Can defending champs Brisbane kick-start their title defence with a first-up win over the Panthers, the team they eliminated in an epic preliminary final in September?
Can the Melbourne Storm continue their phenomenal record of being undefeated in Round 1 since Craig Bellamy took charge in 2003?
That Friday night blockbuster will be played at Suncorp Stadium, the scene of Adam Reynolds’ heroics as the Broncos ended Penrith’s four-year reign as champions.
Can Dylan Brown carry his explosive Pacific Championships form into 2026 and lead his new club Newcastle to victory in Vegas?
NRL.com runs the rule over an intriguing opening round of the 2026 season that kicks off on March 1 at the magnificent Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and concludes with the Dolphins hosting the Rabbitohs on Sunday afternoon.
How’s This For Openers
Sunday March 1 – Bulldogs v Dragons @ Allegiant Stadium
The Bulldogs enjoyed a sensational 2025 season but a straight-sets exit from the finals series will serve as extra motivation over the hot summer months on the training track. The arrival of powerhouse prop Leo Thompson adds another string to Cameron Ciraldo’s bow and the Bulldogs pack will look to make an early statement against the enigmatic Dragons, who haven’t played finals since 2018. All eyes will be on young gun Lachlan Galvin as he suits up for his 15th game as a Bulldog, looking to set Allegiant Stadium alight and convince the blue and white army that he’s the man to lead them to the promised land.
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Galvin with the soft touch
Sunday March 1 – Knights v Cowboys @ Allegiant Stadium
On the back of a stunning Pacific Championships campaign with the Kiwis and a full pre-season with his new teammates, Dylan Brown gets his first chance to impress long-suffering Knights fans. In concert with Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Fletcher Sharpe, the former Eel is on a mission to deliver the Knights their third premiership and first since 2001. If the Knights are to launch their 2026 season in style they will need to shut down the Cowboys’ myriad attacking weapons led by Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden.
Thursday March 5 – Storm v Eels @ AAMI Park
The kings of the opening round confront a rising Eels outfit that found its mojo the longer 2025 went on and now look ready to deliver on their potential. Coach Jason Ryles has moulded the Eels into a dangerous outfit with speed out wide, power up front and an elite No.7 calling the shots in Mitch Moses. And talking of elite halfbacks, 2024 Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes will have the Storm humming on home soil as they look to continue their remarkable Round 1 domination that stretches back to 2003. After coming up short in the 2025 grand final and missing the Kiwis’ Pacific Cup triumph with a neck injury, Hughes has all the motivation he needs to lead the Storm’s title charge in 2026.
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Grant continues dominant run
Friday March 6 – Warriors v Roosters @ Go Media Stadium
The Warriors will have fond memories of last season’s clash against the Roosters where they rode the back of an outrageous performance by fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (30 runs for 316 metres, 7 tackle breaks) to get home 14-6 in front of the Wahs faithful at Go Media Stadium. Those same passionate fans will be out in force again to see whether their main man Luke Metcalf can get the points over Daly Cherry-Evans in his first match in Roosters colours after a decorated 352-game career at the Sea Eagles.
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CNK runs wild
Friday March 6 – Broncos v Panthers @ Suncorp Stadium
One of the most remarkable matches of the 2025 season played out at Suncorp Stadium on September 28 when the Broncos climbed off the canvas to beat the Panthers 16-14 and deny Ivan Cleary’s men a shot at a fifth straight title. With so many superstar players on both sides and the memory of that preliminary final fresh in everyone’s mind, this promises to be an absolute classic to launch the season.
Saturday March 7 – Sharks v Titans @ Sharks Stadium
The Sharks and Titans have typically been slow starters, with Round 1 strike rates of 43.9 per cent and 44.4 per cent respectively. In 2025 the Titans had a bye in the opening round before going down 40-24 to the Bulldogs in Round 2. The Sharks meanwhile launched their season in Vegas where they lost to the Panthers before winning their next two against the Cowboys and Rabbitohs. New Titans coach Josh Hannay spent a number of seasons working alongside Craig Fitzgibbon at Cronulla and has been open in his praise of the work Fitzy has done to turn the Sharks into a force. The two will match wits in a clash that pits Nicho Hynes against Jayden Campbell in the halves and Addin Fonua-Blake against Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in the middle. Bring it on!
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All Tries – Sharks v Titans
Saturday March 7 – Sea Eagles v Raiders @ 4 Pines Park
Former Raiders playmaker Jamal Fogarty gets to mix it up early with his old teammates as he steps into the shoes vacated by Daly Cherry-Evans. Manly fans will be keen to see how quickly the 31-year-old settles into life at Brookvale and whether he gels with Luke Brooks to unlock attacking weapons Tom Trbojevic, Tolu Koula and Reuben Garrick. The Green Machine were purring in 2025 and claimed the minor premiership before going down to Brisbane in a gripping 93-minute qualifying final and bowing out at the hands of Cronulla a week later. All the pieces are in place for the Raiders to matching it with the big guns again in 2026 and a first-up win in hostile territory at 4 Pines would be the ideal start.
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Four for new dad Garrick
Sunday March 8 – Dolphins v Rabbitohs @ Suncorp Stadium
The Dolphins and Bunnies met in Round 1 in 2025 in a match transferred from Brisbane to Parramatta due to the impact of Cyclone Alfred and it was Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs getting the cash 16-14. That was the start of a tough month for the Dolphins who lost their first four matches before recovering to win 12 of their last 20 and come within one win of the top eight. A more settled build-up to 2026 will have them primed for a huge opening day at Suncorp where they will add new signing Selwyn Cobbo to a blistering backline that features Isaiya Katoa, Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
