NRL 2026 – Round 2 preview, predictions and tips
After a staggered opening round, it’s back to normal in the NRL this week, with eight games in Austalia and New Zealand.
Round One was a cracker, and if history’s taught us anything, then the Eels and the Titans are already out of the Premiership picture after conceding 50 points apiece.
I can’t see anyone conceding 50 again this week, but that’s all I’m giving away for now. Read on to find out all the predictions and tips…
- Thursday 12th March – Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels – Suncorp Stadium
- Friday 13th March – New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders – Go Media Stadium
- Friday 13th March – Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Allianz Stadium
- Saturday 14th March- Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys – Leichhardt Oval
- Saturday 14th March- St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm – WIN Stadium
- Saturday 14th March – Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks – Carrington Park
- Sunday 15th March – Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – 4 Pines Park
- Sunday 15th March – The Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans – Suncorp Stadium
*All odds are taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 11th March 2026.
Thursday 12th March – Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels – Suncorp Stadium
Form guide
It’s been a poor start to the year for the Broncos, who followed up their WCC loss to Hull KR with a 26-0 home defeat to the Panthers in Round One.
Things were even worse for the Eels, who were smashed 52-4 by Melbourne last weekend.
Team news
No changes for the Broncos this week. Ezra Mam is named to start again, but may switch with Ben Hunt as he did last weekend.
The Eels have Josh Addo-Carr back, so Sean Russell switches to centre and Brian Kelly goes to the extended bench. J’maine Hopgood is suspended, so Jack Williams goes to prop and Kelma Tuilagi comes into the starting side.
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Tallyn Da Silva 18. Charlie Guymer 19. Joash Papalii 20. Jordan Samrani 21. Brian Kelly 22. Luca Moretti
My prediction – Brisbane Broncos 24-12 Parramatta Eels
I’m expecting the Broncos to bounce back this week, although Parra should be better as well. It won’t be all one-way traffic, but Brisbane should have enough.
Betting tips
The Broncos have been given a -12 handicap, which seems a bit generous to me. Instead, I’ll get on them to win by 1-12 points, at 23/10. Gehamat Shibasaki looks the best-priced for an anytime try, at 1/1.
Friday 13th March – New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders – Go Media Stadium
Form guide
The Warriors were superb in their season opener, as they stuffed the Roosters, 42-18.
Meanwhile, the Raiders came through a cliffhanger against Manly, with a 29-28 win in Golden Point.
Team news
The Warriors have named the same 19-man squad from Round One. Marata Niukore and Alofiana Khan-Pereira are on the extended bench as they eye returns from injury.
For the Raiders, Josh Papalii misses out with concussion, so Morgan Smithies starts at prop and Matt Timoko comes on to the bench.
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Morgan Smithies 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Matthew Timoko 18. Daine Laurie 19. Joseph Roddy 20. Owen Pattie 21. Jed Stuart 22. Chevy Stewart
My prediction – New Zealand Warriors 30-22 Canberra Raiders
After their brilliant win last week, I can’t go against the Warriors at home. The Raiders were excellent themselves, and I can see them scoring a few points, but the Aucklanders should have just enough.
Betting tips
This one’s almost straight down the middle with the bookies, so I’m getting straight on the Warriors with a -1 handicap at 10/11. I’m expecting a close game, so the 1-12 winning margin looks a good price as well, at 21/10.
Friday 13th March – Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Allianz Stadium
Form guide
The Roosters were humbled 42-18 in Auckland last week by the Warriors.
As for the Rabbitohs, they got their campaign off to a flyer in a 40-30 win over the Dolphins in Brisbane.
Team news
Rob Toia returns for the Roosters and goes straight into the starting side. He takes the place of Junior Pauga, who’s named on the extended bench.
Ashton Ward has been ruled out for the Rabbitohs, so Jayden Sullivan comes in at halfback, with Sean Keppie joining the bench.
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Lachlan Hubner 17. Sean Keppie 18. Latrell Siegwalt 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Liam Le Blanc 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata
My prediction – Sydney Roosters 24-36 South Sydney Rabbitohs
This is the toughest game of the weekend to call, but I’m tipping the Bunnies after their superb start last week. The Roosters were disappointing against the Warriors and will be desperate to bounce back, but they’ll need a huge improvement. Whichever way this goes, I can see there being lots of points.
Betting tips
This is another one the bookies have got almost straight down the middle, so I’m backing the Rabbitohs to win, at 1/1. Latrell Mitchell is too good to pass up for an anytime try at 6/5 as well.
Saturday 14th March- Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys – Leichhardt Oval
Form guide
The Tigers had a bye in Round One, so all there is to go on is there pre-season form. That was impressive though, as they beat both the Roosters and the Panthers.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys also had the weekend off, but only because their Round One game was played a week earlier in Las Vegas. They were beaten 28-18 by the Knights.
Team news
Heamasi Makasini will make just his second appearance for the Tigers at centre, while Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul will make his Tigers debut in the back row. Jock Madden is named on the extended bench. If he comes on, it’ll be a second Tigers debut for him after his return from the Broncos.
The Cowboys have lost Tom Mikaele to injury, so Soni Luke is named on the bench.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Liam Sutton 19. Ethan King 20. Robert Derby 21. Harrison Edwards 22. Kaiden Lahrs
My prediction – Wests Tigers 18-10 North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys were disappointing in Vegas, so I’m tipping the Tigers to get their year off to a winning start in front of a packed-out Leichhardt crowd.
Betting tips
I’m happy to get behind the Tigers with a -4 handicap, at 10/11. Jahream Bula is my anytime try pick, at 11/10.
Saturday 14th March- St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm – WIN Stadium
Form guide
The Dragons were beaten in Golden Point in Round One, as the Bulldogs edged them 15-14 in Vegas.
As for Melbourne, they’re top of the ladder after a comprehensive 52-4 win over the Eels last weekend.
Team news
The Dragons have named an unchanged 19 from the one which narrowly lost in Vegas two weeks ago.
Alec MacDonald misses out with concussion for Melbourne, so Tui Kamikamica comes into the starting side and Jack Hetherington returns from suspension on the bench for what would be his Storm debut. Shawn Blore is back on the extended bench after injury.
Storm team: 1. Sua Fa’alogo 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Tui Kamikamica 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Davvy Moale 18. Preston Conn 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 20. Angus Hinchey 21. Shawn Blore 22. Hugo Peel
My prediction – St George Illawarra Dragons 8-32 Melbourne Storm
Melbourne were so good last week that I can’t see anything other than a comfortable victory here. The Dragons were better than I expected against the Bulldogs in Vegas, but I can’t see them laying a glove on the Storm in this one.
Betting tips
I’m tipping a big win for Melbourne, so the -8 handicap at 10/11 is a no-brainer if I’m correct. I like the look of a 13+ winning margin too, at 13/10.
Saturday 14th March – Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks – Carrington Park
Form guide
The Panthers picked up an impressive 26-0 win over the Broncos in Brisbane last weekend.
As for the Sharks, they put 50 on the hapless Titans, in a 50-10 home win.
Team news
The Panthers have named the same 19-man squad that saw off Brisbane last week. Thomas Jenkins has been named on the wing this week though after starting the game as number 18 in Round One.
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Billy Phillips 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Kalani Going 18. Izack Tago 19. Freddy Lussick 20. Tom Ale 21. Jack Cole 22. Sione Fonua
Unsurprisingly after last week’s big win, the Sharks are also unchanged from 1-19.
Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Sam Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Chris Veaila 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Michael Gabrael
My prediction – Penrith Panthers 16-12 Cronulla Sharks
This should be a really close contest in Bathurst, but I can see the Panthers edging it in a tight one.
Betting tips
The Panthers have been given a -8 handicap, which looks a little harsh on Cronulla to me. Instead, I’ll be backing two players for anytime tries. Thomas Jenkins is priced at 5/6 and Casey McLean is at 1/1.
Sunday 15th March – Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – 4 Pines Park
Form guide
Manly were downed in Golden Point last weekend, 29-28, by the Raiders.
Newcastle, meanwhile, got their year off to a great start with a 28-18 win over the Cowboys in Vegas.
Team news
Kobe Hetherington starts at prop for Manly with Siosiua Taukeiaho ruled out. Paul Bryan is set for his club debut off the bench after arriving from Newcastle in the off-season. Simione Laiafi is back in the extended squad after sitting out last week due to concussion.
Fletcher Sharpe is ruled out for the Knights, so Sandon Smith comes into the starting side. Back-rower Francis Manuleleua comes onto the bench and will make his NRL debut if he comes on.
My prediction – Manly Sea Eagles 18-12 Newcastle Knights
The Knights were impressive in Vegas, but I have a feeling Manly will bounce back with a victory after last week’s agonising home loss against the Raiders.
Betting tips
Manly should be ok with a -4 handicap at 10/11. It’s the same price for them in the half-time/full-time market, which looks better priced than the tryscorer markets.
Sunday 15th March – The Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans – Suncorp Stadium
Form guide
The Dolphins were beaten 40-30 in a high-scoring contest against the Rabbitohs last week.
The Titans, meanwhile, were nowhere near the Sharks, as they were beaten 50-10.
Team news
Max Plath and Ray Stone are back on the bench this week for the Dolphins. named on the interchange bench. Brent Woolf drops out completely, while Trai Fuller goes to number 18.
The Titans are unchanged from 1-19 from Round One.
My prediction – The Dolphins 48-12 Gold Coast Titans
The Dolphins have no problem scoring points, and they’ll be sniffing blood against a Titans side who were hammered in Round One. I’m tipping the Titans for the wooden spoon this year, and a trip to Suncorp against last year’s highest points scorers should spell trouble for the Gold Coast.
Betting tips
The -8 handicap for the Dolphins is too good to miss, at 10/11. If they do score a few points like I expect, there’ll be a few anytime tryscorers to back as well. Most of the favourites aren’t brilliantly priced, so I’ll be getting on Jake Averillo at 13/10.
