NRL teams: SBW to start from bench

SBW ... will begin life as a Rooster from the bench against the Bunnies. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Sonny Bill Williams is in, as is Todd Carney, but Canberra duo Josh Dugan and Jarrod Croker were the big names missing when the teams for the opening round of the NRL season were unveiled on Tuesday.

As expected Williams was named on an impressive Sydney Roosters bench for Thursday night's season-opener against South Sydney - Martin Kennedy, Luke O'Donnell and Boyd Cordner alongside him as one of seven interchange options.

The dual international still has to prove his fitness with concerns over his surgically-repaired pectoral muscle, but Roosters official remain hopeful that he will be right.

The Rabbitohs have skipper Michael Crocker starting from the bench.

Carney, who like Williams failed to feature during any of his side's trials, was also named in the Cronulla No.6 jumper to face Gold Coast on Sunday - the NSW Origin pivot given the green light by coach Shane Flanagan.

Carney hasn't played since tearing his Achilles tendon during last year's finals series, and only returned to full training last week.

He is part of a powerful Sharks squad that includes ex-Penrith duo Michael Gordon and Luke Lewis in the starting side - while Chris Heighington, Anthony Tupou and Jayson Bukuya are all on a six-man interchange bench.

There was no such good news for Raiders fans however, with Dugan (virus) and Croker (knee) not named to play Penrith - though officials haven't given up all hope that either could be a late addition.

"We're in a position where we've basically got everyone fit so we don't see any need to be rushing those guys back for the first round, because it's a long season," assistant coach Andrew Dunemann said.

"There's still a possibility that they could play, but they'd have to prove they are 100 per cent fit.

"If they're not 100 per cent fit then we won't play them because we're more than happy with what we've got as far as replacements."

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Reece Robinson will fill in for Dugan at fullback, with Jack Wighton the new man in the centres.

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson will return from an elbow injury earlier than expected, with former Wigan playmaker Thomas Leuluai to partner him in the halves against Parramatta on Saturday night.

Steve Turner will fill the Canterbury-Bankstown No.1 jumper vacated by the suspended Ben Barba against North Queensland Cowboys, for whom Ray Thompson has got the jump on Robert Lui to be Johnathan Thurston's halves partner.

The Titans have surprisingly named key recruit Dave Taylor on the bench to face the Sharks, with Ben Ridge preferred in the run-on side, while Albert Kelly will be given another crack at the NRL against the team that gave him his first chance.

Wests Tigers have included prop Aaron Woods on a six-man bench as he looks to return from minor knee surgery, with rookie front-rower Jack Buchanan given a starting berth against a powerful Newcastle side that features Beau Scott, Chris Houston and Jeremy Smith in an ominous back-row.

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