NRL Supercoach 2025 Round 1 team analysis

The day NRL Supercoach fans have awaited for months has arrived, Round 1 Team List Tuesday.

It’s Christmas Day for fans of the great game, albeit just the four teams dropping ahead of the season opener in Las Vegas.

I’m very fortunate to be able to be on deck in Vegas for the opening weekend, ahead of what I’m sure will be a famous Raiders victory… Hopefully!

As I write I’m sitting in the hotel lobby of the Bellagio Hotel (not where I am staying) and will soon be hitting record on the opening podcast for round 1.

I’ll touch on the major Supercoach relevant team news and expand on the Supercoach analysis on Wednesday.

With all that covered, let’s get stuck into the NRL Supercoach round 1 teams analysis, with squad lists courtesy of Fox Sports.

Embed from Getty Images

RAIDERS v WARRIORS

Sunday, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

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

Bench: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Danny Levi 19. Trey Mooney 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Chevy Stewart 22. Jed Stuart

Analysis: No major shocks to the Raiders team, with cheapie prospect Savelio Tamale named to start on the wing.

Albert Hopoate is unavailable due to the impending birth of his child, so job security isn’t great.

I think he’d have to play very well to jump Hopoate in the wing pecking order following strong trial performances.

That being said, he’s talented and has a round 1 start so he’s a decent cheapie at $232k.

I do have concern for how much quality attacking ball he’ll get on the left edge outside of Ethan Strange who is a strong ball running five-eighth.

Corey Horsburgh starts at prop, with Josh Papali’i coming off the bench.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE SC PLAYBOOK SUBSCRIBER COMMUNITY

He averaged 45 points in 44 minutes last season.

Playing just five games though, he’s priced on a 36 point average.

He averaged 62 points in the 2023 season.

At $355k with dual FRF-2RF positioning, I think he’s a near enough must-have to start.

Bottom dollar cheapie Owen Pattie beats out Danny Levi for the bench hooker role.

He’s a potential star, but he’s likely to play 30 minutes max off the bench.

If a starting role arrives at any point he looms as cheapie of the year, but until that point I think there’s very little money to be made so I’m not interested.

Embed from Getty Images

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

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima

Reserves: 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Eddie Ieremia 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi

Analysis: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad holds off Taine Tuaupiki and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the starting fullback spot.

RTS on the wing is hugely relevant in my eyes.

In three games on the wing last season he averaged 72 points per game, scoring in all three fixtures.

His runs and in turn tacklebreaks should sky-rocket and his base and power will hopefully increase making him a serious buy prospect at $553k.

Luke Metcalf is confirmed at halfback with Chanel Harris-Tavita edging Te Maire Martin for the five-eighth role.

CHT is dirt cheap at $330k at 5/8, but with TMM and the currently injured Tanah Boyd lurking the job security is poor.

Embed from Getty Images

Additionally, he could easily flip to the bench at any stage.

In seven 80 minute games last season he averaged 56.71 points, that included a score of 8 in 88 minutes against the Bulldogs!

There’s a strong case to be made, but I’m wary.

Marata Niukore starts on the edge alongside Kurt Capewell which is bad news for cheapie hunters.

Jacob Laban is nowhere to be seen in the squad which must be injury related, we’ll find out more on this.

Leka Halasima and Demetric Vaimauga are both at $232k and present some value, however a four forward bench means limited minutes which makes it hard to know which man to grab.

If Laban is to come back into the mix this also puts doubts on job security.

Embed from Getty Images

PANTHERS v SHARKS

Sunday, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack 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

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luron Patea

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Jesse McLean 21. Luke Sommerton 23. Blaize Talagi

Analysis: Paul Alamoti shifts to the wing in place of the injured Brian To’o (hamstring, round 2 or 3) in a blow for Jesse McLean who is priced at just $234k.

Luke Garner has been named at centre, surely, surely Alamoti plays centre, McLean plays wing and Garner shifts to the bench?

It’s likely the Supercoach bias coming out in me but that seems far more logical with Alamoti’s form at centre in the finals last season.

If the team stays as named it means McLean is potentially two injuries away from a start once To’o returns, making him a tough bench stash to start the season.

As reported in recent days, Jack Cole beats out Blaize Talagi for the five-eighth spot.

Isaiah Papali’i misses out on the starting spot, with Scott Sorensen preferred.

This puts a line through Papali’i, while Sorensen becomes interesting at $485k based on a 50 point average from 64 minute per game in an injury impacted 2024 season.

However, we don’t know if he maintains an 80 minute role so it’s likely too risky, especially with Papali’i spending time on the edge in trials.

Embed from Getty Images

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru

Analysis: In the least interesting analysis, the Sharks have been named essentially 1-17 as forecast so there’s not a heap to add in terms of surprises or role changes.

Craig Fitzgibbon has opted for Daniel Atkinson on the bench, rather than the four forward bench he often opts for.

This is a boost for essentially all forwards who may see a minute increase, including Addin Fonua-Blake who could easily get his 60 minutes per game from 2024 after concerns his time would drop off a touch.

Sam Stonestreet replaces the injured Sione Katoa as expected.

Buying a house? Wanting to save on your mortgage? Need a quick loan? Refinancing? Contact Mortgage Choice SCW