Boom Broncos youngster Payne Haas has been named to start from the bench for Wynnum Manly when the Intrust Super Cup kicks off on Saturday.
Impressive in trials for Brisbane, Haas is pencilled in for jersey 17 when the Seagulls travel to Cairns to take on a Northern Pride side which stars Todd Carney at five-eighth.
Former Dally M Player of the Year winner Carney will partner last year’s Dally M Under 20s Player of the Year Jake Clifford in the halves, with Italian World Cup representative Ryan Ghietti at hooker.
Elsewhere, former State of Origin representative Dave Taylor has been selected in the second row for the Central Capras’ clash against Easts Tigers at Browne Park, Rockhampton, also on Saturday night.
Easts will pack down with NRL experience right across the front row, with props Patrick Kaufusi and David Tyrrell binding around hooker Brandon Smith who has moved from the Falcons.
Another NRL veteran in Sam Tagataese will take the field for Norths a decade after he last featured for the Devils in the Intrust Super Cup.
Contracted to Melbourne in his first stint in Devils colours, the Samoan international has since played for the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla, and is now on the Brisbane Broncos’ books.
Tagataese has been named at prop, with former New Zealand Warrior John Palavi adding experience to the side from lock.
The Devils will take on Tweed Heads at Bishop Park on Sunday, with ex Devil and recent First Nation Goannas representative Tristan Lumley up front for the visitors.
Fellow First Nations representatives Michael Purcell and Wesley Conlon are at the back for the Ipswich Jets as they face reigning champions PNG away at Port Moresby.
The Jets will have Samuel Caslick – brother of Australian rugby union star Charlotte Caslick – in the centres with Fijian representative Pio Seci.
PNG has named Adam Korave at lock.
A cousin of recently deceased PNG star Kato Ottio, Korave played last season for the Fassifern Bombers in the Ipswich competition.
Officially starting the season in the TV game on Channel 9 at 1.10pm on Saturday will be Sunshine Coast versus Burleigh.
The two coastal sides are set to meet at Kawana Waters, with Falcons winger Matt Soper-Lawler fresh off scoring 17 tries in his debut season for the 2017 runners-up.
Ex North Queensland Cowboys forward Blake Leary lines up for his first competition game in Burleigh colours.
Meanwhile, Mackay welcomes back favourite sons Jardine Bobongie and Tyson Martin for its home clash with Townsville on Saturday.
Bobongie captained Mackay’s breakthrough premiership side of 2013, a team which contained Townsville winger Kalifa Faifai Loa.
Former St George Illawarra forward Jake Marketo is expected be a key contributor for Townsville this season, having arrived back after a season playing rugby union in Romania.
Rounding out the first weekend of the season Redcliffe hosts Souths Logan at Dolphin Stadium, with Manly Sea Eagles signings Cameron Cullen and Jamil Hopoate sure to turn heads.
For full team lists for round one CLICK HERE.