NRL Round 1 team lists: Vegas sides announce lineups

The teams are out for Sunday’s NRL matchups in Las Vegas to kick off the 2025 season.

Canberra Raiders pair Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies have escaped the axe after their much-publicised hotel fracas, as both are named to start against the New Zealand Warriors.

With Zac Hosking slotting into the second row after overcoming a calf injury, the Raiders head to Allegiant Stadium at full strength.

For the Warriors, it is a new-look lineup with the likes of James Fisher-Harris and Erin Clark coming into the forward pack.

Following the retirement of club legend Shaun Johnson last season, Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita will be running the show from the halves for NZ.

The Warriors come in as $1.65 favourites at Marantelli Bet, with the Raiders paying $2.25 to spring a minor upset.

In the later game, the Penrith Panthers have a bit of a different look compared to the side that clinched a fourth consecutive NRL Premiership title last year.

Jack Cole partners Nathan Cleary in the halves for the clash with the Cronulla Sharks, Casey McLean comes onto the wing in place of the injured Brian To’o, and Lindsay Smith fills out a forward pack that no longer features the departed Fisher-Harris.

The Sharks will be hoping young winger Samuel Stonestreet picks up where he left off last season, especially with Sione Katoa facing an extended stay on the sidelines.

Addin Fonua-Blake is the big inclusion in the forwards after his offseason move from the Warriors, while Jesse Ramien is back in the centres after missing Cronulla’s preliminary final loss to the Storm in 2024.

Top bookie BetOnline has the Sharks pegged as $2.25 outsiders to knock off the Panthers, who are returning $1.65 to start their premiership defence on the right foot.

Raiders v Warriors team lists – Round 1, NRL 2025

Sunday, March 2 – 11am AEDT – Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Canberra Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes
2. Savelio Tamale
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Xavier Savage
6. Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Corey Horsburgh
9. Tom Starling
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Morgan Smithies
14. Owen Pattie
15. Simi Sasagi
16. Josh Papalii
17. Ata Mariota

New Zealand Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Taine Tuaupiki
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Luke Metcalf
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Marata Niukore
13. Erin Clark
14. Dylan Walker
15. Jackson Ford
16. Demitric Vaimauga
17. Leka Halasima

Panthers v Sharks team lists – Round 1, NRL 2025

Sunday, March 2 – 3:30pm AEDT – Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Penrith Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Casey McLean
3. Izak Tago
4. Luke Garner
5. Paul Alamoti
6. Jack Cole
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Mitch Kenny
10. Lindsay Smith
11. Scott Sorensen
12. Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Daine Laurie
15. Isaiah Papali’i
16. Matt Eisenhuth
17. Luron Patea

Cronulla Sharks

1. William Kennedy
2. Samuel Stonestreet
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Kayal Iro
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Brayden Trindall
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Cameron McInnes
14. Daniel Atkinson
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Braden Hamlin-Uele
17. Thomas Hazelton

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