Canberra’s chaotic, high-risk attack didn’t hold up in the wet against New Zealand last week and I’m keen to see how they respond here. There are still some promising looks through Ethan Strange now stationed on the right edge but the Raiders need repeatable actions to fall back on in the grind.
That’s exactly where Canterbury will look to take them here; the Bulldogs excel at chipping away at their opposition while applying pressure throughout the 80 minutes. I like Canterbury’s defence to win this one.
Tips
Best: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs @ $2.02
Anytime Try Scorer: Jacob Kiraz @ $1.73
Same Game Multi: Bulldogs & Jacob Kiraz Anytime Try @ $2.78
The Panthers flexed their premiership credentials with a genuine shut-out of Brisbane in NRL Round 1 before making light work of Cronulla last week. The points slowly added up late in both games, but the results so far have highlighted just how good this Penrith system is, off the ball.
Easts willingness to attack from anywhere on the field can disrupt those systems and cause an ambush. The Roosters impressed to navigate Alex Johnston’s moment, steady the ship and get the job done last week – exactly the scenario Daly Cherry-Evans was brought to the club for.
That being said, Penrith won’t give them as much cheap possession as Souths did.
Tips
Best: Penrith Panthers 1-12 @ $2.80
Anytime Try Scorer: Casey McLean @ $2.05
Anytime Try Scorer: Isaiah Papali’i @ $4.75
Same Game Multi: Panthers 1-12, Casey McLean Anytime Try & Isaiah Papali’i Anytime Try @ $28.01
Brisbane’s left edge was completely picked apart by the Eels attack in NRL Round 2. Between Jack Gosiewski, Xavier Willison and Aublix Tawha, the Broncos are trialling new combinations at left-four and were punished for it last week.
We can expect Melbourne to ask some similar questions of the spaces around Ezra Mam and new centre Deine Mariner here, but I think the Storm can have some joy down the far side of the field.
If Brisbane commit too many numbers to that vulnerable left edge, Harry Grant is clever enough to find the space on the other edge.
Tips
Best: Melbourne Storm @ $1.36
Anytime Try Scorer: Nick Meaney @ $1.73
Anytime Try Scorer: Moses Leo @ $2.30
Anytime Try Scorer: Ativalu Lisati @ $4.40
Same Game Multi: Melbourne Storm, Nick Meaney Anytime Try, Moses Leo Anytime Try & Ativalu Lisati Anytime Try @ $18.19
Andrew Webster’s Warriors are doing the little things better than most teams in the competition right now. Their discipline on both sides of the ball puts minimal pressure on their defence as a result, while Tannah Boyd makes high percentage decisions in a confident attacking system – this Warriors attack knows what works for them this season.
They relish the grind but are also capable of piling on the points in a shoot-out.
Newcastle present an easy target here with Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown big omissions from the Knights spine. Newcastle will look to embrace the grind and keep things simple but that’s exactly where New Zealand do their best work.
Tips
Best: New Zealand Warriors 13+ @ $2.55
Anytime Try Scorer: Ali Leiataua @ $2.55
Anytime Try Scorer: Jacob Laban @ $5.60
Same Game Multi: New Zealand Warriors 13+, Ali Leiataua Anytime Try & Jacob Laban Anytime Try @ $22.88
We wanted to see how this new-look Sharks attack fared against Penrith’s watertight systems and we were… disappointed. Ultimately, Penrith didn’t allow Braydon Trindall enough time on the ball to pull the strings as he did in NRL Round 1, but Redcliffe are a different proposition right now.
The Dolphins middle – a strength on paper this season but currently riddled with injuries – has been targeted in both games to start the year. Blayke Brailey and Nicho Hynes can have some joy turning the ball back in behind the ruck here before Trindall finds points on the edges.
Tips
Best: Cronulla Sharks (-7.5) line @ $1.90
Anytime Try Scorer: Briton Nikora @ $2.50
Anytime Try Scorer: Jesse Colquhon @ $6.50
Anytime Try Scorer: Billy Burns @ $3.40
Same Game Multi: Cronulla Sharks (-7.5) line, Briton Nikora Anytime Try, Jesse Colquhon Anytime Try & Billy Burns Anytime Try @ $56.66
Wests were emphatic in victory last week, rolling through a leaky Cowboys ruck to find cheap points through the middle third of the field. This Tigers attack is at its best when playing flat, fast and aggressive over the advantage line which is exactly what North Queensland’s big, immobile middles allowed them to do last week.
Souths forward pack profiles much better in the grind against Wests.
Complemented by one of the better kick chase edges in the NRL right now between Jack Wighton and Campbell Graham, I like Souths to win the yardage battle in this one. The points should come from there.
Tips
Best: South Sydney Rabbitohs @ $1.57
Anytime Try Scorer: Campbell Graham @ $1.68
Anytime Try Scorer: David Fifita @ $2.70
Same Game Multi: South Sydney Rabbitohs, Campbell Graham Anytime Try Scorer & David Fifita Anytime Try @ $5.33
St George are 0-and-2 to start the regular season but their performances have been better than results suggest. Tough, resilient and with some repeatable actions on either edge, I like the Dragons to keep this one close.
Parramatta found a chink in Brisbane’s defence last week and crossed to the tune of four tries. They’ve got their own defensive issues on either tram-line though.
Provided the Dragons don’t give Mitch Moses and Jonah Pezet the looks they enjoyed last week, I think the Dragons backrowers can be the difference in this one with a pass or offload at / through the line.
Tips
St George Illawarra Dragons (+7.5) @ $1.90
Anytime Try Scorer: Moses Suli @ $3.75
Anytime Try Scorer: Valentine Holmes @ $2.50
Same Game Multi: St George Illawarra Dragons (+7.5), Moses Suli Anytime Try Scorer & Valentine Holmes Anytime Try Scorer @ $11.36
Jayden Campbell returns for a Gold Coast Titans side that limps into NRL Round 2 on the back of two straight losses. Ran through by a red-hot Sharks attack in Round 1, the Titans most recent loss to Redcliffe highlights the deficiencies in this young squad.
North Queensland aren’t without their own issues right now but this is simply a must-win for Todd Payten’s men. Cowboys in a shoot-out.
Tips
Best: North Queensland Cowboys @ $1.55
Anytime Try Scorer: Jaxon Purdue @ $1.87
Anytime Try Scorer: Tom Dearden @ $2.35
Same Game Multi: North Queensland Cowboys, Jaxon Purdue Anytime Try Scorer & Tom Dearden Anytime Try Scorer @ $5.38