Super Saturday delivered in Round 1, and this week promises the same level of excitement. The afternoon action begins in Sydney with the Roosters hosting the Warriors. Not many would’ve predicted the Roosters to be sitting 15th on the ladder but they need to bounce back from a Round 1 loss against a resolute Warriors team who sit above them on the ladder.
The second fixture heads north to Redcliffe as the NRL’s newest club, the Dolphins, looks to build on their Round 1 upset victory at their spiritual home. The Raiders stand in their way, and one would think they would be accustomed to humid conditions following consecutive fixtures in Queensland.
The night concludes down in Melbourne with the Storm hosting the Bulldogs. These two sides were at opposite ends of the performance spectrum in Round 1 will have various factors motivating them ahead of this clash. 3 games in 3 states, 3 opportunities to find a winner and plenty of reasons to sit back and enjoy the NRL action.
Scooby brings you his NRL Saturday previews and best bets below!
Also, you can now add our NRL best bets to your bet slip with a single click with thanks to the fantastic BoomBet Betshare feature. Just click the button below and our best bets for Saturday's slate will be automatically added to your BoomBet bet slip!
NRL Round 2 Saturday Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Roosters vs New Zealand Warriors
Saturday 11th March, Allianz Stadium, 3pm (AEDT)
Not many people expected the Roosters to be upset by the Dolphins in Round 1. They only have themselves to blame with a 68% completion rate, almost 400m fewer than their opponents and 14 errors hampering their momentum. They are a better team than that effort suggests and will need to demonstrate greater discipline in all areas.
The Warriors were victorious in their Round 1 match against the Knights, demonstrating the control that would’ve helped the Roosters. They completed at 87%, created 8 line break and wore down the Knight over 80 minutes. Despite the quality of their opponent being questioned, you cannot overlook winning form. They face a tough test on the road against the wounded Roosters, reflected in the odds ($1.20 vs $4.50).
The past 3 meetings between these sides at this ground have been won by the Roosters, 2 by 20+ margins and one (Round 6 – 2022) by 8 points. The line (12.5) suggests that a similar blowout margin could occur. As tempting as that option is, greater clarity is needed for both sides. The option below won’t yield the greatest return, but it is designed to anchor a multi or to have a larger investment used on it. The Roosters are the stronger side in all areas. Their outside back will provide greater attacking options than the Warriors but if their momentum could be interrupted if the Roosters make too many mistakes or if the Warriors play with discipline. If needed, you can also avoid this match and have a better understanding of both sides at the end of 80 minutes.
Prop Bet
Suaalii & Manu to score @ $4.60 – 1 unit
Roosters -5.5
$1.55 (2.5 Units)
The Dolphins vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday 11th March, Kayo Stadium, 5:30pm (AEDT)
The NRL’s newest team got their season off to a great start on Sunday with an upset victory over the Roosters. Barely given a chance, there was a sense from the opening minutes of this match (even before when you saw/felt the crowds energy) that something special was going to happen. They achieved this by leading most key areas; they had a superior completion rate, dominated possession, made fewer errors, and made more post-contact metres. Assuming that this standard can be maintained, they will not be the pushover team that many thought they would be.
The Raiders suffered a Round 1 loss to the Cowboys on the road in tough (humid) conditions. They remain in Queensland for consecutive matches and should take confidence away from their 19-18 loss. They had a lesser share of possession (54% vs 46%) and a 77% completion rate, with more missed tackles and significantly less meters. While it still wasn’t an 80-minute performance, they are a team trending in the right direction (for now). They are favourites for this match, but the concern is how much the conditions took out of them last week.
The Dolphins are sure to be on a high and will want to take the same momentum into this week. The fact that this game will be played at their spiritual home ground of Redcliffe will offer a new form of motivation. It is still too early in the season to invest with any confidence. The odds ($2.40 vs $1.58) have the Raiders as favourites but one (narrow) loss to the Cowboys is hardly the ideal preparation to affect a positive result. Invest small on this game (if you must at all) on the home side who are overvalued in betting markets.
Prop Bet
Dolphins 1-12 @ $3.80 – 0.5 units
Dolphins to Win
$2.40 (0.5 Units)
Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Saturday 11th March, AAMI Park, 7:35pm (AEDT)
The Storm were the first team in season 2023 to capture a victory with a tough 16-12 Golden Point victory over the Eels on the road. Despite never leading the contest until Grant crossed for the match-winning try, there was always a sense that they would have a great opportunity to defeat their opponents. It was a game built on strong defence as they limited the Eels to just 8.1m per carry while making 9.7m themselves. Even with missing more tackles (30 vs 37), they were able to scramble to cover this; the experience in their team is still present, despite the players they have lost in the off-season.
The Bulldogs would have wanted something similar from their players as they were comprehensively defeated 31-6 by the Sea Eagles. Hopes were high of a positive Bulldogs performance, but they were quickly dispelled as their opponents dominated the contest. Their execution was poor (65% completion rate, 15 errors and 29 missed tackles) and to improve, they will need to play a more disciplined style.
The Storm are the superior team in this contest, not only on paper but in their execution. The Bulldogs will (should) be better than last week but it will only take them so far in terms of winning this contest. Betting markets ($1.38 vs $3.10) suggest they should have a harder time of winning. The task is made more difficult with the Storms (74%) record at this ground compared to the Bulldogs (33%). Furthermore, the Bulldogs have not defeated the Storm since Round 16, 2015, meaning they are on an 8-game losing streak. It is difficult to see anything other than a Storm victory, but we also might see what the Bulldogs are made of.
Prop Bet
Reimis Smith & Jahrome Hughes to score a try @ $8 – 0.5 units
Storm -7.5
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
