The wait is over, rugby league fans, as round one kicks off this weekend in Las Vegas.
Of course, it is a split round, so the four teams playing in Vegas can get back and avoid jet lag.
In the first game, the Newcastle Knights will take on the North Queensland Cowboys. To put it mildly, both teams had seasons they would rather forget in 2025. It was so bad for both teams that the Knights sacked Adam O’Brien, and the Cowboys’ coach, Todd Payten, will not be at the helm if his side doesn’t finish in the top eight at the very least.
Both sides have changes to their squads for the 2025 season. For the Knights, former Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown will make his debut for the club. Brown signed with the team on a big-money contract last year. While he was in and out of the Eels’ line-up last year due to his signing with the Knights, getting a player of Brown’s calibre was a coup.
Sandon Smith and Trey Mooney are also new faces with the Knights. Smith moved over from the Roosters to make way for Daly Cherry-Evans’ arrival (a mistake in my book), and Mooney left the Canberra Raiders. Both players are strong additions to the team.
For the Cowboys, former Bulldogs player Reed Mahoney leads the new player brigade. Though he has been described as a grub, Mahoney is a competitive and smart player who will be able to turn around the North Queensland club’s fortunes this season. The Bulldogs loss is most certainly the Cowboys gain in this case.
Former Penrith Panther Soni Luke will bring some of that Panthers’ winning formula to the Cowboys, while controversial front-rower Matt Lodge will add some grunt to the pack. Lodge is lucky to be playing in this game after an incident in 2015.
Fletcher Sharpe will be given the first crack at the Knights’ number six jersey. Sharpe played 13 games at five-eighth in 2025, and the new coach Justin Holbrook seems have placed his faith in the 21-year-old. It is surprising that he is getting the first crack, considering Sandon Smith’s season with the Roosters last year.
Speaking of Smith, it will be interesting to see how he is used off the bench in this game. He will most likely come off the bench to play hooker, but if Sharpe and Brown aren’t clicking, it may be wise for Holbrook to give Smith a go in the halves. They may not happen in round one.
Like with Smith, it will be interesting to see how Todd Payten uses Soni Luke. Reed Mahoney can play long minutes in a game, and when the game is close, you may not want to take off the player who can get under the other team’s skin. Luke could possibly be used in a Brendon Smith-type role as a ball-playing lock.
The first round of the season will also see a six-man bench in use for the first time. Will this be a good thing for coaches, or will it cause major headaches? Only time will tell.
Teams
Here is how both teams will line up on Sunday:
Knights: 1, Kalyn Ponga. 2, Dominic Young. 3, Dane Gagai. 4, Bradman Best. 5, Greg Marzhew. 6, Fletcher Sharpe. 7, Dylan Brown. 8, Jacob Saifiti. 9, Phoenix Crossland. 10, Trey Mooney. 11, Dylan Lucas. 12, Jermain McEwen. 13, Tyson Frizzell. Bench: 14, Sandon Smith. 15, Mat Croker. 16, Thomas Cant. 17, Pasami Saulo. 18, Fletcher Hunt. 19, Francis Manuleleua. Reserves: 20, Tyson Gamble. 21, Cody Hopwood. 22, James Schiller.
Cowboys: 1, Scott Drinkwater. 2, Braidon Burns. 3, Jaxon Purdue. 4, Tom Chester. 5, Murray Taulagi. 6, Jake Clifford. 7, Tom Dearden. 8, Coen Hess. 9, Reed Mahoney. 10, Jason Taumalolo. 11, Heilum Luki. 12, Sam McIntyre. 13, Reuben Cotter. 14, Soni Luke. 15, Thomas Mikaele. 16, Harrison Edwards. 17, Kai O’Donnell. 18, Griffin Neame. 19, John Bateman. Reserves: 20, Liam Suttton. 21, Matt Lodge. 22, Robert Derby.
Merce’s Prediction: Cowboys by 14
