GET READY FOR ROUND 2 - All You Need to Know Before Kick-off

The BettingTop10 team are gearing up for Round 2 of the NRL season! All attention will be on the archrivals, the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, in primetime on Friday night. Not only do these teams have a rivalry for the ages, but Alex Johnson is so close to breaking Ken Irvine’s try-scoring record (just two tries to go!). Can he do it in this game?

Last week, I asked if we were witnessing a dynasty in the making for the Broncos. Well, that “dynasty” may have just crumbled at the first hurdle, courtesy of a shellacking from the Penrith Panthers (currently the Premiership favourites in NRL betting odds).

We might just be one round into the 2026 Season, but I’m calling in now - the Panthers look extremely hard to beat. They won on the road at Suncorp Stadium, and didn’t even let the 2025 Premiers score one measly point! The Panthers are sitting pretty in third on the ladder.

One game that we will be following carefully is the Roosters and Rabbitohs clash. It will be Rooster Angus Crichton’s 200th game, but that will certainly be overshadowed by Alex Johnson if he can score two tries and break the overall record for total tries. 

The Rabbitohs currently sit sixth on the ladder and have enough star power for a deep run. Star recruit David Fifita was notably missing from the group when training on Tuesday. However, Club officials confirmed he is not injured and still available for selection for the blockbuster clash. He simply has a personalised training plan from his foot surgery last year.

And who is first on the ladder, I hear you ask? The Storm, of course! A few people were writing them off for their clash with the Eels in Round 1 after a few player departures in the off-season. But they showed they are still a major contender, trashing the Eels, 52-4.

The Wests Tigers, who are currently sitting ninth (thanks to a Round 1 bye), are hoping they still have some momentum from their great pre-season challenge performances. It’s been a long time between drinks for the Finals for Tigers’ fans. In fact, the Tigers’ Finals drought is now a teenager, 14 years old to be exact.

By the looks of a YouTube video released by the club, it looks like Benji Marshall is sick of it and ready for the drought to end this year. He gave his team a brutal reality check, with one notable quote: “If you’re not prepared to follow what we stand for, guess what, there’s the f****** door.”

The Sea Eagles and St. George Illawarra Dragons were on the receiving end of two different Golden Point thrillers. Both teams showed promise and glimpses of brilliance, so they are both ones to watch moving forward. 

Well, would you look at what we have here, it’s the Gold Coast Titans, in their usual position near the bottom of the table! A horrendous game against the Cronulla Sharks, losing 10-50. You wouldn’t think coach Josh Hannay’s job would be under too much pressure just yet, seeing that he has coached the team for a grand total of one NRL game.

Right at the bottom of the table, after just one round, are the Parramatta Eels. With all the Zac Lomax drama settled, the team can just move on. Right? The Eels have a tough assignment in Round 2, taking on the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. 

Another team that’s near the bottom of the ladder is the Broncos. Is this just a hangover from the highs of the 2025 season or a more serious issue? Coach Michael Maguire was criticised for benching Ezra Mam in their Round 1 clash with the Panthers. The 0-26 result meant the Broncos became the first defending Premiers to be held to nil in Round 1 since 1956.