Nick Meaney will line up on the wing instead of would-be recruit Zac Lomax as Melbourne prepare for a charged round-one clash with Parramatta only two days after their legal feud ended.
The Storm and Eels reached an out-of-court settlement on Tuesday that blocked Lomax from making an audacious move to the Storm, months after the winger agreed not to join an NRL rival on his release from Parramatta.
With their plans to secure Lomax thwarted, the Storm will start versatile Meaney on the wing to begin the season given a long-term Achilles tendon injury to Xavier Coates.
Will Warbrick is on the other wing for Thursday's game against the Eels, where the Storm will look to extend Craig Bellamy's streak of round-one wins that began in 2003.
The Eels have listed Bailey Simonsson and Sean Russell on the wings occupied by Josh Addo-Carr and Lomax last season; Addo-Carr is currently sidelined with a thumb injury.
Melbourne and Parramatta's clash also marks the Eels club debut of former Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet, listed to line up alongside Mitch Moses in the halves.
Elsewhere, four-time premiership winner Liam Martin will miss Penrith's blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane after failing to overcome a calf injury.
Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner are the starting second-rowers as the Panthers target revenge for last year's preliminary-final loss to the Broncos.
Jai Arrow will miss South Sydney's season opener against the Dolphins after assessment on a troublesome shoulder injury came back inconclusive.
The Queensland representative will be re-examined in six weeks.
Jayden Campbell has been sidelined from the start of Gold Coast's Josh Hannay era with a hamstring injury that clears Lachlan Ilias for a club debut at halfback against Cronulla.
The Titans will take a cautious approach with playmaker Campbell, their most electric attacking player, who is expected to miss between two and four weeks.
The injury thrusts Ilias into the No.7 jersey as he fights for NRL redemption following a failed stint with St George Illawarra.
As expected, the Sydney Roosters have named Benaiah Ioelu at hooker in place of star recruit Reece Robson, who will miss the opening weeks of the season with a hand injury.
The Roosters' clash against the Warriors in Auckland also marks the club debut of Daly Cherry-Evans following his high-profile move from Manly.
Star Manly prop Taniela Paseka is back from the Achilles injury that scuppered his 2025 season as new halfback Jamal Fogarty makes his club debut against old firm Canberra.
Brandon Wakeham could play his first NRL game in almost three years after being named on Manly's bench.
The journeyman playmaker had drug supply charges dropped since last playing NRL for Wests Tigers in 2023.
The Raiders have preferenced new recruit Jayden Brailey as back-up hooker rather than Owen Pattie, who had a great rookie campaign on their push to last year's minor premiership.
