As the saying goes, the show must go on.

Well, that’s the view of the NRL as they get set to stage eight games behind closed doors this weekend, with tens of thousands of fans to be locked out for the first time in the game’s history.

Last weekend’s round of matches could possibly have been the first and only time that fans got to attend a premiership match this season, with the government banning gatherings of over 500 people. The only people allowed to be inside the grounds on game day will be the players, coaches, referees, television crew and club officials.

Two matches have also been relocated this round, with the Roosters shifting their game against the Sea Eagles to Leichhardt Oval while the Warriors will contest their clash against the Raiders on the Gold Coast.

Other blockbuster matches, such as those between the Broncos and Rabbitohs, which was expected to draw up to 40,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium, will now be played without a single spectator in sight.

Bulldogs vs Cowboys
The first match kicks off on Thursday night with a battle between two first-round losers, with the Bulldogs hosting the Cowboys at ANZ Stadium.

After the build-up to Round 1 from hell, in which two players were stood down for disciplinary reasons, the Bulldogs pushed Parramatta for as long and hard as they could, only to lose by the scoreline of 8-2.

Now the challenge will be to play in front of only the coaching staff and other club officials when they face the North Queensland Cowboys in what is set to be the first ever premiership match to record a duck as its official attendance.

It was a disappointing start to life at the new North Queensland Stadium for the Cowboys, who went down to the Brisbane Broncos by 28-21 in their first premiership match at the venue.

Valentine Holmes endured a mixed return to rugby league after a year away from the sport, scoring a first-half try in the side’s defeat, while captain Michael Morgan kicked a rather meaningless field goal just before halftime.

Now they must make the long trip to Sydney where the Bulldogs await them – but I think they will return home with the points.

Prediction: Cowboys by four points.

Dragons vs Panthers
After a false start to their season in front of their Wollongong fans, the Dragons will be out to ensure that their first game at an empty Kogarah Oval ends in a much better result.

The Dragons started positively against the Tigers in what was their first game against them at WIN Stadium since 2008, but fell apart after halftime, bombing several try-scoring chances and crashing to a 24-14 defeat.

A lot of the blame were pointed the way of their halves, Corey Norman and Ben Hunt, while they were also missing several key players in Korbin Sims, Matt Dufty and Cameron McInnes, who suffered significant injuries during the Perth Nines last month.

At least they won’t have to cop it from their fans if they are beaten by the Panthers in what will be the teams’ first meeting at Kogarah since 2017, after three consecutive meetings at Panthers Stadium.

The mountain men caused the biggest upset of Round 1, coming from 12-0 down to upset two-time defending premiers the Sydney Roosters by 20-14 with Viliame Kikau overcoming a shoulder injury to deliver the Chooks the knockout blow.

It was a positive start to the year for Ivan Cleary’s side, and it’s wins like these that could provide a launchpad towards what they and their fans expect is a much improved 2020 season.

And while their last visit to Kogarah ended in a shock 42-10 loss in Round 1, 2017, I think the Panthers will build on their win over the Roosters and sentence the Dragons to a 0-2 start to the year.

Prediction: Panthers by eight points.

Broncos vs Rabbitohs
What was initially set to be a blockbuster of an opening to the Brisbane Broncos’ home fixture will instead be played to nobody when Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs travel to the sunshine capital to face the club he coached to their six premierships.

Both clubs are coming off first-round wins, with the Broncos spoiling the Cowboys’ christening of the new North Queensland Stadium and the Rabbitohs surviving a late Sharks comeback to win 22-18.

The Broncos’ win over the Cowboys was highlighted by a long-range try to forward David Fifita, and you could imagine why the club wants to keep him beyond this season.

But it also did come at a cost, with Tevita Pangai Jr copping a four-match ban from the tribunal for a high shot on Justin O’Neill – this coming in his first match back from a season-ending suspension for a crusher tackle on the Panthers’ Dylan Edwards in Round 22 last year.

Meantime, Latrell Mitchell’s Souths debut ended in a whimper, being benched after 55 mostly ineffectual minutes, but coach Wayne Bennett says that was always the plan as he looked to get some game time into Alex Johnston.

His benching almost proved costly, as the Rabbitohs nearly lost the match at the death but were spared when the Sharks had a try ruled out after the final pass was ruled to have floated forward.

Bennett will be hoping that Mitchell performs up to his price tag this Friday night in what will be his first match back at Suncorp Stadium since his lacklustre Game 1 performance for New South Wales in last year’s Origin series.

But at home, I think the Broncos will claim the points.

Prediction: Broncos by six points.

Warriors vs Raiders
It was initially expected to be a historic cross-code double-header featuring the New Zealand Warriors, Canberra Raiders and Super Rugby’s ACT Brumbies in Auckland, but the pandemic put paid to that.

Instead, the Warriors will base themselves in the northern New South Wales town of Kingscliff and play their game against the Raiders on the Gold Coast before deciding whether to continue with the season past this weekend.

Given the situation they are facing, with New Zealand recently introducing strict laws mandating a two-week quarantine period for those entering the country, it seems inevitable they will abandon the 2020 season, effectively giving them the wooden spoon.

Last week in Newcastle they struggled to break through the strong Knights defence as they recorded the season’s first duck egg, which has led to predictions that they could indeed be contending for the tag of least wins in the season.

On the other hand, the Raiders showed why they will again be contenders in season 2020, recording a strong 24-6 win over the Gold Coast Titans at home.

