The Battlers Big 5 Picks For NRL Round 2
My 5 Best Bets for NRL Round 2
Pick 1- Brisbane Broncos (-1.5) v North Queensland Cowboys @ Suncorp Stadium
1. The Broncos are traditionally very fast starters to a season under Wayne Bennett.
2. I thought, given they had 60% of the ball, that with an 11-4 penalty count and a Raiders’ player in the sin bin, the Cowboys were entitled to score more points against the Raiders last week.
3. The Cowboys are coming off a 6-day turn around and a golden point extra time game, whilst the Broncos have had a full 8 days to prepare.
4. I think whilst the Cowboys have had the better of this rivalry of late, a lot of their wins have been in the last minute through something freakish. They can't keep getting out of jail.
5. Brisbane, in their first home game of the season, will enjoy the majority of the crowd behind them and I think, if they defend well, they can get the better of North Queensland here.
Pick 2 - Manly Sea Eagles v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Under 42.5 Points) @ Brookvale Oval
1. These teams combined to score just 30 points between them in Round 1.
2. Realistically, how many points do South Sydney have in them without Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis? And this against a Manly side that defended really well last week, and will be stronger than the Tigers defensively.
3. Manly looked clunky and disorganised with the football against Parramatta. I thought their halves combination looked like it will take a while to gel.
4. Brookvale Oval is one of the slower tracks in the game, with longer grass. With a 5.30pm kick-off, and there is still a bit of rain around, the surface won't suit open and attacking football.
5. I just think, with both sides having lost their first game, this will be a safety first approach from both teams. Manly will be desperate to complete more sets, whilst Souths are missing key playmakers, so expect them to adopt a fairly basic game plan.
Pick 3 - Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks (Over 40.5 Points) @ GIO Stadium
1. The Raiders were the highest point’s scorers in the NRL last season and racked up numerous big scores at home.
2. When the two sides clashed in Canberra in the regular season last year, there were 56 points scored. There were also 44 points scored when the teams met at Shark Park.
3. Both sides tend to play expansive football and have a number of great attacking options.
4. GIO Stadium is generally one of the fastest tracks in the game. With the grass cut like a bowling green it makes the game quicker and the ruck speed more hectic.
5. I think both sides can score more than 20 points here. in an open and attacking game of football. I o not think the Sharks defence has the some mongrel it had in them last year. Plus Canberra had a very taxing game last week up in North Queensland.
Pick 4 - Wests Tigers (+1.5) v Penrith @ Campbelltown Stadium
1. The Tigers will target Bryce Cartwright defensively, whose head is not in football at the moment. I think Tedesco's speed can burn him on the edges.
2. The Tigers always start the year fast. They have won their first two games in both 2015 and 2016 under Jason Taylor.
3. The Tigers have a great record against Penrith at Campbelltown having won the past three encounters
4. Penrith are still missing their two key wingers in Mansour and Zelezniak, and have now lost Peter Hiku.
5. It's going to take a few weeks for Penrith’s razzle-dazzle football to click. I think they look a bit undercooked and their halves were poor last week. I think the Tigers can outscore them here and win a high scoring game.
Pick 5 - St George Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels (-1.5) @ WIN Stadium
1. I think Parramatta are a Top 4 team this year, and I predicted the Dragons to finish second last, so I have to act on this very minimal spread.
2. Parramatta will match the Dragons physically. Penrith simply were not ready to play last week. Dragons will not be able to ambush this Parramatta side and score such soft tries.
3. Parramatta have already won at a tough opposition suburban ground this year in Brookvale Oval, so going down to Wollongong will not phase them.
4. I was really impressed with the Eels’ spine last week. I think there is far more chance of their halfback Corey Norman putting in an outstanding performance than Josh McCrone backing up his stellar performance against a team that is likely to get up in his face.
5. I think this game will be tough and physical and close until the end. However, Parramatta have more quality in their side than the Dragons and, only having to win by a penalty goal, I'm confident they can cover that start.