South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters – Thursday night – ANZ Stadium

It's been 21 weeks (it really has) since the Chooks claimed the 2013 grand final. That side remains virtually intact but for the retired Luke O'Donnell. His more than capable replacement is Dylan Napa - a player we'll be hearing about frequently this season and beyond. the Roosters are, for the most part, still a young and improving side. Given the levels they reached in 2013 it has me wondering if there is a team in the NRL that can rise to the challenge. The Rabbitohs are testing a new halves pairing and it may take them some time to get the combination right. Cracking the Roosters defence wasn't easy last year, and I don't expect it to be any easier this year. A massive game, obviously, but it's chicken on Thursday night for me.

Verdict – Roosters

Result - Rabbitohs 28 defeated Roosters 8

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – ANZ Stadium

Here's a little something I noticed while I was working my way through the team sheets for this round - about 85% of captains these days are forwards. Given the increased number of 80 minute forwards in the game I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Speaking of captains and forwards, Corey Parker takes over the reins at Bronconia from another forward (Sam Thaiday) who would prefer to focus his efforts on being a forward. Corey Parker has a pretty woeful win rate as captain, although to be fair his record isn't as bad as it looks (many of his losses as captain have been during State of Origin periods when his side has been understrength). No doubt Ben Barba will be getting plenty of attention on Friday night, and I'm sure my favourite bully Michael Ennis will have some choice words for him at some point in proceedings. Both sides will be primed after disappointing campaigns in 2013 but I'm leaning slightly to the Bulldogs - I need to see this playmaking experiment at the Broncos (Hoffman and Barba rotating between five-eighth and fullback) before I can believe in it.

Verdict – Bulldogs

Result - Broncos 18 defeated Bulldogs 12

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday night – Centrebet Stadium

Many of you may have read that I'm keen on the Panthers this year. I'm keen on them this weekend as well, although it's worth noting that Jamal Idris has been named but probably won't play. He's a big out, but not as big as the absence of Jarrod Mullen for the Knights. I think the Panthers have a significant advantage up front, and the absense of the Mullen kicking game has me convinced the Panthers will be dominating field position for much of the 80 minutes. I love the Panthers pack of forwards, I love their interchange forwards and I love their two number nines...I think Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace will love it too.

Verdict – Panthers

Result - Panthers 30 defeated Knights 8

Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Brookvale Oval

Some significant exclusions for the home side with both regular wingers (Wolfman and Taufua) ruled out, although I am a fan of both their replacements (Cheyse Blair and Peta Hiku). Co-captain Jason King is also out, and Josh Starling steps in and I must admit he's not a player I'm familiar with. He'll have his work cut out for him, as he'll be confronted by an enormous pack of purple forwards (and an even bigger bench). The team with the dominant forward pack usually wins, and I'm quite certain the Storm have the upper hand here. That said, I can't warm to Ben and Ben (Hampton and Roberts) the playmaker men for the Storm. I don't like to knock anyone playing in the NRL but Ben and Ben aren't going to give you what you'll get from Cherry-Evans and Foran. So I'll break with convention and pick the side with the weaker pack of forwards. The Sea Eagles won't create as many opportunities as the Storm, but they'll have more success converting the opportunities they do get into points.

Verdict – Sea Eagles

Result - Storm 23 defeated Sea Eagles 22

North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

Nine-a-side football is a long way from the regular version of the game, but what the Cowboys delivered at the Auckland Nines certainly impressed me. Their defense had all the hallmarks of those teams that win premierships, and there are many at the club that are super impressed by new coach Paul Green. If the Cowboys can finish the season in the top four they can win the competition, but to do so they need to keep racking up the points at home. A win over Canberra, a team that clearly don't like airports and hotels, is a good way to get their 2014 campaign off on the right foot.

Verdict – Cowboys

Result - Cowboys 28 defeated Raiders 22

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

Most of the rugby league world will tell you the Tigers will win the spoon this year, but their trial form leading into round one has been pretty darn good. Taking trial form on face value is fraught with danger, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt here - particularly against an opponent as spectacularly average as the Dragons. Most will be tipping the Dragons here, but I'm quietly optimistic that most will be wrong.

Verdict – Tigers

Result - Dragons 44 defeated Tigers 24

Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday night – Pirtek Stadium

If there's one thing I don't like doing, it's tipping the Warriors away from home in a night game. Their record under those circumstances is too bad to ignore. I'm not ignoring it completely, but I also can't ignore my sense that the Eels are three or four very good players away from being a genuine outfit. They'll make a game of this, and they can certainly win it, but they'll be doing so without my support.

Verdict – Warriors

Result - Eels 36 defeated Warriors 16

Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans – Monday night – Remondis Stadium

If you can believe Sharks captain Paul Gallen (and I'm not sure that I can) then Todd Carney is next to no hope of lining up on Monday night. With or without Carney I expect we'll see a fired-up home side on Monday night. Luke Lewis and Jeff Robson are also out, so I expect Wade Graham or John Morris to slot in. It's hardly ideal, but the Sharks will win this one based on sheer grunt and willpower. The weight of money is behind the Titans, but I'll stick with the ASADA Sharks in what looks like a brutal encounter. Keep your eye out for Dave 'Coaltrain' Taylor - apparently he's fit this year.

Verdict – Sharks

Result - Titans 18 defeated Sharks 12

Wally Lewis - round one selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

• Rabbitohs vs ROOSTERS
• Bulldogs vs BRONCOS
• Panthers vs KNIGHTS
• SEA EAGLES vs Storm
• COWBOYS vs Raiders
• DRAGONS vs Tigers
• Eels vs WARRIORS
• Sharks vs TITANS