The Roosters have suffered an early-season blow with Spencer Leniu going down with a hamstring injury in the pre-game warm-up ahead of Friday night’s clash in New Zealand.

Follow live coverage of the Warriors’ NRL round one match against the Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday night. Stuff sports reporters

The Penrith Panthers will be after revenge when they travel to the scene of their preliminary final exit last year, facing the Brisbane Broncos in a Friday night blockbuster.

Daly Cherry-Evans makes his Sydney Roosters debut on Friday night when the Tricolours travel across the ditch to face the Warriors.

The Roosters start their season in New Zealand against the Warriors before defending premiers Brisbane host the Panthers in a rematch of last year's epic preliminary final at Lang Park. Follow live.

“Forged by what was. Fuelled by what’s next.”

New South Wales will make a change to their preparations ahead this Origin series, moving their training base from the Blue Mountains.

As soon as the Roosters were linked with Daly Cherry-Evans the comparisons with another Queensland star’s arrival at the club in a bid to help them win a premiership were inevitable.

The pre-season betting odds have the Broncos favourites to go back-to-back followed by the Panthers, Roosters, Storm and Bulldogs as the key contenders for the 2026 premiership title.

All you need to know about the Warriors’ season-opener at Go Media Stadium on Friday night. Andrew Voerman