While coach Ricky Stuart would be happy with the result, he would be fuming that the second half was drawn 6-all – something which could come back to bite his club should they miss out on the double chance come September.

Jack Wighton was the architect of the Raiders’ victory, scoring two first-half tries against the insipid Titans defence – and he will again be key if the Raiders are to start the season 2-0.

Revenge will also play a key part for the Raiders, after their final-round loss to the Warriors last September cost them a top-three berth in the finals.

This time, on neutral territory, the Green Machine should prevail.

Prediction: Raiders by 16 points.

Roosters vs Sea Eagles
With the coronavirus crisis getting worse by the day, it only made sense for the Roosters and Sea Eagles to shift what would’ve been a sell-out at Central Coast Stadium to what will be a quiet Leichhardt Oval for their Saturday twilight clash.

While no fans will be permitted into the ground, they will still do whatever it takes to get their footy fix, with Leichhardt Oval best known for the houses in the background where fans can climb on the roofs and get a good view of the game.

Missing rested captain Boyd Cordner, the Chooks started strongly against the Panthers at the foot of the mountains last Saturday night, but took their foot off the pedal after halftime to crash to their sixth Round 1 loss in eight years under Trent Robinson.

It was always Robinson’s plan to rest his captain in the early rounds, as well as in last month’s World Club Challenge as a means of preparing him for the rigours of State of Origin, which will see Cordner attempt to lead his Blues to a series win for the third consecutive year.

They’ll now face a Sea Eagles side that also didn’t fare well last week, being kept try-less in their 18-4 loss to the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale Oval last Sunday.

Coach Des Hasler will be hoping for a much better effort from his troops this Saturday, and an upset win against the premiers could be what they need to belatedly kick-start their season.

However, the Roosters’ class should win out here.

Prediction: Roosters by eight points.

Sharks vs Storm
The final match on Saturday night will see the Sharks make their first foray into Dragons territory when they play host to the Melbourne Storm at Kogarah Oval, which they will call home for the next two seasons while Shark Park undergoes redevelopment.

The club’s post-Paul Gallen era very nearly started with an upset win over the Rabbitohs, only for the final pass to Josh Morris, who will play his final game for the club before linking with brother Brett at the Roosters, to be ruled forward.

Had the try been awarded, this would’ve seen the Sharks take a sideline conversion to win the game, but it was not to be, and the club will now need to pick up the pieces ahead of the always-tough clash against the Storm.

Craig Bellamy’s side are away from home once again, but rather than remain in Sydney, decided to return home to Melbourne before flying back north for their clash against the Sharks.

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

The club maintained its remarkable record of having not lost a Round 1 game since 2001, by beating the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval by 18-4.

Winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored two tries, but his second proved controversial when replays showed he appeared to have dropped the ball while in the motion of touching the ball down in the scoring zone.

On the road again, I think the Storm will take the points.

Prediction: Storm by 12 points.

Wests Tigers vs Knights
Always a pleasant sight during any NRL season is the Wests Tigers playing in front of a full house at Leichhardt Oval. But on Sunday, it will be anything but when they are forced to play the Newcastle Knights with an empty hill providing the backdrop.

Last Sunday, veteran Benji Marshall turned back the clock as the Tigers came from behind to beat the Dragons 24-14 in what was their first match at WIN Stadium since 2008.

Having recently turned 35, and set to retire at the end of this season, Marshall displayed some of the football that was reminiscent of the club’s 2005 premiership run (who could forget that flick pass in that year’s grand final?) as the club got off to a winning start on the road.

Also just as impressive last week were the Knights, who recorded their first shut-out since 2014 when they kept the Warriors to a duck egg, marking a winning start to life under new coach Adam O’Brien.

Captain Mitchell Pearce said that the club owes it to their fans to restore success to the strugglers, who have not made the finals since 2013 nor won a premiership in nearly two decades.

Pearce appears to be a man of his word, and will do whatever it takes to become the first premiership-winning halfback and captain in the Steel City since the legendary Andrew Johns in 2001.

But that’s still a far way away, and the club’s focus will be on knocking off the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval this weekend, which I think they will do.

Prediction: Knights by ten points.

Titans vs Eels
The final match of Round 2 sees the Parramatta Eels make the trip up to the Gold Coast for the clash against reigning wooden spooners, the Titans.

A lot is expected of the talent-laden Eels this year, but while they got their season off to a winning start, they were made to work for it against a Bulldogs side that went into the season opener with something to prove after a pre-season from hell.

The final score was 8-2, which was not what you expect from a side expected to contend for the premiership, but Brad Arthur would be happy to take it especially after seeing his side’s 2019 season come to a humiliating end at the hands of the Storm last September.

This weekend’s trip to the Gold Coast will be the first of two matches they will play in Queensland in the space of a week, as they are also scheduled to play the Cowboys in Townsville the following Saturday.

First, though, they surely won’t want to take the Titans lightly, especially after they managed to keep the Raiders honest in the second half after they trailed 18-0 at halftime.

Exactly how much work new coach Justin Holbrook has in front of him was highlighted when his new club conceded three first-half tries in the nation’s capital. But he would’ve been happy with his side’s second-half effort, which finished tied 6-all.

Now, he will get the chance to weave his St Helens magic in the Titans’ first home game of the season. However, form says the Eels will take the points as they look to make it two from two to start the year.

Prediction: Eels by 14 points.