NRL Notepad: Round 1 Preview

What's on the watchlist this week?

• Storm v Eels

  • Sua At The Back

• Sharks v Titans

  • Lachlan Ilias From The Shadows

• Dolphins v Rabbitohs

  • What Defence?

Storm v Eels

Sua At The Back

Sua Faalogo is an exciement machine. He’s a highlight reel player and one that can create something out of nothing from anywhere on the field. Some of the tries I’ve seen him score - a chip and chase out of yardage playing for the North Sydney Bears comes to mind - can only leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

Those aren’t the first traits I usually think of when considering a Bellamy fullback, though.

Ryan Papenhuyzen scored some incredible tries throughout his career, but his reliability and consistency allowed him to do so. His push in support, ability to put himself in position to make the pass early, his timing on the swing out the back of shape. Papenhuyzen used his speed in a variety of ways, and unlike other rapid fullbacks in the competition, can make quick decisions and the right passes at speed.

This is a beauty.

He swings onto the two-man and holds up the pass to sit the winger on his heels. No defender is making a strong tackle with that base. Grant Anderson breezes through the attempted tackle and, as usual, Papenhuyzen is pushing up through the middle to score.

Sharks v Titans

Lachlan Ilias From The Shadows

Having the unfortunate honour of taking over from Adam Reynolds at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, expectations and eye balls have always followed Lachlan Ilias. He fell short of those lofty expectations at Souths and faced another unfortunate situation behind the coaches son at the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Now out of the spotlight at the Gold Coast Titans with little mentioned of him in the build up to the 2026 NRL season, Ilias is suddenly starting in Round 1¹ .

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