Desi, i had success the last couple of seasons rating each player on a team out of 10 in their position and adding them together, and backing the highest rated team and got some good results with a few outsiders getting up, havent done it on round 1 before because its the first game of the year,but i'll have a go

Bulldogs 123
Dragons 117

Eels 122
W/tigers 117

Panthers 126
Sharks 121

Roosters 129
Rabbits 114

Sea Eagles 122
Warriors 117

Storm 122
Knights 115

Cowboys 125
Broncos 123

That gives me a winning margin, but this round i think the buldogs game will be a blowout as will the storm game with all the knights missing, but the rabbits give the roosters a hard time for about 65 - 70 minutes so i think it will be a lot closer than i rated