Here we are! The shortest off-season is over, Cameron Smith has officially retired and the path leading to Round 1 has been walked.

The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel are back for another year to debate who is winning what and have a lot of fun along the way.

The panel for 2021 is exactly the same as the one who appeared on these pages every Thursday last season. AJ Mithen is back to defend his crown, while Mary Konstantopoulos, David Holden and The Barry are all back for another go.

The only difference is that, this year, the previous week’s winner will lead us off, just to keep things fresh. That being said, AJ is the defending champion, so he will go first for the new year.

Round 1 launches in Victoria – a place which hosted very little rugby league last year thanks to COVID – as the Storm host the Rabbitohs in the first post-Cameron Smith era game.

The Knights and Bulldogs kick things off in the dreaded early Friday spot, and then it’s the Channel Nine Broncos, fresh off a first ever wooden spoon, facing the Eels in prime time.

The Warriors will play on the Central Coast again for the first portion of 2021, kicking things off against the Titans in what should be an intriguing clash, with a new-look Titans side looking to make major strides this season.

Ever consistent, the Roosters then will look to put Manly to the sword at the SCG, before last year’s runner-up Penrith play the men from Townsville, a Cowboys side in desperate need of a good season.

The first Sunday afternoon clash of the year comes to us from the nation’s capital, with the Raiders to play the Tigers, before a local derby closes the round, as the Dragons play the Sharks at the famous Kogarah Oval.

Round 1 is always tough to pick. There are some games this week hair has been pulled in agony and coins are going to be flipped.

Remember to get your tips into the form below by 6pm (AEDT) on Sunday to join The Roar’s NRL tipping competition for 2020 and be featured as part of the Crowd’s tips for Round 1.

AJ Mithen

Tips: Storm, Knights, Broncos, Titans, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Dragons

It’s great to be back tipping season 2021. As your resident ‘expert’ ‘champion’, I look forward to good-naturedly crushing you all yet again!

Storm will beat the Bunnies but I wouldn’t put it past Wayne to sneak an early uppercut in. This should be a belter of a season opener.

Knights versus Bulldogs? Two teams with nothing to offer and little to care about? A draw? Who cares? Knights.

I think Brisbane are red hot for the Round 1 upset of the Eels. Team like Parra have designs on top four spots and have little interest in early rounds. Brisbane will be barrelling out of the gate and I’m on board

Warriors versus Titans might be interesting. Oh, wait. Nathan Brown is coaching NZ. Titans by 40.

Roosters versus Manly, would be a danger game for the Chooks but there’s too many questions about the Sea Eagles this year. Roosters but not by a stack.

The Cowboys are an interesting one this season. They’ll be well organised and there’s talent there, but who knows where they’ll end up. They should play finals, but they ain’t beating Penrith in Penrith in Round 1.

My beautiful, premiership-bound Canberra Raiders will rack up a cricket score as they pulverise Wests by a minimum of 56.

I’m interested in Sharks versus Dragons. This might be a sneaky good one. Good as in bad, that is. I’ve gone Dragons because I think they’ll be better than so many think.

Here’s your winners, now come and get me!

Mary Konstantopoulos

Tips: Storm, Knights, Eels, Titans, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks

The opening match of the season is an absolute cracker and one that I found really hard to tip. In the end I’ve gone with Melbourne because to tip against them at home is risky. The Storm have had plenty of change this year; no Cameron Smith and Harry Grant injured for the first few rounds, but I have no doubt that Craig Bellamy will still find a way for this team to win.

I expect significant improvement from the Bulldogs this year, but but they won’t have enough star power to beat the Knights. Keep an eye on Mitchell Pearce; for the Knights to make the eight his role is crucial. I wonder what impact the off-season has had on his relationship with his teammates?

The ‘Kevolution’ has come for the Broncos. Or has it? We’ll know more after their performance in round one against the Eels.

I’m tipping the Eels for this one. Just on the Eels, if they have any hope of making the eight a good start to the season is crucial. From Round 16 onwards the Eels almost exclusively come up against teams certain to make the top eight. It’ll be a tough run home for the blue and gold so really important for them to start the season well.

I have little faith in Nathan Brown as a coach so it’s impossible for me to pick the Warriors and also, after seeing Manly’s team list and the lack of depth this team has, I simply cannot tip them against the Roosters.

The Panthers will roll the Cowboys and the Raiders will beat the Tigers (just).

As for the Dragons, I hope they show more in their opening game than they did in the trials. Otherwise Dragons fans are in for a long season ahead. Sharks to win the local derby.

David Holden

Tips: Storm, Knights, Eels, Titans, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Dragons

It doesn’t seem that long ago we were still working our way through the State of Origin series and, suddenly, it’s all about to begin again. Thursday night will be the opening night of the 2021 NRL season.

Coming back for my second season of Roar Tipping, I’m no longer a rookie. Whilst I kind of liked the rookie tag, there’s a few lessons I learnt from my first season.

First, try and stay with AJ early and, two, Scott will always pick the Dragons, no matter what (Scott here: Or will he?). With all that in mind, here we go.

There’s nothing like an easy tipping match to start the season but, unfortunately, we don’t get one here. The Rabbits and Storm could easily be playing the grand final in 2021.

