One round down, 25 to go, but already some teams have been written off either by their own fans or the critics following a mostly upset-free opening round of the new NRL season.

Expectations may be high for clubs like the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks this season, but it was unfortunate that they were drawn to face last year’s grand finalists in the opening round.

Still, there is plenty of time for these two clubs and others to prove that they are genuine finals contenders in 2016. Here is the full preview for Round 2.

Panthers versus Bulldogs
Injuries ruined Penrith’s 2015 season and just one round into the Anthony Griffin era it could also ruin their chances of returning to the finals in 2016.

Already without new captain Matt Moylan, the Panthers will be without hooker James Segeyaro for their showdown against the Bulldogs this Thursday night after he broke his arm in the club’s 30-22 loss to the Canberra Raiders last Saturday.

It was a gutsy effort from the mountain men in the nation’s capital last week and they were only defeated in the final minute when the Raiders scored the match-winning try.

If they are to get on the board for 2016, they’ll have to overcome a Bulldogs side which was impressive in the first half of its 28-6 thrashing of Manly at Brookvale Oval last week.

They led 22-0 at half-time but not even a closer second half could prevent Des Hasler’s men from claiming the points to kick off their 2016 season, one which shapes as a crucial one in Hasler’s tenure at the Kennel.

If they can pick up from where they left off on Thursday night, then the Panthers could be in for a long night. However, in the hosts’ favour is that they have not lost to the Bulldogs at home since 2012.

But can the Panthers keep that record alive and get their first win for 2016, or will the Bulldogs prove too strong?

Prediction: Bulldogs by eight points.

Broncos versus Warriors
If Warriors coach Andrew McFadden isn’t feeling the pressure right now, he will be come full-time on Friday night.

Expectations were high for the club entering the new season on the back of an impressive spending spree which landed them Kiwi Test players Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but the Warriors were severely exposed as pretenders in the first half of its’ 34-26 loss to the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium last week.

The club must now face a six-day turnaround and another match away from home when they travel to Suncorp Stadium for their Friday night showdown against the premiership favourites, the Brisbane Broncos.

A loss this Friday night could see the axe fall on the third-year coach before they play their first home game of the season against the Melbourne Storm next week. It means the club would be forced into finding a sixth coach in as many years.

The Broncos were given a tough workout by the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium last Friday night but emerged with the points, scoring the only point of the second half when Anthony Milford kicked the match-winning field goal.

It was the first stepping stone laid towards what the Broncos hope is the path to redemption after their perfect grand final record was shattered by the North Queensland Cowboys in extra time in last year’s decider.

Milford and Ben Hunt are the two players the Broncos are pinning their hopes of breaking their longest premiership drought on. Jack Reed will come in for his first match of the season, while Jordan Kahu is out.

While the ramifications for the Warriors will be huge if they lose, all the Broncos can do is go about by their own business and that is winning matches and ensuring they are well placed to win the premiership this year.

Prediction: Broncos by 18 points.

Raiders versus Roosters
As successful as the Canberra Raiders would love to be this season as they seek their first finals berth since 2012, unfortunately their hopes have been dashed with Ricky Stuart being forced to field a new halves combination this weekend.

The pair of Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin were so impressive in the Raiders’ last-gasp 30-22 home win against the Penrith Panthers last week, but both will miss this weekend’s clash against the Roosters after both suffered serious eye and knee injuries respectively.

In their place will be Sam Williams, who has returned to the club after a few years at the Dragons, and Lachlan Croker, who will be making his NRL debut and is the nephew of Raiders legend Jason.

They’ll again enjoy the comforts of home against a Sydney Roosters side which will be smarting following its humiliating 42-10 loss to South Sydney last weekend.

Without three of their biggest names for the first third of the season in Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Roosters lacked direction in attack and were even worse in defence as they crashed to one of their worst performances under coach Trent Robinson.

The Roosters travel to Canberra this Saturday risking dropping to 0-2 for the first time since 2012, and with a five-day break to follow before they venture up to Townsville to face the Cowboys, there will be no respite.

Prediction: Raiders by six points.

Rabbitohs versus Knights
The first NRL match at ANZ Stadium for the new season will pit the most impressive team of Round 1 against last year’s wooden spooners.

2014 grand final hero Sam Burgess marked his return to the NRL after an ill-fated twelve months in English rugby in the Rabbitohs’ 42-10 thrashing of the Sydney Roosters, which came with a huge cost.

Halfback Adam Reynolds and veteran John Sutton both face long stints on the sidelines after suffering jaw and pectoral injuries respectively last week, and so the Bunnies’ depth will be tested over the next two months or so.

Luckily, Luke Keary will slot straight into the number seven guernsey, having completed a suspension from last season, and his first assignment will be to face incumbent NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson.

