Greg Inglis is a shock inclusion for South Sydney’s NRL season opener against Sydney Roosters on Monday.

The Queensland and Australia superstar was expected to be ruled out until at least round three after sustaining an ankle injury in the NRL All Stars clash last month, but has recovered faster than expected.

New Souths coach Michael Maguire made another surprising decision for his first game in the NRL, with Dylan Farrell preferred at fullback to Nathan Meritt, who’ll start on the wing.

Merritt was widely expected to start the year in the custodian role, but Maguire said Farrell’s good performance in the role during the Charity Shield against St George Illawarra won him over.

“I’ve got some changes there with Dylan starting at No.1 and Merritt on the wing,” Maguire said.

“But I’m pretty lucky that I can probably interchange those two at different parts of the game.

“I thought Dylan did a great job for us in the Charity Shield, that’s the way we decided to go.”

Parramatta’s hopes of getting their NRL campaign off to a winning start have been handed a major blow after star fullback Jarryd Hayne was ruled out with a knee injury.

The NSW and Kangaroos star injured his knee in a trial match against Penrith two weeks ago but the Eels were hopeful he’d be fit to face Brisbane on Friday at Parramatta Stadium.

Veteran Luke Burt, who is Hayne’s regular deputy in the No.1 shirt, will drop to fullback.

Rookie James Tedesco is in line to make his debut against Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

Tedesco started in all of the Tigers’ trial fixtures but coach Tim Sheens was adamant he wouldn’t throw the 19-year-old in at the deep end against the Sharks.

However, Tedesco may still have to wait for his debut with the wily Sheens naming a five-man bench that includes Tom Humble and Joel Reddy.

The veteran coach said last week he would go for a more experienced head in the No.1 jumper and mentioned the possibility of the seasoned Reddy, an off-season recruit from Parramatta, or another former Eel, Humble, filling the role.

Canterbury coach Des Hasler has selected English international prop James Graham on the bench for Saturday’s encounter with Penrith at Centrebet Stadium.

Skipper Michael Ennis is back following knee and neck surgery that sidelined him for the whole of pre-season, with Josh Reynolds preferred at five-eighth to Kris Keating.

Hasler denied Ennis and halfback Trent Hodkinson, who played only 40 minutes during the trials, would be underdone for the start of the new campaign.

“They’ve been involved, that’s why they train fulltime … they’ve been working closely in other ways,” Hasler said.

“It hasn’t been too much of a hindrance.”

Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen spent Monday night on a drip in hospital due to stomach virus that forced him out of training on Tuesday, but will be fit to play against the Tigers.

New recruit Todd Carney is named at halfback by Sharks coach Shane Flanagan along with former Tigers Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita also selected.

New Canberra captain Terry Campese has recovered from the groin injury that threatened to sideline him for the clash with Melbourne on Saturday.

Campese missed the Raiders’ final trial against Canterbury but has been cleared to play along with NSW prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.