‘Unstoppable’ Force: The Broncos are back in business as Michael Maguire returned to NRL coaching with an emphatic victory over the Roosters, unleashing….

But it wasn’t just the Chooks who copped a shellacking as Parramatta’s rookie coach Jason Ryles endured a brutal induction to head coaching against premiership favourites Melbourne.

It marked the first time in NRL history that multiple teams conceded 50 points in Round 1 but there were also several closes contests.

Wayne Bennett’s return to Souths ended with a narrow win over his former club the Dolphins, while Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers went oh so close to pipping the Knights.

HOW MADGE’S PACK SWITCH HAS UNLOCKED BRONCOS

Michael Maguire made a big pre-season decision, shifting one of the NRL’s best lock to prop.

It was a move some considered confusing, with Carrigan consistently being named in the No.13 for Queensland and playing in the middle for the Kangaroos.

However, it paid dividends in Round 1.

Carrigan, alongside superstar Payne Haas, ran riot at Allianz Stadium, with the newly-minted prop recording 202 running metres, with a try assist and three offloads.

Haas, meanwhile broke a staggering 11 tackles, with Carrigan’s output allowing Haas to roam and destroy anything in his path.

“Payne Haas, the guy is a start anyway, but I have never seen him so fit. He’s playing with emotion I haven’t seen before,” Matty Johns said on Fox League on Thursday night.

“Tonight, he was just unstoppable.”

Bryan Fletcher then added: “He only played the last 14 games, and we talk about them last year just falling off a cliff.

“It had a lot to do with him not being in the side. What Madge has done really well is shift Pat Carrigan up front.

“He was playing lock, and I know it’s a similar position, but Payne Haas and then you’ve got Carrigan and vice versa, it just sets their backs up.”

Broncos coach Michael Maguire also heaped praise on Haas’ performance in the post-match press conference.

“Yeah, I had a bit of time with Payne last year. He’s an incredible human being, I think the players really appreciate what he can do,” Maguire said.

“Tonight was a night where he got some rewards off what every was able to do. I think the forward pack laid a really good platform.

“Everyone worked hard defensively so then Payne can do what he does.”

Alongside Haas, Jack Gosiewski also delivered a strong performance after edging out Brendan Piakura for the left edge spot.

The former Cowboy scored off a Carrigan short ball, while he also ran for 102 metres and also broke two tackles to go with his line break.

For the Roosters, the performance proved to be a dire one, missing 44 tackles compared to Brisbane’s 25 while also letting Maguire’s outfit break the line on 12 occasions.

“It is hard to separate we get beaten by 50 points and you are really disappointed, but I thought everybody worked really, really hard for each other,” Trent Robinson said in the post-match press conference.

“But our smarts were at a really low standard and got found out many times.”

GRAY’S RED-HOT DISPLAY

Jye Gray backed up a strong showing in the trials with a superb outing against the Dolphins to show the Bunnies there is hope with Latrell Mitchell out for the first two months of the season.

Not only can Gray hold his own, if he keeps up this sort of form he will give Wayne Bennett a welcome selection headache when Mitchell returns and with each performance he can make it very hard for the master coach to drop him.

Gray finished with a game high 208 metres from 24 runs to go with four tackle busts, an offload, a linebreak assist and a try assist to lead Souths to a 16-14 victory.

Gray punches well above his weight for his size and his speed is an asset on both sides of the ball for Souths at the back.

Michael Ennis believes Gray has joined a number of smaller NRL fullbacks proving that you don’t have to be a big body to shine in the No.1 jersey.

“Wasn’t the fullback impressive, Latrell Mitchell is such a presence for Souths and we look at where the game is at, the modern game, the demands of the fullback,” Ennis said.

“The smaller type fullbacks we are seeing, Keano Kini, Sua Fa’alogo… I thought Gray tonight was both courageous with the footy and the work he got through was enormous.

“But his defensive work, on the try line at times getting off the line and getting his body in front… he was outstanding tonight.”

James Graham believes Gray is setting the tone for Bennett’s side in defence by putting his body on the line despite often being the smallest man on the field.

“He was absolutely everywhere for Souths,” Graham said.

“Everywhere, all over the field. A couple of nice high catches late in the game… he has got the energy and the players feed off that.

“When they see a little man like that putting his body on the line… he is always attacking which is great to see.”