Hodkinson endured a quiet Newcastle debut as the Knights went down to the Gold Coast Titans on the Gold Coast last week. Coach Nathan Brown will be hoping for a better effort from his side this Saturday night and what better than to knock off one of the competition heavyweights for your first win as Knights coach?

But despite the Rabbitohs being without two of their most important players, they should prove too strong for the Knights, for whom a potentially long season could loom, here.

Prediction: Rabbitohs by 20 points.

Eels versus Cowboys
Had captain Kieran Foran not injured a hamstring in the Eels’ final pre-season hit-out and Corey Norman not suffered a game-ending neck injury last week, their match against the Broncos could have been a whole lot different.

The scoreline might suggest otherwise, but the Eels did hold their own against the Broncos last week before being held scoreless in the second half following Norman’s injury.

With Foran expected to make his debut this weekend and Norman being cleared, the Eels will field a stronger team against the Cowboys, who are showing no signs of a premiership (or World Club Challenge) hangover just yet.

The Cowboys kicked off their premiership defence with a 20-14 win over a plucky Sharks side in Townsville last week, fielding the exact same 17 from their grand final team in doing so.

Again they will be unchanged for their first trip to Sydney since last year’s premiership success, as they seek to claim the scalp of the Eels this Saturday night in front of what is expected to be another packed crowd.

While the Cowboys should start favourites, can the crowd support inspire the Eels to an upset victory, or will the defending premiers prove too strong?

Prediction: Cowboys by 16 points.

Sharks versus Dragons
The feature match on Sunday afternoon brings together two of the most unluckiest losers of Round 1, with the Sharks and Dragons both going down to the Cowboys and Storm away from home by less than a converted try last week.

The Sharks battled gamely against the Cowboys in Townsville before capitulating in the final ten minutes, but had to do so without captain Paul Gallen who suffered a knee injury and is set to miss at least a month as a result.

That will hamper the club’s bid to register its first win for the 2016 season against the Dragons, who many believe won’t repeat its 2015 efforts in which they made the finals for the first time since 2011, in which they finished eighth.

While they may have gone down to the Storm in Melbourne yet again, Russell Packer, who was playing his first NRL game since 2013 after spending time in jail for a vicious assault on a man that same year, impressed up front.

Given the impressive form of both sides last week in losing causes, it’ll be hard to pick a winner with real confidence, but Gallen’s absence should tip the scales in the Dragons’ favour.

Prediction: Dragons by eight points.

Storm versus Titans
Any fears of the Melbourne Storm’s demise have been exaggerated, for now, following their 18-16 win over the Dragons last Monday night.

In his first game since shoulder surgery saw him miss the second half of last season, Billy Slater was instrumental as the Storm won their season opener for the twelfth straight year, while at the same time remaining undefeated against the Dragons in Melbourne since 1999.

At home again this weekend, they come up against a Gold Coast Titans side who belied their lack of experience to record an impressive 30-12 win over the Newcastle Knights at home.

Over the off-season, the Titans lost Nate Myles to the Sea Eagles, James Roberts to the Broncos and Kane Elgey to a season-ending knee injury in the club’s first practice session for the year.

The loss of these players saw the club assume favouritism to lose the most matches this year. However, inspired by rookie halfback Ashley Taylor and Greg Bird, they were able to notch their first win over the Knights at home since 2009.

Question is, can they carry this form to Melbourne, or will they be brought back to earth?

Prediction: Storm by 18 points.

Wests Tigers versus Sea Eagles
To finish the round, the Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles will clash under the lights at Leichhardt Oval, with both teams coming off contrasting Round 1 results.

The Tigers defied the absence of several key players, including Luke Brooks, former captain Robbie Farah, recruit Matt Ballin and Dene Halatau, among others, to defeat the New Zealand Warriors at Campbelltown on Saturday.

They had led 28-4 at half-time before being forced to settle for a 34-26 victory, but nevertheless, it was an impressive performance from a team many believe will still struggle this year.

Jason Taylor’s men will get the chance to notch consecutive victories to start the season when they come up against a Manly side still reeling from their embarrassing 28-6 defeat to the Bulldogs last Friday night.

New Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett endured the toughest possible initiation to coaching when his side fell behind 22-0 at half-time, however, a closer second half reduced the final scoreline to 28-6.

Again they will be without fullback Brett Stewart due to a knee injury, leaving Tom Trobjevic in the custodian role for another week. His match-up with Tigers opponent James Tedesco promises to be one to watch, as well as that between new Tigers captain Aaron Woods and State of Origin forward Nate Myles.

Having impressed in front of their fans at Campbelltown last week, the Tigers will get the chance to do so in front of their Leichhardt fans this Monday night. Can they continue their good form from last week, or will the Sea Eagles rebound?

Prediction: Tigers by 14 points.