NRL.com's predicted Cowboys v Bulldogs line-ups

With the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership season less than a week away, we take a look at how your team could line up for Round 1.

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Brisbane Broncos

Adam Reynolds' COVID results mean he won't be available to take on his former club, South Sydney, while Kobe Hetherington is also sidelined under the protocols. Brendan Piakura and Thomas Flegler are both unavailable through suspension, while Tesi Nui is still weeks away with a hamstring injury.

1. Selwyn Cobbo
2. Corey Oates
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Jamayne Isaako
6. Billy Walters
7. Albert Kelly
8. Payne Haas
9. Jake Turpin
10. Rhys Kennedy
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Jordan Riki
13. Pat Carrigan
Interchange:
14. Cory Paix
15. TC Robati
16. Keenan Palasia
17. Corey Jensen

Canberra Raiders

With Jamal Fogarty (knee) missing for an extended period of time, young Brad Schneider could start alongside Jack Wighton in the halves for Round 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was on club's COVID isolation list during the trial matches, has returned to full training.

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Semi Valemei
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. Brad Schneider
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Ryan Sutton
11. Hudson Young
12. Adam Elliott
13. Elliott Whitehead
Interchange:
14. Tom Starling
15. Joseph Tapine
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Corey Harawira-Naera

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

It will be a new-look Bulldogs side in 2022 with a host of new recruits set to officially wear the blue and white for the first time in Round 1. Jake Averilllo partnered Matt Burton in the halves in his side's second trial last week and appears likely to do so for the season opener.

1. Matt Dufty
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Brent Naden
4. Aaron Schoupp
5. Corey Allan
6. Matt Burton
7. Jake Averillo
8. Luke Thompson
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Tevita Pangai jnr
12. Corey Waddell
13. Josh Jackson
Interchange:
14. Jack Hetherington
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Max King
17. Bailey Biondi-Odo

Cronulla Sharks

Cameron McInnes' first game for the Sharks will have to wait after another untimely knee injury will see him miss the first few games, while Wade Graham (ankle) will also miss the opening month. Franklin Pele and Braydon Trindall are suspended until Round 2 and 3 respectively.

1. Will Kennedy
2. Ronaldo Mulitalo
3. Connor Tracey
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Sione Katoa
6. Matt Moylan
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Dale Finucane
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Braden Hamlin-Uele
11. Briton Nikora
12. Siosifa Talakai
13. Toby Rudolf
Interchange:
14. Andrew Fifita
15. Teig Wilton
16. Aiden Tolman
17. Royce Hunt

Gold Coast Titans

Relatively injury-free heading into the new season, the Titans have strong competition for spots in the forward pack with the likes of Will Smith, Herman Ese'ese, Sam McIntyre and Sam Lisone all in contention for spots. Jamal Fogarty's departure means the young spine trio of Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson and Toby Sexton will take the field for the first time together in Round 1.

1. Jayden Campbell
2. Corey Thompson
3. Brian Kelly
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Phillip Sami
6. AJ Brimson
7. Toby Sexton
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Erin Clark
10. Jarrod Wallace
11. David Fifita
12. Kevin Proctor
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Interchange:
14. Tanah Boyd
15. Isaac Liu
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Beau Fermor

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Despite an injury scare in the trial matches, Martin Taupau is expected to be right for Round 1 and will start in the front row alongside giant prop Taniela Paseka. Haumole Olakau’atu (elbow) and Josh Aloiai (suspension, round four) will miss the start of the year while Josh Schuster (ankle) is also sidelined for up to a month. Ethan Bullemor is likely to take his place in the back row for round one.

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Brad Parker
4. Morgan Harper
5. Jason Saab
6. Kieran Foran
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Martin Taupau
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Ethan Bullemor
12. Karl Lawton
13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange:
14. Dylan Walker
15. Sean Keppie
16. Morgan Boyle
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Melbourne Storm

Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Chris Lewis will all miss Round 1 through suspension, but Brandon Smith will now be eligible and will start against Wests Tigers. Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle) could be sidelined for the season opener, which would likely see new recruit Nick Meaney start at fullback in his place.

1. Nick Meaney
2. George Jennings
3. Justin Olam
4. Reimis Smith
5. Xavier Coates
6. Jayden Nikorima
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Tyran Wishart
10. Christian Welch
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Brandon Smith
Interchange:
14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
15. Tom Eisenhuth
16. Tepai Moeroa
17. Josh King

Newcastle Knights

With Hymel Hunt (knee) set to miss the opening few weeks, Dominic Young and Edrick Lee are both in contention to start on the wing. Dane Gagai will play his first NRL game in Knights colours since 2017 while Chris Randall takes the hooking role following Jayden Brailey's achilles injury.

