Billy Walters was the Broncos’ chief hooker during his dad’s reign as Brisbane coach but Michael Maguire has arrived and relegated him to the bench.
Cory Paix is set for his first NRL game since round 27, 2023 after Maguire named the 25-year-old at No.9 for the Broncos’ season-opening match against the Roosters, to be played at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
Kevin Walters was regularly accused of favouring his son during his time as Brisbane’s coach, which culminated in his sacking at the end of the Broncos’ disastrous 2024 campaign.
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Paix has won a four-way hooking battle by beating Walters, Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy to Brisbane’s No.9 jersey.
Hunt is expected to shuffle to hooker once suspended five-eighth Ezra Mam is available to return in round 10, but the off-contract Paix will be doing everything he can to impress in the No.9 jumper as he aims to score a new deal.
Check out below the opening-round squads of each club.
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Billy Walters of the Broncos. Getty
THURSDAY
Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, Allianz Stadium (8pm)
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Roosters analysis: Front-rower Spencer Leniu will miss the first two rounds due to suspension, which has paved the way for Naufahu Whyte to start at prop. Sam Walker and Brandon Smith will both miss the first half of the season as they recover from ACL injuries. Veteran halfback Chad Townsend will make his Roosters debut as centre Robert Toia and backrower Salesi Foketi play their first NRL games.
Mark Nawaqanitawase will line up in the centres for the Roosters. Getty
1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter 20. Martin Taupau 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Jaiyden Hunt
Broncos analysis: Deine Mariner and Gehamat Shibasaki will play in the centres after Kotoni Staggs (quadriceps) was ruled out for about a month, with Gehamat Shibasaki set to make his Broncos debut. Hunt will partner Adam Reynolds in the halves due to Ezra Mam’s suspension.
FRIDAY
Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights, Campbelltown Stadium (6pm)
Fletcher Sharpe will play five-eighth for the Knights. Getty
1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter
Tigers team news: Jahream Bula (shoulder) remains in doubt for the season opener, which could see Sunia Turuva fill in at fullback. Brent Naden (knee) is sidelined long-term, with Adam Doueihi likely to play in the centres. Jarome Luai didn’t feature in either of the side’s trial fixtures, but should be named in the No.7 jumper. Api Koroisau will miss the club’s first game due to suspension.
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Adam Elliott
Knights team news: No major changes expected from the team that belted the Roosters in the trials, with Jack Cogger and Fletcher Sharpe all but locked in to get the first crack in the halves for Newcastle this season.
Dolphins vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium (8.05pm)
Tallis Duncan is in line to replace Cameron Murray. Getty
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai
1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata
SATURDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Kogarah Oval (5.30pm)
There’s plenty of competition for spots in the Dragons backline. Getty
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth
1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys, Brookvale Oval (7.35pm)
John Bateman has joined the Cowboys. Getty
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo
SUNDAY
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels, AAMI Park (4.05pm)
Sua Faalogo could start the season at fullback. Getty
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Kane Bradley
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jake Tago 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Jordan Samrani 20. Toni Mataele 21. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Joey Lussick
