NRL Round 2 Preview
A terrific first round of NRL has only whet the appetite of fans around the country, and despite some conjecture over the new rule changes compromising physicality against the speed of the game, there was no doubt all eight games were entertaining. We were five from eight in the recommended bets last week, so let’s hope to roll on into another successful round.
Melbourne Storm ($1.47) v Parramatta Eels ($2.70)
Thursday 18th March, 8:05PM, Bankwest Stadium
Round 2 opens with a replay of last year’s qualifying final as the Melbourne Storm host Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium. Both sides are coming off first round victories, with the Storm’s opening half blowing the Rabbitohs off the park while the Eels had to overcome a rejuvenated Broncos side to run out victors 24-16. Most teams were hoping the retirement of Cameron Smith might finally signal the end of Melbourne’s entrenchment as the competition benchmark, but if last week’s performance is anything to go by, then the new brigade may be even better. Clive Churchill medallist Ryan Papenhuyzen was in scintillating form scoring 18 points, including a try, while also creating two linebreaks for teammates. Brad Arthur’s side will take a lot of confidence from their second half performance and the combination between Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses shows promise as being one of the most lethal in the NRL. However, I simply think the Premiers are too clinical across the park and will emerge victorious Thursday night at Bankwest.
Recommended Bet: Melbourne Storm 1-12 ($2.80)
New Zealand Warriors ($1.97) v Newcastle Knights ($1.83)
Friday 19th March, 6:00PM, Central Coast Stadium
The twilight fixture on Friday promises to be an intriguing match-up between two first round victors and looks the toughest prospect from a betting perspective. The last match up between the two sides resulted in a strong win for the Warriors, with Roger Tuivasa-Scheck scoring a double and he will be pivotal again for the New Zealand side in looking to record back-to-back wins. The job is made tougher by the loss of new signing Euan Aitken, who looks set to miss at least two months of the competition with a high ankle sprain. The Knights meanwhile, were sweating on the fitness of Kurt Mann (Knee) and Bradman Best (Ankle) who were both under injury clouds, but both have been cleared of any major injury and are named to play this Friday. Connor Watson was used in a utility role for the Novacastrians last week in a late change to the named side, providing spark in attack but also contributing on defence with a try saving tackle on Sione Katoa with two minutes to play and the game already won. If Watson is able to stay on the park for the majority of the season he will be the Knights most valuable player in their bid to make the top eight. In what is essentially a home game for Newcastle, I expect their forwards to gain an edge over the Warriors and repeat last year’s effort of winning their opening two fixtures.
Recommended Bet: Newcastle Knights ($1.83)
Gold Coast Titans ($1.44) v Brisbane Broncos ($2.80)
Friday 19th March, 8:05PM, Cbus Super Stadium
The first Queensland derby of the season highlights the Friday night action as the Titans hose the Broncos on the Gold Coast. While there was a lot of expectation upon the Gold Coast based side, including from this writer, the Titans were disappointing against the Warriors in Round 1 and were in danger of being held to zero until a late score from Corey Thompson. New recruit David Fifita went into the game after spending two days in hospital with a bacterial infection and should be able to provide more impact through the middle on Friday. The Broncos showed more promise in the first 40 minutes of their clash against the Eels than they did during the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season, with a 16-0 lead at halftime. A raft of injuries however saw them finish the game with only one reserve and ultimately a 24-16 loss. Brisbane’s right side attack was particularly threatening with Anthony Milford with many of the Broncos faithful hoping he can rediscover the form that made him an Origin representative in 2017 and one of the game’s most electric playmakers.
Recommended Bet: Brisbane ($2.80)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ($5.85) v Penrith Panthers ($1.13)
Saturday 20th March, 3:00PM, Bankwest Stadium
Last year’s beaten finalists the Panthers continued their stellar regular season form, producing an outstanding performance to down the Cowboys 24-0. Ivan Cleary’s side started somewhat slow, but progressively went through the gears, and despite the Cowboys not appearing to be a side who will compete in finals football this year, it was a mark in the sand that the Panthers are no less of a side in 2021. The Panthers recorded the most tackle breaks (42) and linebreaks (7) during round 1, and prop James Fisher Harris, remarkably recorded more post contact metres (108) than any Cowboys forward recorded run metres – including former Dally M medallist Jason Taumololo. Trent Barrett’s first game in charge of the Bulldogs was one he’d rather forget, going down 32-16 to Newcastle in the wet on Friday night. Despite controlling the game through the first half hour of the match, they were ultimately run over by a dominant Knights pack and with a Penrith side missing only 16 tackles throughout the 80 last week, it is hard seeing the Bulldogs being capable of scoring enough points to match it with Mountain Men.