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Enari Tuala
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Dominic Young
6. Jake Clifford
7. Adam Clune
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Chris Randall
10. David Klemmer
11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Kurt Mann
Interchange
14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Mitch Barnett
17. Brodie Jones

North Queensland Cowboys

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Valentine Holmes both appear settled in their new positions, while Jason Taumalolo will be right to go after sitting out the trial matches.

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Peta Hiku
5. Kyle Feldt
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Coen Hess
9. Reece Robson
10. Jordan McLean
11. Heilum Luki
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
14. Scott Drinkwater
15. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Mitchell Dunn

Parramatta Eels

Knee injuries to Maika Sivo and Haze Dunster open the door for Sean Russell and Bailey Simonsson to start on the wing, while Nathan Brown should be right for the season opener despite missing the trials with a leg injury. Marata Niukore isn’t available until Round 2 due to suspension.

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Sean Russell
3. Waqa Blake
4. Will Penisini
5. Bailey Simsonsson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Junior Paulo
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12. Shaun Lane
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 
14. Ryan Matterson
15. Oregon Kaufusi
16. Makahesi Makatoa
17. Ray Stone

Penrith Panthers

Nathan Cleary looks set to be right to kick off the 2022 season on Thursday night after off-season shoulder surgery. Izack Tago and Charlie Staines performed strongly during the trials and look likely to win spots in the backline for Round 1. 

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To'o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Izack Tago
5. Charlie Staines
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Api Koroisau
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange:
14. Mitch Kenny
15. Matt Eisenhuth
16. Scott Sorensen
17. Spencer Leniu

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Blake Taaffe will start at fullback in place of Latrell Mitchell (suspension) while Lachlan Ilias steps up to fill Adam Reynolds' vacant number seven jersey. Jai Arrow played on an edge in the Charity Shield and looks set to do so again in round one.

1. Blake Taaffe
2. Alex Johnston
3. Jaxson Paulo
4. Campbell Graham
5. Josh Mansour
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damien Cook
10. Mark Nichols
11. Jai Arrow
12. Keaon Koloamatangi
13. Cameron Murray
Interchange:
14. Tom Burgess
15. Siliva Havili
16. Michael Chee Kam
17. Jacob Host

St. George-Illawarra Dragons

Tyrell Sloan looks set to wear the number one jersey to start the year with Talatau Amone to play alongside Ben Hunt in the halves. Jack Bird could start in the back row if Tariq Sims, who didn't play in the trials, misses round one, while Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh McGuire are both suspended until round six.

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Mikaele Ravalawa
3. Zac Lomax
4. Moses Suli
5. Cody Ramsey
6. Talatau Amone
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Aaron Woods
11. Jaydn Su’A
12. Tariq Sims
13. Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Jack Bird
15. Josh Kerr
16. George Burgess
17. Moses Mbye

Sydney Roosters

Sam Verrills and Joseph Suaalii will both miss the opening round, meaning Kevin Naiqama and Connor Watson will both likely start at wing and hooker respectively. Luke Keary and Sam Walker will start in the halves for their first game together, while James Tedesco will be right to play despite sitting out the trial matches.

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Paul Momirovski
4. Joseph Manu
5. Kevin Naiqama
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Connor Watson
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Angus Crichton
12. Sitili Tupouniua
13. Victor Radley
Interchange:
14. Lachlan Lam
15. Nat Butcher
16. Lindsay Collins
17. Fletcher Baker

Warriors

Shaun Johnson's return back to the Warriors will see him start in the halves alongside Kodi Nikorima, who appears set to win the number six jersey after strong performances in the Harvey Norman All Stars and trials. Reece Walsh's one-game suspension will likely see Chanel Harris-Tavita start at fullback for Round 1, while Bunty Afoa could start for Matt Lodge.

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Bunty Afoa
9. Wayde Egan
10. Addin Fonua-Blake
11. Euan Aitken
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Josh Curran
Interchange:
14. Jazz Tevaga
15. Bayley Sironen
16. Ben Murdoch-Masila
17. Aaron Pene

Wests Tigers

New recruits Oliver Gildart, Jackson Hastings and Tyrone Peachey all appear set to win starting spots at their new club. Jake Simpkin will start at hooker with Jacob Liddle suffering another knee injury, while Alex Twal will start for co-captain James Tamou, who is suspended for the opening round.

1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Oliver Gildart
4. James Roberts
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Jackson Hastings
7. Luke Brooks
8. Alex Twal
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Stefano Utoikamanu
11. Luke Garner
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Tyrone Peachey
Interchange:
14. Kelma Tuilagi
15. Joe Ofahengaue
16. Zane Musgrove
17. Thomas Mikaele