Brisbane recruit Adam Reynolds has been ruled out of making his NRL debut in their season opener against his old club South Sydney on Friday.
Reynolds tested positive for COVID-19 last week and despite passing the NRL's return-to-play protocols, won't be risked by Broncos coach Kevin Walters at Suncorp Stadium.
"We back our club's medical advice 100 per cent and that advice is that asking Adam to play is too much of a risk to his health so soon after being diagnosed with COVID," he said.
"At the end of the day, this is just one game - a big game, yes, but just one game in a Broncos career that will see Adam play many great games for our club."
It means Walters will hand his 28-year-old son Billy his club debut alongside veteran playmaker Albert Kelly in the halves.
Broncos hooker Cory Paix is out with COVID-19, with Tyrone Roberts brought onto the bench for his first NRL game since 2020.
This year, clubs have been allowed to expand their extended squads from 21 to 24 should players be ruled out with COVID-19 in the days before kick-off.
Souths will hand the No.7 jersey to Lachlan Ilias - the man seen as Reynolds' long-term replacement - for just his second NRL game.
Reynolds is not the only big-name halfback to be absent for round one with Penrith resting Nathan Cleary for Thursday's game against Manly after his off-season shoulder surgery.
Sean O'Sullivan partners Jarome Luai in the halves for the Panthers.
Cronulla have chosen Matt Moylan as Nicho Hynes' halves partner for their trip to face Canberra on Friday.
Dale Finucane will captain the Sharks on his club debut but the Raiders will be without their skipper Jarrod Croker, who will be forced to make his comeback from a knee injury in reserve grade.
Debutant James Schiller partners Matt Timoko in the centres and Brad Schneider fills in for injured halfback Jamal Fogarty.
On Saturday, five-eighth Luke Keary returns for the first time since an ACL injury as the Sydney Roosters take on a Newcastle side that is missing prop Daniel Saifiti.
Shaun Johnson plays his first game for the Warriors since 2018 when they take on St George Illawarra as Chanel Harris-Tavita is shifted to fullback in place of the suspended Reece Walsh.
The Dragons have dropped NSW Origin forward Tariq Sims and opted to field a fullback/five-eighth combination of young duo Tyrell Sloan and Junior Amone.
The Wests Tigers will blood English centre Oliver Gildart against Melbourne in Saturday's final game.
Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is named, Nick Meaney plays five-eighth due to Cameron Munster's suspension and Josh King packs down at lock.
In Sunday's games, Parramatta have named Nathan Brown in the extended squad for their game with the Gold Coast while the Titans have demoted State of Origin prop Jarrod Wallace to the extended squad.
In the weekend's final match, North Queensland have dropped Scott Drinkwater for five-eighth Tom Dearden as they host Canterbury.
