Check out the rest of the NRL action this weekend as we preview and lob in the best bets from every other game following our Game of the Round.
It all begins with the reigning premier Melbourne Storm doing battle in the Thursday night prime time slot.
Paramatta Eels vs. Melbourne Storm
march 18th 8:05pm
The Melbourne Storm travel to Bankwest Stadium when it faces the Paramatta Eels on Thursday night in Round 2 of the NRL.
Craig Bellamy could not have asked for a better start in life without Cameron Smith as a first-half blitz from the Storm provided a strong foundation for the 26-18 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the season opener last Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Eels started its season with a barnstorming finish to register 24-16 win against last year’s wooden spooner the Brisbane Broncos.
The spoils were shared between both sides last season with the Eels recording an early season 14-0 triumph over the Storm in August 2020, only for the Storm to return the favour with a 36-24 victory in September.
Parramatta did start the favourites the first time it met the Storm last season and are the outsiders in this game.
Melbourne do boast an incredible record though when installed as the bookies favourite having its last 14 matches when starting the more fancied team.
15 errors with ball in hand almost cost the Eels dearly in Round 1 and if it can be more careful in possession then they can definitely trouble the Storm.
Suggested Bets:
Paramatta Eels to cover the -6.5 line at $1.79
Blake Ferguson first try scorer at $13
Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos
march 19th 8:05pm
Queensland rivals go head to head on Friday night when the Gold Coast Titans front up against the Brisbane Broncos.
The Titans were arguably the more disappointing team in Round 1 after succumbing to a 19-6 loss against the New Zealand Warriors.
After a spate of off-season signings that included David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Herman Ese’ese and Patrick Herbert, it was expected the Titans would get off to a fast start, but alas, it’s hit its first road block of the season.
The Broncos exploded out of the traps to lead 16-0 at halftime against the Parramatta Eels but folded like a deck of cards after the break. Kevin Walters defence conceded four tries in the second-half and his side would ultimately go down 24-16.
Both sides have made one change with Phillip Sami replacing Brian Kelly for the Titans and Matthew Lodge (hamstring) makes way for Thomas Flegler.
An 0-2 start for the Titans would be a disastrous beginning to the year, but the class should shine through on Friday against a Brisbane team who will again struggle to climb up the ladder.
Suggested Bets:
Gold Coast Titans to cover the -7.5 line at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Gold Coast Titans 1-12
Leg 2: Total points scored under 42.5
Leg 3: Anthony Don anytime try scorer
Combined odds = $8
Canterbury Bulldogs vs. Penrith Panthers
march 20th 3:00pm
The Penrith Panthers are favoured to make it two wins from two games to start the 2021 NRL season when it faces the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
Last year’s grand finalists were at their best in a 24-0 win over North Queensland in Round 1, while the Bulldogs slumped to a 32-16 defeat against the Newcastle Knights.
The Bulldogs would want to forget the last time it played against the Panthers after it was held scoreless.
Ivan Cleary’s men went on to record a rampaging 42-0 triumph and if the Bulldogs do not improve on its opening round performance then we could be in for something similar.
Panthers win this comfortably… it’s just a matter of what the final margin will be.
Suggested Bets:
Penrith Panthers to cover the -16.5 line at $1.95
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Penrith Panthers -16.5
Leg 2: Total points scored over 41.5
Leg 3: Brian To’o anytime try scorer
Combined odds = $3.4
manly sea eagles vs. south sydney rabbitohs
march 20th 5:30pm
The South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles are on the hunt for their first win of 2021 when they do battle at Lottoland on Saturday evening.
After being heavily backed in betting to defeat the Melbourne Storm, the Rabbitohs were left to lament a slow start which would ultimately cost them victory.
A 22-6 halftime deficit proved impossible to haul in as the Rabbitohs went down 26-18.
The Sea Eagles had a rough time of it last week after starting the season in the worst possible way against Sydney.
Manly was no match for a rampant Roosters squad and could only muster up a try in the 46-4 belting.
Sea Eagles Fullback Tom Trbojevic has left a big hole in the squad as he continues to battle his way back from a hamstring injury.
The Rabbitohs proved its finals worthiness last week and should account for the Sea Eagles in this one.
Suggested Bets:
South Sydney Rabbitohs to cover the -10.5 line at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: South Sydney Rabbitohs to win by 13+
Leg 2: Jaxson Paulo anytime try scorer
Combined odds = $3.25
north queensland vs. st george illawarra
march 20th 7:35pm
The North Queensland Cowboys return home to Townsville on Saturday night when it faces St George Illawarra at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten said his squad were lucky not to lose by 50 points in the 24-0 humbling afforded to them by the Penrith Panthers last week.
That in itself might be enough to get his men over the line against a Dragons side who are also in search of its first win in 2021.
The Dragons were left to ponder what may have been after a poor first half against Cronulla cost them victory.
If they can rectify the slow start it mustered up last week and put in more of the effort it showed in the second half against the Sharks then they are an almighty sniff to come home with the premiership points.
Dragons look the value in this one.
Suggested Bets: St George Illawarra head to head at $2.60
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: St George Illawarra head to head
Leg 2: Total points scored under 43.5
Leg 3: Mikaele Ravalawa anytime try scorer
Combined odds = $7.5
wests tigers vs. sydney roosters
march 21st 4:05pm
The Sydney Roosters travel to Campbelltown Stadium when it faces the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Roosters fans could not have asked for a better start to 2021 as James Tedesco led his chargers to a thumping 46-4 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles.
Tedesco scored a hat trick of tries in the big win and that form looks likely to continue here against a Tigers squad who limped to a 30-12 defeat against the Canberra Raiders last week.
The Tigers form against the Roosters last year was nothing to savour either having been easily accounted for both times.
With finals and premiership aspirations, the Roosters should be able to do as it did to the Tigers in 2020.
Suggested Bets: Sydney Roosters to cover the -8.5 line at $1.81
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Sydney Roosters to cover the -8.5 line
Leg 2: James Tedesco any time try scorer
Leg 3: Total points scored under 43.5
Combined odds = $6.5
Cronulla sharks vs. canberra raiders
March 21st 6:15pm
Cronulla is out for revenge against the Canberra Raiders when
A win to Canberra in this game would make it the first time in club history it has won five straight games against the Sharks.
The Raiders did the double over of the Sharks last season with a 32-20 win as well as the elimination final triumph extending its unbeaten run against Cronulla to four games.
Both squads rank highly from tackles broken with the Raiders being the third best and the Sharks being the fourth best for tackle breaks in 2020. That should lead to a free flowing high-scoring contest.
Sharks coach John Morris definitely has his squad poised to make an improvement on the eight-placed finish of 2020, but it looks like the Raiders run will continue here as it attempts to press into the top four this year.
Suggested Bet: Canberra Raiders to cover the -5.5 line at $1.81
