NRL Round 2 Preview
Bulldogs vs Eels
Match Up - Greg Eastwood vs Anthony Watmough. They'll hold down the middle for both their sides but expect Watmough to play more minutes and offer less in terms of ball playing. They play the same position but will have very different jobs.
Key Man - Trent Hodkinson will have to step up and dominate the game for the Bulldogs without Josh Reynolds.
Keep An Eye On - The big Dogs forward pack, can they keep up with the mobile yet powerful Eels forwards and of course wee Chris Sandow?
Verdict - Eels <12. I don't the Bulldogs enjoy it when you take the game to them with aggression and enthusiasm, which is exactly what the Eels will do.
Sharks vs Broncos
Match Up - Ben Barba vs Anthony Milford. Both were reasonably average last week and will need to improve greatly this week. Milford has much more support around him and should have the edge here.
Key Man - Andrew Fifita is the most fearsome forward the Sharks have and the Broncos have a pack who will be eager to impress after last week. Fifita's got to find that old game breaking form if the Sharks are to dominate the middle.
Keep An Eye On - Jo Ofahengaue and Kodi Nikorima coming off the bench for the Broncos. Ofahengaue is a prop while Nikorima will probably give Andrew McCullough a rest, last week Corey Parker spent lots of time at dummy half which didn't help their cause.
Verdict - Broncos >12. Their forward pack is on notice and should be too much for the Sharks
Panthers vs Titans
Match Up - Jamie Soward vs Aidan Sezer. Both 6's have educated left boots and offer that touch of class that their halfbacks lack.
Key Man - James Segeyaro, one of the best players of round one. Segeyaro will be a nightmare around the ruck and with the Titans lacking a few ruthless forwards, he should have the Panthers on the front foot the whole game.
Keep An Eye On - Segeyaro will be up against his former apprentice Kierran Moseley and they'll be going toe to toe.
Verdict - Panthers >12.
Sea Eagles vs Storm
Match Up - Daly Cherry-Evans vs Cooper Cronk. Both will be playing alongside inexperienced 6's and this will be an epic battle of halfback play. They are both able to run a game by themselves, but the winner will get the best out of those around him.
Key Man - Jesse Bromwich will not only be charging up the guts, but his off load will give the Storm plenty of attacking opportunities. Manly are slightly battler-ish up front and it's hard to see them stopping Bromwich's all round game.
Keep An Eye On - Ligi Sao will come off the bench for the Sea Eagles while it will interesting to see how Jack Littlejohn goes in the halves.
Verdict - Storm <12. The Storm will pour some more misery on the Sea Eagles.
Cowboys vs Knights
Match Up - Jason Taumalolo vs Jeremy Smith. Again, two middle forwards who play very differently. Smith will be tasked with limiting the impact of Taumalolo ...we'll see a few on his signature throws as he tries to stop Taumalolo.
Key Man - Kurt Gidley has to show that he offers more than Sione Mata'utia at fullback for the Knights, which in theory means that he'll be everywhere against the Cowboys.
Keep An Eye On - Kelepi Tanginoa coming off the bench for the Cowboys, he'll offer plenty of punch.
Verdict - Cowboys >12. The Cowboys won't start with back to back losses and while the Knights won last week, they weren't overly impressive.
Rabbitohs vs Roosters
Match Up - Everywhere. The Roosters should have the edge in the centres but the Rabbiths have two of the best ball playing back rowers in the league. There's size and muscle all over the park, great halves, two classy fullbacks ... ugh this is going to be a beauty.
Key Man - To nail it down to one guy, it's Isaac Luke. His forward won't go forward with such ease this week so he won't be scooting out of dummy half as much, but it will happen and if they can get the Roosters on the back foot, things will get interesting.
Keep An Eye On - Blake Ferguson looks like a man on a mission.
Verdict - Roosters <12. Bit of a toss up, but the Chooks have the advantage up front and are defensively able to handle the different schemes of the Rabbits.
Raiders vs Warriors
Match Up - Josh Hodgson vs Thomas Leuluai. Hodgson could be the best dummy half on the field here, the English rake goes good while Leuluai will have to offer plenty of ball running to help the Warriors go forward.
Key Man - Jacob Lillyman was worryingly quiet last week and the Raiders have a forward pack who could make the Warriors pay if they don't show up. Get up off your line son, put some shots in and make metres.
Keep An Eye On - More confusion for the Warriors, who knows what line up will take the field.
Verdict - Raiders <12. Upset alert, the Raiders have enough there to make the Warriors pay for any weakness and it's in Canberra.
Tigers vs Dragons
Match Up - James Tedesco vs Josh Dugan. Two fullbacks who are all over the show, getting plenty of touches and who love to run the ball.
Key Man - Robbie Farah will have a chance to get in behind a dominant forward pack and will be able to run the show.
Keep An Eye On - Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall are up against an exciting halves pairing and will need to stand up or be made to look rather silly. It'll be tough going though, as I side above, the Tigers should roll through the middle so it'll be a test for Widdop and Marshall to impact a game off the back foot.
Verdict - Tigers >12. Power, it all starts with power in their forward pack which will allow them to do as they please.