Both teams’ trial form has been top notch, so nothing to provide a hint there. I’m leaning towards the Storm given home ground advantage and a good record against South Sydney.

First up Friday night we see the Knights taking on a newish looking Bulldogs. The Knights will be without Kalyn Ponga so the Bulldogs have timed this nicely. It won’t matter though with a full McDonald Jones Stadium, or as full as COVID restrictions allow, to get Newcastle home.

Surprise, surprise, Friday’s prime time match features the Broncos. Can Kevvy Walters work miracles in Brisbane? I think they will improve but I can’t see them edging last year’s early season premiers. The Eels will still be dirty after going out in straight sets last season and they will get the win.

The Warriors return to their Australian home of the Central Coast on Saturday afternoon. After what they endured last year, you wonder whether they can back it up and do it all again. The Titans finished last season with a wet sail and I feel they are a smoky for the title. They will win.

Tommy Turbo. Just when things were looking bright for the Sea Eagles, he races in the Corso and twinges his hammy.

Ok, I know he said he did it in the bathroom but I don’t know of too many young athletes who do that. Corso or the Bathroom, it doesn’t really matter. Roosters will get the chocolates.

Saturday night finishes at Panthers Stadium. Penrith have lost plenty of experience but have kept the core of the young team that went so close in 2020. They will win at home but I think the Cowboys will be big improvers this year.

Let’s set the scene here. Sunday afternoon in Canberra. The Tigers trial form was so good the crowd gave them a standing ovation at half time. Premature celebration, maybe? Two Raiders players stood down for being stupid. This is exactly what drives Ricky Stuart. Canberra to get the win.

We finish the weekend with the local derby at Kogarah. As a Sharks supporter, I have no fears about this one. The Sharks are sitting on approximately one first round victory since, like well, forever. I will be more than a little agitated with the result but not surprised. Dragons to get a win.

The Barry

Tips: Storm, Bulldogs, Eels, Warriors, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks

The older I get the quicker time seems to go… Except for footy off seasons! I was really looking forward to this season until I sat down to try and tip these games.

Craig Bellamy must have to pinch himself at times. Cameron Smith retires and he can replace him with the most exciting young player in the game.

Harry Grant gets injured and he brings in the Kiwi 9. I expect the Storm and Rabbitohs to be there when the whips are cracking but home ground advantage and Melbourne’s freaky Round 1 record give them the edge.

The Knights in Newcastle was one of only three games the Bulldogs won last year. I swore I was going to tip with my head from the start but that’s enough for me to get on the Bulldogs.

I think the Broncos v Eels game will be a lot closer than the bookies do, with the Eels installed as $1.30 favourites. I’m tipping the Eels but a Broncos victory wouldn’t blow the hair back.

Saturday afternoon sees everyone’s second favourite the Gosford Warriors host everyone’s smokey the Titans. Another game that is an absolute coin flip. I’m going to be at Gosford races on Saturday so I’m tipping the Warriors.

Finally a game I can tip with confidence. The Roosters in a canter over the Sea Eagles which means the Roosters are now morals to get rolled.

What a tragedy to see Bulldog Matt Burton named at 19 for the Panthers. Come on Cleary, let him go! You’ve still got three halves named in front of him. Panthers.

The Raiders find themselves two Coreys short thanks to a tandem drink driving escapade. At this rate Harawira-Naera will find himself spending his off seasons trussed up like Hannibal Lecter. The Corey-less Raiders to be too strong for the new look Tigers.

Rather than taking bets on the outcome of the Dragons vs Sharks game, the bookies should frame a market on who’ll last longer, Jack Bird or Matt Moylan. Shaun Johnson has already been scratched. Sharks to win.

Scott Pryde

Tips: Storm, Knights, Eels, Titans, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks

Well, you can lock in at least four of the above teams to lose. In saying that, I hope one of them is the Sharks, and I might as well start there. It’s going to be a long season as a Dragons supporter. Fingers crossed they surprise me, but Cronulla will start their season with a win.

Back to the season-opener though, and Melbourne should get the better of South Sydney. Their ridiculous Round 1 record is just too much to look past, as is South Sydney’s inconsistency last season.

Newcastle will get the better of Canterbury. I expect the Bulldogs to be one of the most improved sides this year, but it might take them a while to find their gear as the re-build takes full swing at Belmore.

Parramatta should do a number on the Broncos, who are going to be in for another long winter, while the Titans will get the better of the Warriors on the Central Coast. It’s finals or bust this season for the men from the Gold Coast.

The next two seem like genuine no-brainers, with the Roosters to romp home against the Manly question marks… sorry, Sea Eagles, but my goodness there are a lot of them hanging over Des Hasler’s side in 2021.

Penrith beating the Cowboys at home should be a foregone conclusion as well. Last year’s runner-up’s don’t exactly look like they are going to get any worse, and they take a lot of beating in Sydney.

The Sunday afternoon game in Canberra should be far too tough of an ask for the Tigers too. Not sure what to make of the Tigers this year, but they aren’t a top-tier team. The Raiders are. That settles that.

Be sure to get your tips in on the form below by 6pm (AEST) this evening, and we will publish the results of The Crowd’s tips before the first game of the round kicks off.

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