The opening games of the 2025 NRL season have come and gone, and didn’t we start the year off with a bang! All eight of our winner predictions came to fruition throughout round 1, bringing in the first Jersey’s Megastore Perfect Round! The Storm, Sea Eagles and the Broncos looked unstoppable in their wins, while the Raiders and Bulldogs were clinical in dismantling their respective opponents. There's a bit of work to be done for the Eels, Tigers and Warriors in the week ahead if they’re to stand any chance of a win this weekend. So let’s dive in and take a look at all the tips and predictions for Round 2 of the National Rugby League.
Newcastle Knights v Dolphins:
The Newcastle Knights just managed to hang on over the weekend against the Wests Tigers. It wasn’t a pretty watch, but they managed to hold on and claim the two points. On the other end of the second two-point loss of the weekend, the Dolphins weren’t quite good enough to claim the chocolates against the embattled South Sydney lineup; granted though, they were missing players of their own due to Cyclone Alfred. With those players expected to return this week, and bolster the Dolphins attack, we should expect a very different performance from the Redcliffe side. Newcastle were unlucky as they struggled to get any 50/50 calls go their way last weekend, which could have potentially ended in a stronger result. This game is going to be all about who bounces back the best from their round-one battles. Ultimately, starting from a stronger position, and playing at home this week, I think the Newcastle Knights should get the win by 8 points in another close game!
New Zealand Warriors v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles:
It was a tale of two cities in Round 1 for these two respective sides, with the New Zealand Warriors being ambushed by a fighting-fit Raiders attack in Vegas; while the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles came out looking to prove they are the real deal in 2025. Returning home to their faithful home fans, the Wahs will be looking to redeem themselves this week but will face a monumental uphill battle in Manly. Absolutely clinical in their attack and defence last week, the Sea Eagles were one of three teams who looked truly unstoppable. Daly Cherry Evans and Tom Trbojevic look to be gearing up for massive seasons, and it’s difficult to see the Warriors bouncing back well enough to climb that mountain. I’m tipping the Sea Eagles by 22 points.
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters:
Coming back from the Las Vegas win, the Penrith Panthers will look to settle into their new home away from home for 2025, as they take on the Sydney Roosters at Commbank Stadium. It looked to be more of the same from the clinical system that has produced four consecutive premierships. While the Roosters season looks to be over before it even began after conceding 50 points to the Broncos. Penrith aren’t a team that typically likes to run up a lead on their opponents, instead preferring to build a buffer and back their defence to get them home; because of that I can’t see this game being a blow out. The Roosters will no doubt look to come out of week one with a fire in the belly, and save some face this week, however Penrith should be too strong. I’m tipping the Panthers by 14 points.
St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs:
I don’t think either of these sides will be tremendously happy with how the opening round went for them. The South Sydney Rabbitohs managed to just hang on against the Dolphins, while the St George Illawarra Dragons went down by 8 points to the Bulldogs after running in a couple of late tries on the back of Stephen Crichton going down with a leg injury. Ultimately, that means one thing: they both have a point to prove. The Dragons seemed to have found a gem in Christian Tuipulotu, who bagged a very flashy hat-trick on Saturday, while Jamie Humphreys made some big strides toward cementing the halfback spot as his own at South Sydney. The Red V made some sloppy errors in attack last week though, which exposed a few defensive weaknesses that the experience of the Souths attack will look to exploit. For that reason, I’m going to tip the Rabbitohs by 16 points.
North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks:
The North Queensland Cowboys were completely overrun by Manly over the weekend; while the Cronulla Sharks looked good but ultimately were held at bay by the Panthers in Vegas. Both sides come into this clash looking to lock in their first win of the 2025 NRL season. Cronulla is expected to be a major player in this year’s competition and are expected to bounce back promptly this week. The Cowboys will look to bounce back as best they can, but like the Warriors, probably have a little too much work to do in the space of a week. I’m tipping the Sharks by 18 points.
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos:
The first top-four clash of the year arrives as the Vegas-Victorious Canberra Raiders take on the barn-storming Brisbane Broncos at GIO Stadium. The Raiders looked tremendously fit as they took down the Wahs, while the Broncos looked to be running training drills as they dismantled the Roosters. Both sides have big wins to their names heading into this clash, and it will be a real test of the Raiders fortitude as they look to defend their home stadium for the first time this year. The oldest halves pairing in the comp seem to have all the time in the world, with Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds leading the charge when they come down south. While I was very impressed with the Raiders in
Round 1, I’d expect Brisbane to be just a little too strong. I’m tipping the Broncos by 16 points.
Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers:
The Parramatta Eels had a week to forget down in Melbourne, as did the Wests Tigers as they struggled to ice the Newcastle game. Both sides will be looking to notch their first W of the 2025 season, but with Parramatta going without Mitchell Moses again this week, and Dylan Brown struggling to find form, that could be a difficult task. Jarome Luai’s first game in the Orange and black will have proved instrumental for the gun playmaker. Continuing to adapt how the Tigers operate, reuniting with the returning Api Koroisau could prove dangerous for the Eels defence. Get excited Tigers fans, I’m expecting you to return to the winners circle this week. I’m tipping the Wests Tigers by 13 points.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans:
The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs come into this clash after a win to open their season, while the Gold Coast Titans are fresh off an opening round bye. The Titans have had a disrupted preparation off the back of flooding and Cyclone Alfred, and it’s difficult to tell how they will perform as a team this year, notching one win and one loss in the Pre-Season Challenge. The Dogs however, looked a force on Saturday. With tremendous line speed, and more of the same scramble defence that they have built their new systems around, there is a lot to look forward to in Belmore this season. The new off-season recruits in Marcelo Montoya and Sitili Tupouniua combined for 3 tries against the Dragons and look to be adding some serious value to the side. I’m tipping the Bulldogs by 16 points.
Round 2 of the 2025 NRL season is shaping up to be another thrilling weekend of rugby league, with teams looking to build momentum and others desperate to bounce back. Whether you’re backing the high-flying Sea Eagles, the dominant Panthers, or an underdog looking to prove a point, one thing is certain—there’s plenty of action ahead this weekend. Stay tuned for all the latest NRL tips, predictions, and expert analysis right here at Jerseys Megastore. All the latest 2025 gear is continuing to roll out on shop floor too, so don’t forget to grab your favourite team’s jersey and show your support this season! Jersey’s Megastore, for all things footy!
