There's never been a more exciting and anticipated start to the season and the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs will do the honours when they launch the 2024 Telstra Premiership in style in Las Vegas.
After a massive week of buzz and excitement, it will be strictly business come 1.30 pm (AEDT) on Sunday when the two NRL powerhouses look to kick off their season with a Round 1 win to remember at the iconic Allegiant Stadium.
With both sides missing the finals in 2023, Manly and South Sydney will be looking to make tracks early in the season after injuries and State of Origin duties got the better of them late in the year.
The Sea Eagles have been busy re-signing and recruiting in the off-season and will be hoping to repeat last year's Round 1 success where they downed the Bulldogs 31-6 to win their first opening match since 2012.
The return of superstar Tom Trbojevic only adds to the Vegas vibes ahead of Sunday's season opener with the champion fullback named to return for his first game since injuring his pec in Origin II last year.
Meanwhile, after a tumultuous end to the season last year on and off the field, Jason Demetriou's men will be determined to silence any doubters in Round 1 and prove they're still a certified premiership contender.
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Team News
Sea Eagles: No late changes on game day for Anthony Seibold. Five-eighth Luke Brooks is good to go despite training away from the rest of the squad on Wednesday. The Trbojevic brothers start a game together for just the fifth time with Ben slotting into the back row in the absence of Josh Schuster (calf), who remained in Australia to continue working on his injury. Jake Arthur is 18th Man.
Rabbitohs: No game day changes. Star five-eighth Cody Walker has overcome the calf injury which ruled him out of the Indigenous All Stars team and will take the field. Fullback Latrell Mitchell needs two tries to reach a century of tries in his NRL career. This will be the first time since 1995 that the Rabbitohs have played the Sea Eagles in Round 1. Dean Hawkins is 18th Man.
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Stat Attack
- Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell requires two tries in Saturday’s clash in Las Vegas to reach a century of tries in his NRL career. Mitchell scored 65 tries for the Sydney Roosters and has crossed 33 times for the Rabbitohs since 2020.
- Saturday’s game will be the first NRL fixture to be played outside Australia or New Zealand in 117 seasons of premiership rugby league.
- The Sea Eagles and the Rabbitohs will meet for the 150th time at premiership level. The ledger favours Manly 77 wins to South Sydney’s 72.
- South Sydney have won their past seven games against Manly.
- Manly winger Jason Saab has scored seven tries in his past three NRL games.
- Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 14 tries in 15 games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have won only one of their past 10 Round 1 games.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .