<p>Week one of the season is officially in the books and now it’s time to turn our attention towards NRL round 2.</p> <p>The season may have only just started but it already seems apparent which teams are set to soar, and which are set to struggle.</p> <p>The likes of Brisbane, Manly and Melbourne all flexed their premiership muscle, while Parramatta, North Queensland and the Roosters did the opposite.</p> <p>That being said, it’s early days and with another 26 rounds of footy still to be played, the future truly is unwritten.</p> <p>Our tips and predictions aren’t though. For all those looking for the latest footy news, odds, analysis and betting tips, check out our NRL round 2 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights vs The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, March 13, 8:00pm AEDT – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>NRL round 2 kicks off with the Knights welcoming the Dolphins to McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday.</p> <p>Both of these sides were on opposite ends of a two-point margin last week, with the Knights victorious 10-8 against the Tigers and the Phins going down 16-14 to the Bunnies.</p> <p>Both teams have plenty of grind in them it seems, but Newcastle just have a splash more attacking flair for us, namely Kalyn Ponga who has already shot to the top of the Dally M leaderboard.</p> <p>His influence should be enough to see Newcastle home here in another close one.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-dolphins-8998456">Newcastle Knights.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Kalyn Ponga anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, March 14, 6:00pm AEDT – Go Media Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With a fully fit and firing squad, Manly announced their premiership intentions last time out, thrashing the Cowboys 42-12.</p> <p>Everyone was on song for the Sea Eagles, as they deployed the eye-catching brand of attacking football head coach Anthony Seibold was known for during his time at South Sydney.</p> <p>As for their opponents this week, the Warriors, they offered nothing of the sort after they were thrashed by the Raiders in Vegas. This one is a bit of a no brainer for us, Manly by plenty.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-manly-sea-eagles-8998457">Manly Sea Eagles.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Big win little win – Manly 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, March 14, 8:00pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>No Jarome Luai, no problem. The Penrith juggernaut rolled on in Vegas without their star pivot, who was back in Sydney preparing for his first game as a Tiger, seeing off the ultra-competitive Sharks.</p> <p>Cronulla are tipped to be top four material this year, but Penrith are still on another level, and it appears they are going to give a fifth consecutive premiership a red hot crack in 2025.</p> <p>For their opponents this week, the Roosters, it will be all about damage mitigation this season.</p> <p>They are undergoing a well-advertised rebuild at the moment, which was very evident as the Broncos put a half century on them last start.</p> <p>With a shallow squad there’s only so much you can do, and the Roosters could be in for another tough outing here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-sydney-roosters-8998459">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Big win little win – Penrith 13+</p>

<h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 3:00pm AEDT – WIN Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bunnies failed to convince us they are going to be a threat this year, despite seeing off the Dolphins last week.</p> <p>The Phins were severely undermanned, and they only managed to just hold on to a two-point win at home.</p> <p>We like the Dragons to pick up their first win of the season here, playing at home. They were brave in their defeat to the Bulldogs and have more attacking weapons at their disposal right now than Souths.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-8998468">St George Illawarra Dragons.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Christian Tuipulotu first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 5:30pm AEDT – Queensland Country Bank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>North Queensland, what on earth was that? Earmarked preseason as a team that should be comfortably playing finals footy this year, the Cowboys found themselves down 42-0 after 56 minutes last week.</p> <p>After a performance that insipid, we’ll be keeping the Cows out of our bet slips for the foreseeable future, particularly against a Cronulla side who pushed Penrith all the way in Vegas.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-v-cronulla-sharks-8998483">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Big win little win – Cronulla 1-12.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 7:35pm AEDT – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>New season, new coach, new Broncos. Brisbane looked every inch a premiership force as they put 50 on the Roosters in Michael Maguire’s first match in charge.</p> <p>A million miles from the team that limped to the finish line last season, with everyone on deck fit and firing and Ben Hunt now part of the fold, Brisbane are going to have plenty of backers from here on out, us included.</p> <p>The Raiders put on a show of their own stateside, pummeling the Warriors and should offer plenty of resistance at home, just not enough for our liking.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-brisbane-broncos-8998471">Brisbane Broncos.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Selwyn Cobbo 2+ tries.</p>

<h2>Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, March 16, 4:05pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Tigers were unlucky not to taste victory last week, Parramatta, not so much.</p> <p>While Wests went down by just two points in a spirited display against the Knights, the Eels hit the self-destruct button in Jason Ryles’ first game in charge.</p> <p>42-0 down is not how you want to start your first ever halftime address in the NRL, but that was the reality of the situation for Ryles, as his former employers the Storm gave no quarter in the Melbourne sunshine.</p> <p>It became very apparent, very fast, how much the Blue and Gold will struggle without the services of star man Mitchell Moses for the next six weeks, that’s we’re taking the Tigers here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-wests-tigers-8998474">Wests Tigers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Lachlan Galvin anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Titans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, March 16, 6:15pm AEDT – Belmore Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The only untested side left in the NRL features in the final game of NRL round 2. The Titans had the bye last week and it’s a good thing too as they needed the time to relocate from their training ground after it was flooded by Cyclone Alfred.</p> <p>They have a tough task first up, the Bulldogs away. The Doggies appear to be the real deal, kicking on from last year’s success to start their season with a solid win over St George.</p> <p>They are odds on to go two from two here against a Titans’ team who are always impossible to get a read on.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-gold-coast-titans-8998475">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Marcelo Montoya first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne Storm – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After their 56-18 demolition job of the Eels last week to keep their insane round 1 record going, the Storm get a well-earned week off in NRL round 2.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>