Just when you thought you had the answers, the National Rugby League changes the questions. Yep, Round 2 is already upon us and after eight more games we’ll have another piece of the 2016 jigsaw to put together with our NRL expert tips.
The Penrith Panthers have had more injuries than a Jackass movie and face the inform Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Thursday night football. Can the Panthers pull off victory without Matt Moylan and James Segeyaro?
The New Zealand Warriors were outclassed by a young Wests Tigers last weekend who were missing Robbie Farah and Luke Brooks (yes those Warriors who signed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke in the off season). Their next mission goes up a notch or four when they take on the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Join The Roar‘s NRL tipping competition here
Canberra are without Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer but the Sydney Roosters are no lock for the two competition points after copping a hammering from South Sydney last Sunday.
Will the Rabbitohs run rough shot over the Newcastle Knights?
Kieran Foran is back for Parramatta and it just so happens to be against the defending and reigning champions North Queensland and a little five-eighth that goes by the name Johnathan ‘The Ninth Immortal’ Thurston.
First start losers Cronulla and St George Illawarra battle it out Sunday in another derby encounter. While captain Paul Gallen is out for the home side, there are more questions about the Dragons with Josh Dugan again named in the centres for Paul McGregor’s side.
On Sunday night the Gold Coast Titans travel to Melbourne in a real yardstick of their early season form following a big win over Newcastle last weekend.
All eyes will be on Leichhardt on Monday night and the revitalised Tigers against Trent Barrett’s new-look Manly. The Sea Eagles were terrible first up while Wests looked like the entertainers we once knew.
Lachlan Bickley
Tips: Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Sharks, Storm (Powerplay), Sea Eagles
“Hard to go past the Broncos who handled the Eels with relative ease last week and should have no trouble with the confused and confusing Warriors.
“The Roosters forwards were awful on Sunday afternoon and now they need to front up against Shannon Boyd, Josh Papalii and Sia Soliola. No thanks. I’ll take the Raiders even without Austin and Sezer.
“In Monday night footy Wests Tigers play Manly. The Tigers had a wonderful win on Saturday as they capitalised on a team that was clearly struggling to incorporate a host of new players. Can they do it again on Monday night? Nope. I’m taking the Sea Eagles after Trent Barrett re-jigged his forward pack.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Bulldogs, Broncos (Powerplay), Raiders, Rabbitohs, Eels, Sharks, Storm, Tigers
“The poor old Panthers just cannot get a break when it comes to the injury Gods. Not only will they be missing Moylan for this clash against the Dogs, but Segeyaro is also out with a broken arm.
“Are Souths back? Their performance against the Roosters certainly suggests the answer is yes.
“There is nothing quite like a local derby is there? Despite a loss to the reigning premiers, travelling to Townsville in Week 1 is not an easy ask. The Sharks will be missing Paul Gallen, but will rally in front of their home crowd.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons, Storm (Powerplay), Sea Eagles
“The Panthers will celebrate 50 years by beating the Dogs in a tight one, the Broncos will do enough to defeat a resurgent Warriors while I think the Raiders will jag a tight one against a determined Roosters unit.
“Souths will rip into the Knights and I think the Eels will atone for their five tries in 11 minutes capitulation against the Cowboys at Parra Stadium last year and get the points.
“The Dragons will just shade the Sharks in a tough one, Storm will smash the Titans while the Brookvale boys rack up a cricket score.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Eels, Sharks, Storm, Tigers
Penrith have the pack to trouble Canterbury and they still boast plenty of class in their backline to outgun the Bulldogs. The people of Penrith deserve a big performance – no matter who they put on the park.
North Queensland have been up for so long that a hiccup is bound to come sooner rather than later. They face Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium on a Saturday night – not the easiest place to play your best footy.
The round finishes up with Wests Tigers and Manly at Leichhardt and after what I saw last week, I can’t tip the Sea Eagles. Not away from home against a Wests outfit that have found their attacking mojo.
Catch Curtis and The81stMinute Call Team this Saturday from 2.30pm on www.steelesports.com.au.
| Round 2 | Tim | Curtis | Mary | Lachlan | The Crowd |
| PANvBUL | Panthers | Panthers | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs (86%) |
| BROvWAR | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos (91%) |
| RAIvROO | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders (53%) |
| RABvKNI | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs (97%) |
| EELvCOW | Eels | Eels | Eels | Cowboys | Cowboys (73%) |
| SHAvDRA | Dragons | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks (67%) |
| STOvTIT | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm (93%) |
| TIGvSEA | Sea Eagles | Tigers | Tigers | Sea Eagles | Tigers (59%) |
| POWERPLAY | Storm | Rabbitohs | Broncos | Storm | Rabbitohs |
| TOTAL | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
Crowd Tips for this week are closed. But tip against the experts next week, and get involved in the comments.
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