Kangaroos Test star Sione Mata'utia is a shock axing from Newcastle's NRL opener against the Warriors.
After becoming Australia's youngest ever Test debutant in last season's Four Nations campaign, Mata'utia was expected to be one of the young stars of the 2015 season.
But the 18-year-old is set to start the season in the NSW Cup or the Holden Cup after being named as the Knights' 18th man for their clash with the Warriors at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Joseph Leilua has been preferred for Mata'utia, and Leilua will play alongside Dane Gagai in the centres for the Knights, in Rick Stone's return to the head coaching role.
After an off-season punctuated by the Arizona arrests of South Sydney duo John Sutton and Luke Burgess and Gold Coast's cocaine dramas, the NRL season kicks off on Thursday night when Brisbane host the Rabbitohs in coach Wayne Bennett's first match in charge of the Broncos since 2008.
Five-eighth Anthony Milford will make his Broncos debut while Glenn Stewart, Sutton and Ben Lowe make up a new look Rabbitohs back-row after Sam Burgess and Ben Teo's defection to rugby.
Manly's 2014 injury curse has carried over into the new season ahead of their Friday trip to Parramatta.
Steve Matai (shoulder) Jorge Taufua (knee), Tom Symonds (elbow) and Josh Starling (knee) are all missing from the Sea Eagles line-up, with Jamie Lyon (knee) in doubt.
"I'm not sure yet," Lyon told AAP.
"I've just got to get into training and rehab and see how I go.
"It's just some old scar tissue around the knee.
"Fingers crossed, but I'm 50/50."
Anthony Watmough will make his Eels debut against his former club, while another ex-Sea Eagle, Will Hopoate, will replace San Fransisco-bound Jarryd Hayne at fullback.
None of the five players facing drug charges have been named in the Titans side for Wests Tigers' visit to the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Blake Ferguson will play his first NRL game in almost 22 months when Sydney Roosters travel to Townsville to play North Queensland on Saturday.
Brett Morris is at fullback in his Canterbury debut in their trip to meet Penrith on Sunday.
Brett will play an NRL match alongside twin brother Josh for the first time 2008, while hooker Michael Lichaa will debut for the Dogs.
He is replacing Michael Ennis, who has gone to Cronulla and will play his first game for the Sharks against Canberra.
Captain Cameron Smith has been named to make an early return from an ankle injury for Melbourne's clash against the Dragons on Kogarah Oval on Monday night to conclude round one.
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