Recommended Bet: Penrith Panthers 13+ ($1.60)
Manly Sea Eagles ($3.80) v South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.27)
Saturday 20th March, 4:30PM, Brookvale Oval
While they were far from disgraced, the Rabbitohs met their match in Melbourne as the Storm burst clear to pile on 12 points inside the opening ten minutes and ultimately had the game won in the first half. On the plus side, South Sydney did well to answer back by holding the Storm scoreless in the second half, an effort the Bunnies will certainly look at and ride that momentum into their Round 2 fixture against Manly. Coach Wayne Bennett was furious with the first 40 minutes last Thursday and you can be certain the players won’t repeat the same mistakes Saturday afternoon. Manly gets a reprieve of sorts this week with Kieran Foran set to overcome the leg injury that saw him leave the field in Round 1, but after struggling to defend any of the Roosters attacking raids, another large score could be put on the Silvertails. Latrell Mitchell looked to find his feet at fullback towards the back end of the game after missing the back of the 2020 season with a hamstring injury, while Benji Marshall turned back the clock in his role as utility off the bench. The last time these two sides met the Rabbitohs put on a masterclass winning 56-16, and as the odds suggest, a similar scoreline could be on the cards this week.
Recommended Bet: South Sydney Rabbitohs 13+ ($2.17)
North Queensland Cowboys ($1.52) v St George-Illawarra Dragons ($2.55)
Saturday 20th March, 7:35PM, Queensland Country Bank Stadium
The Cowboys find themselves favourites with the bookmakers despite failing to register a point against the Panthers, such is the extent to which the Dragons continue to disappoint over the previous two seasons. New coach Todd Payten was critical of star forward Jason Taumololo who recorded less than 100 run metres but a league leading 42 missed tackles will be the area of most concern for the former Warriors boss. The Dragons put in a more spirited performance against their local rivals on Sunday and after a slow start to the game, showed more attacking spark in the second half to record three tries. The return of Corey Norman should bolster their attack, but limiting the defensive lapses that continue to plague the side will be pivotal in their quest to register their first win of the season. These two teams played out a thrilling contest in Round 17 of last year, with the Cowboys emerging victorious on the back of Valentine Holmes field goal during extra time. As such, I feel the merger club will be able to cover the line Saturday night in what will be a tight contest in Townsville.
Recommended Bet: St George-Illawarra Dragons +5.5 ($1.90)
Wests Tigers ($3.85) v Sydney Roosters ($1.26)
Sunday 21st March, 4:05PM, Campbelltown Sports Stadium
The Tigers have arguably the toughest start to the season in the Premiership as they face Roosters after a road trip to the nation’s capital last week. A Roosters side high on confidence after a demolition job against Manly is the last thing the Wests Tigers would want as they attempt to put an end to the longest finals drought of any NRL club. The Tigers started well against the Raiders last Sunday, with Jacob Liddle scoring the first try and holding the Green Machine to six-all at halftime, however they must have been hoping 40 minutes is all that’s required in an NRL fixture, as they collapsed in the second half to go down 30-12. Trent Robinson’s side recorded their largest ever Round 1 victory when they thrashed the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles by 46-4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground and showed the form of a side that has won two of the last three grand finals. It will be the first time in over a decade the Roosters have travelled West to play at Campbelltown Stadium in nearly a decade, having prevailed 12-8 in 2010, while the fixture prior to that was a training run for the tricolours, winning 56-0 in 2004. It is tough to see the Tigers being able to stop the Roosters on attack, in particular their lethal right side combination of Tedesco, Manu and Brett Morris and the odds on offer for the Roosters to win by 13+ looks like a good bet.
Recommended Bet: Sydney Roosters 13+ ($2.15)
Cronulla Sharks ($2.95) v Canberra Raiders ($1.40)
Sunday 21st March, 6:15PM, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
The final match of Round 2 sees Cronulla host Canberra at their home away from home, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, due to continued upgrades at Shark Park. Both sides head into the Sunday evening fixture coming off the back of comfortable wins, albeit against two sides expected to finish in the lower half of the competition. Despite a brain fade from Jesse Ramien resulting in the first sin-bin of the season in the first half, the Sharks went on to lead 14-0 at halftime, and then fought off a second-half fightback from the Dragons to win 32-18 and claim bragging rights over their Southern Sydney rivals. While it was an impressive victory, highlighted by strong play from their left side attack of Josh Dugan and Ronaldo Mulitano, they face a greater litmus test against the Raiders who defeated them in consecutive games at the back end of last season. The Raiders were slow to get out of the blocks against the Tigers last Sunday, coughing up the first points of the match but then pegging back a try to be level at six-all at halftime, after which they scored another four tries to get their season off to a winning start with journeyman, and resoundingly popular Ryan James scoring a try off the back of a terrible run with injury. The Sharks failed to beat a side placed above them on the ladder last year and I’m backing the Raiders to make it a comfortable two from two to begin 2021.
Recommended Bet: Canberra Raiders -6.5 ($1.90)