If Gray continues to dominate over the next six weeks, questions may again be raised if playing Mitchell in the centres may be better for the balance of the side.

HUMPHREYS COULD FORCE DODD TO BE PATIENT

Lewis Dodd’s suspension gave Jamie Humphreys first crack at the Souths No.7 jersey and his performance against the Dolphins will make it very hard for Wayne Bennett to take it off him.

Dodd returns from suspension in Round 2, but after Humphreys guided Souths to victory with his kicking game and 36 run metres, an offload and a try assist to go with 24 tackles with just one miss, he is almost undroppable.

Michael Ennis was impressed with Humphreys’ display and believes he has been ready for the big time for a while after serving his apprenticeship under Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly.

“He looked so comfortable,” Ennis said.

“He looked really composed and in control and confident. I thought he dominated their kicking game for the majority of the game.

“He combined really nicely with Cody Walker, particularly in that first half.

“He’s been ready for a while. Two season ago he had a great pre-season at Manly and unfortunately broke his jaw as they went into the trial period, which really halted his momentum that year.

“He played one game last year, but he spent his education working with one of the best. He’s been there with Daly Cherry-Evans for a number of years now and I thought you could see parts of that in his game.”

However, Kevin Walters questioned if he is a genuine No.7.

“He’s been a genuine No.7 coming through, but then with Daly in front of him at Manly they looked at other options, so he spent a pre-season at hooker,” Ennis replied.

“Then he went to South Sydney as a Mr Fix It. He could play anywhere, while he is continuing to fight for an opportunity.

“It opened up at No.7 with Lewis Dodd getting that suspension in the Charity Shield, but on the back of his performance tonight, there will be no moving him.”

James Graham played with Dodd at St Helens and believes he will get a chance to show what he can do, but it won’t be in Round 2 after Humphreys’ star turn.

“I played with him in England and not long after I left he became a superstar of that St Helens team,” Graham said.

“He won grand finals and the pre-season challenge over here against Penrith.

“I thought he would come and do a fantastic job, but that jostle for positions and that No.7 jersey for Souths comes with a lot of responsibility.

“Fortunately for Humphreys it has gone that way. It is hard to see how Wayne changes that team next week. I don’t think you can take that No.7 away from Humphreys, not with the way he has performed.”

Walters noted Bennett is a pick and stick coach and Humphreys will have to have a poor showing before he thinks about dropping him.

“Wayne’s not a coach that chops and changes either,” Walters said.

“He will give that side there a good run until they let themselves done basically.

“Dodd might have to be a little bit patient. I’m sure he has got the abilities, but right now Souths look to be settled there for the next couple of weeks or month or so.

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE SHINING LIGHT FOR DISMAL CHOOKS

On Thursday night, the Sydney Roosters became the first side in 15 years to concede 50 points in the opening round of the season.

Ominously that year, 2009, when the Bondi outfit shipped 52 to fierce rivals South Sydney in Round One, was the last time they finished bottom of the ladder.

While it’s too early to announce the 2025 Roosters’ fate as sealed, alarm bells rang all through the Harbour City’s Eastern Suburbs after Brisbane punched hole after hole through Trent Robinson’s side.

Injuries, both pre-game and mid-game, didn’t help the Roosters, but the fact remains they were worryingly below par against Michael Maguire’s reinvigorated outfit.

Some fans may feel there was nothing about Thursday’s game to feel positive about. Fox League’s Greg Alexander feels differently, believing the club’s young centres were a big silver lining in an otherwise poor showing.

“A bit of pressure on Nawaqanitawase…I’ve been impressed with him though. The touches he’s had, he’s been a handful for the Broncos defence,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League’s call.

“As has Robert Toia.”

Debutant Toia beautiful set the game’s opening try up with a long-range break created by some sharp footwork and powerful running. By full-time, the 20-year-old had 114 metres, five tackle breaks, two try assists, and 18 tackles.

On the other edge, Mark Nawaqanitawase, playing just his second NRL game and first in the centres, was hugely impressive too. Each time the ex-Wallaby had the ball in his hands he proved a handful for the Broncos right edge, with his size and athleticism shining on a choppy Allianz Stadium.

In his first start at centre, the 24-year-old ran for 100 metres, made one linebreak, broke six tackles, and 10 of his own.

Together the pair provided room for optimism, not only for their ability to potentially help the Roosters win in 2025, but also in the coming years as their games continually develop.