Welcome to the new dawning of the NRL, with all but four clubs to start the season with a new five-eighth after naming their first round sides on Tuesday.

Only Brisbane, Newcastle, the Bulldogs and Cronulla will start 2007 with the same pivot that finished 2006 - St George Illawarra having undergone the biggest upheaval, fielding just seven of the 17 players from their losing preliminary final side.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown handed rookie Richard Williams the task of filling in for injured skipper Mark Gasnier in the No.6, while also giving three other players their debut against league newcomers Gold Coast in Brisbane on Sunday.

Only Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Ben Hornby, Jason Ryles, Ashton Sims, Ben Creagh and Danny Wicks remain from last year's beaten side.

"It is pretty young but all of the guys that are playing we figured at some stage this year that they'd definitely play first grade," said Brown.

"We didn't expect them all to play first grade on round one, but that's the way it's gone.

"A bit more responsibility probably falls on the older, more experienced players but we're confident in the young guys, they performed well in reserve grade, they've trained well, that's probably the only gauge we can go on."

Brown said Williams's preseason form, in particular against the Bulldogs when he replaced an ill Gasnier, had won him the five-eighth position over Rangi Chase.

"He did a lot of things in that game that were okay and then he played great in the next trial in reserve grade so he probably deserved to get the opportunity ahead of Rangi," said Brown.

Manly recruit Jamie Lyon won the battle of the five-eighths at the Sea Eagles, relegating incumbent Travis Burns to the bench.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said Burns offers the side great variety and impact off the bench, while backing Lyon's combination with halfback Matt Orford.

"He's just a footy player, a killer," said Hasler of Lyon.

"(Burns) is an impact player and can come on and make a difference and lift the side."

Manly backrower Steve Menzies backed Lyon to have greater success in the No.6 than he did as a NSW and Australian Test centre.

"I think he could really get used to the six, it could be his position," said Menzies.

"He's played a little bit more than people think and the couple of trials we've seen him play he is a class player.

"He looks really sharp when he gets the ball."

Other clubs welcoming new pivots include Wests Tigers, Parramatta, Penrith, Canberra, Melbourne, North Queensland, New Zealand, South Sydney and Sydney Roosters.

Brisbane, who kept Darren Lockyer at No.6 all last season and will start their again in 2007, pulled a selection surprise naming Test fullback Karmichael Hunt at halfback to cover North Queensland's gun combination of Johnathan Thurston and Jason Smith.

Melbourne and Wests Tigers ensured an entertaining start to the 2007 NRL season, naming excitement machines Greg Inglis and Benji Marshall opposite each other in the No.6 for Friday night's season opener at Olympic Park.

The Storm also named Michael Crocker on an extended seven-man bench, the former Queensland backrower recuperating quicker than expected from a hamstring injury.

Parramatta named a near full-strength side for Saturday's trip to New Zealand, Nathan Hindmarsh the biggest absentee due to his foot injury.

"We've picked what we think is our best 17 baring in mind a couple of injuries," said Eels coach Michael Hagan.

Newcastle named Andrew Johns (hamstring) and Adam MacDougall (jaw) to play the Bulldogs on Sunday even though both players missed all the preseason games with injury.

The Dogs also named untested players with Mark O'Meley (quadriceps) and Reni Maitua (ankle) given their first starts for 2007, while Brent Sherwin (foot) was ruled out with Ben Roberts to start at halfback.

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