The 2024 NRL season is set to be tight, with plenty of player movement during the offseason as clubs hope to turn their fortunes around or maintain their dominance. Tipping eight winners each weekend is going to be near impossible, so each week we'll give you some extra help with three standout games.
The sure thing
Canberra Raiders vs. Wests Tigers, GIO Stadium, Canberra, Saturday March 16, 3pm (AEDT)
After last week, I'm beginning to doubt the rationality of picking a sure thing game each week. The NRL is so unpredictable, which makes it so enthralling to watch. Last week I was sure the Warriors would put on a show for their home crowd against the Sharks and for the first 12 minutes I was right.
This week I've taken the risk of going against the unseen Tigers, based purely on the fact that they are the Tigers. If this game was played last week, I might have tipped an upset, but the Raiders were very impressive against the Knights in Newcastle. They return to their house full of Viking clapping, lime green wearing, adoring fans and Ricky Stuart will make sure they have their guard up against the Benji Marshall coached Tigers.
The Raiders over the Tigers is the closest thing to a sure thing I can find this weekend.
Round 2 sure thing: Raiders
The toss of the coin
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Sydney Roosters, 4 Pine Park, Sunday March 17, 4:05pm (AEDT)
These two teams were both victorious in Las Vegas in what the bookmakers determined were upset victories. The Sea Eagles scored plenty of tries through flowing, open, football against a Rabbitohs defence that was found to be lacking in intensity at times. The Roosters won a real arm wrestle against the Broncos in the other Vegas game, with James Tedesco having a blinder.
The Sea Eagles should have the advantage at home with Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks building a slick combination in the halves and the Trbojevic brothers causing their own individual brands of mayhem. But there was something very slick about the Roosters last week. They looked like a team hellbent on fully capitalising on the talent they have assembled.
If you compare the two Vegas games, the Roosters' clash with the Broncos was far superior when it came to defence. A watertight defence is what wins the big games, and the Sea Eagles looked a bit leaky against the Bunnies.
I've tossed my coin and once again it has come up Roosters.
Other real toss of the coin contenders this week include; Cowboys vs. Knights and Dolphins vs. Dragons.
Toss of the coin game winner: Roosters
The roughie
Melbourne Storm vs. New Zealand Warriors, AAMI Park, Saturday March 16, 7:35pm (AEDT)
The Storm were magnificent in defence last week, not allowing the premier Panthers a single point in their ruthless 8-0 victory. They harassed Nathan Cleary and ensured that they had numbers in every tackle to stifle Penrith's attacking flow. The victory enabled them to extend their unbeaten first round run to a remarkable 22 consecutive years.
The Warriors ran out in front of their passionate home crowd to take on the Sharks last week and started the game looking like the team that fell just one game short of last year's grand final. They raced to a 12-0 lead after 12 minutes, but the Sharks taught them a painful lesson in the virtue of playing a full 80 minutes of football.
The Storm get to play this one at home where they have traditionally given the Warriors a tough time, usually on ANZAC Day of late. This is the Warriors' big chance to turn the tables, as the Storm could be a bit flat after last week's monumental effort. They certainly wont want to start 2024 with two losses and will be looking to maintain the early intensity of last week, right through the full 80 minutes at AAMI Park to pull of the upset.
Round 2 roughie: Warriors
Click here for a full guide to Round 2 of the 2024 NRL season