KEY NEWS FOR EACH TEAM BEFORE OPENING NRL ROUND
MELBOURNE V SOUTH SYDNEY
George Jennings has claimed Suliasi Vunivalu's old Storm wing spot, while Reimis Smith fills in at centre for Brenko Lee. Brandon Smith starts at hooker while Nelson Asofa-Solomona is at lock. Jai Arrow will come off the bench for Souths while Benji Marhsall gets his role as super sub.
NEWCASTLE V CANTERBURY
Kurt Mann goes back to No.6 for Newcastle while Blake Green recovers from his knee injury, while Tex Hoy is at fullback for Kalyn Ponga. Jake Averillo is fit to start at five-eighth for the Bulldogs. Sione Katoa is the hooker with Jeremy Marshall-King injured, leaving the Bulldogs to play train-and-trialist Bradley Deitz as bench utility.
BRISBANE V PARRAMATTA
Brodie Croft has won the race to be Brisbane's No.7 ahead of Tom Dearden, while Corey Oates' bid to prove himself as a second-rower has flopped after missing selection altogether. Tom Opacic gets Michael Jennings' old Parramatta centre spot.
WARRIORS V GOLD COAST
Warriors Eliesa Katoa and Bailey Sironen are fit in time to begin the season, winning the race to start in the second row and leaving Ben Murdoch-Masila on the bench. Queensland Origin winger Phil Sami has been left out by the Titans, while David Fifta and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's arrivals leave no room for Herman Ese'ese.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS V MANLY
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will come off the bench as Lindsay Collins starts alongside Siosiua Taukeiaho in the front row for the Roosters. Des Hasler has trusted Dylan Walker with Tom Trbojevic's No.1 jersey at Manly, leaving Brad Parker and Moses Suli in the centres. Kieran Foran starts at five-eighth and Lachlan Croker is hooker with Cade Cust injured.
PENRITH V NORTH QUEENSLAND
No shocks at the Panthers as Paul Momirovski starts at centre for Brent Naden. Scott Drinkwater beats Valentine Holmes to the fullback spot at North Queensland. Holmes' move to the wing has cost Justin O'Neill his spot, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will play centre.
CANBERRA V WESTS TIGERS
Raiders captain Jarrod Croker has failed to beat a shoulder injury and is out. Sebastian Kris starts at centre, while Ryan James has been named on the bench for his first game since a pre-season knee injury ruined his last year at Gold Coast. Moses Mbye fills in at five-eighth for the suspended Adam Doueihi at the Tigers, with Daine Laurie fullback.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA V CRONULLA
Adam Clune will play five-eighth with Corey Norman suspended at the Dragons, while Tyrell Fuimaono is the starting lock and Josh Kerr completes his move to an edge. The Sharks have dropped Andrew Fifita from their 17, while Will Kennedy stays at fullback ahead of utility Connor Tracey.
Australian Associated Press
