p>7. Ashton Ward</p> <p>8. Tevita Tatola</p> <p>9. Brandon Smith</p> <p>10. Keaon Koloamatangi</p> <p>11. Tallis Duncan</p> <p>12. David Fifita</p> <p>13. Cameron Murray (c)</p> <p>14. Sean Keppie&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Euan Aitken&nbsp;</p> <p>16. Lachlan Hubner</p> <p>17. Adam Elliott</p>