We thought we knew what was happening, we were comfortably writing teams off, bookies set ridiculous odds as they tried to get early form lines off one game… but our beautiful game makes us all look silly once again.
Here are your talking points for round two.
Why won’t the NRL promote radio broadcasts?
As is my way, I was off doing all sorts of interesting things this weekend which coincided with a couple of live games during NRL round two.
I’m hardly on my own here – there’s many thousands of people who can’t get to a game or a screen when one is on and would love some simple access to a radio broadcast.
So why aren’t any of the live game radio streams available on the NRL website or NRL app? The individual game info supplied doesn’t even tell us what radio stations are broadcasting each game.
The AFL does it, and it works really well.
Setting aside the overall shocking quality of the NRL’s radio coverage (that’s a column for another time), surely it’s not that difficult to show people where they can listen to a live game, and maybe make it easy for them to do so, which keeps them on the app for hours?
It just baffles me why the league is happy to shut out one point of access to its product.
The sportsbooks get fleeced #1
Probably one of the biggest overreactions from last week was the writing off of the Roosters.
Sure, they were horrible while getting dusted by Brisbane and wearing 50 points, and on Friday they were up against the unstoppable force that is the Penrith Panthers, but odds being offered at $17.30 pre-match in a two-horse race were insane.
After last week’s drubbing Roosters coach Trent Robinson was mocked for saying he was happy with his team’s effort and work rate, but that his team lacked the ‘smarts’ to do the right thing.
Friday’s 38-32 win over the premiers was proof Robinson was on the right track, even in the face of a mass exodus of players and a new squad still finding its way to play together.
What did we learn about the Chooks? They’ll be up and down, but they’re still pretty damn good when they pull themselves together.
And what of Penrith? Last season they conceded more than 30 points just twice in 27 games.
There will be plenty death riding the champs based on this result, and while both coach and halfback Cleary were pretty sanguine in the aftermath, acknowledging that their preparation and mindset may not have been all they could be, only a fool writes off the Panthers.
The sportsbooks get fleeced #2
The team who belted the Roosters, Brisbane, headed to Canberra as heavy (some would say too heavy) favourites to face a Raiders team who had shown in Las Vegas they’re starting to piece together a pretty damn good outfit.
Like always, though, you can barely find one journo or commentator who knows anything about Canberra’s young roster and how they’ve trained over the offseason.
Most analysis of the Raiders is based in stereotypes and/or hatred for Ricky Stuart, not on what is actually being built in the capital.
Brisbane didn’t know what hit them and by the time they did, it was too late.
Belted in the middle and round the edges by a smaller, mobile forward pack and constantly on the back foot in defence as the ball moved quickly through them, it was a reminder to all that anything can happen from one rugby league week to the other.
There’s no point getting overexcited about this result – Canberra started last season 4-2 and missed the eight, and Brisbane are still a good team learning with a new coach.
It’s worth pointing out as well the unjust shitcanning Reece Walsh copped after this game.
The Broncos were thoroughly outplayed all across the park, but Walsh seems to be the only one up for criticism.
He wasn’t their worst by a mile and while you expect abuse from dickheads on social media, there was a lot of wasted, lazy and frankly rubbish analysis from the journos because Walsh is an easy target.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Early season rollercoasters
Last week I gave the Dolphins a pass in a loss, but not this week.
The stats ended up pretty close in comparison but the ‘Phins were borderline uncompetitive going down 26-12 in Newcastle.
The Knights pushed them downfield at will, and went through them when they felt like it.
A lot of folks have the Dolphins finals bound this year but this was an average performance.
Newcastle looked good while taking care of business for the second week in a row. They’re off to Robina against the Titans next week with a real chance to take advantage of a good early draw and start 3-0.
There should be alarm bells going off all over Queensland Country Bank Stadium after another decrepit performance by the Cowboys, down 36-12 to Cronulla and never looking competitive.
It was an assured performance by the Sharks as they opened their 2025 account, like a team with top four plans who win the games they’re supposed to.
It was touted as a huge upset across the ditch, but Manly were just beaten fair and square 36-16 in New Zealand as the Warriors got themselves together in the comforts of home.
The undermanned South Sydney keep winning ugly, sneaking past St George Illawarra 25-24 in a game the Dragons really should have put away.
Is Wayne at it again? This one will count double as we get to the end of the season.
Wests Tigers looked great but that needs to be balanced against how poor Parramatta were in a 32-6 romp. The Eels are going to be hurting for a while and it’s not incoming coach Jason Ryles’ fault in the slightest.
We had an entertaining game to wrap the round with Canterbury knocking over the Titans 40-24, in a game where both teams went on scoring runs but the Gold Coast were too slow out of the blocks.
All things considered the Titans weren’t too bad in their first hitout for the year and with a ‘new-look’ spine (featuring the same players as before, just in different positions).
Canterbury will just be happy to be banking early points… They want the top four and this is how you do it.
What lies ahead
Round three is going to be a belter, mark my words!
Fantastic match-ups across the board begin with last year’s grand finalists going at it in Melbourne on Thursday night. The Storm looked irresistible in week one and you read about Penrith a little earlier, you can guarantee they’ll be looking properly at this game.
Friday’s first game is Kiwi primetime with New Zealand and the Roosters, an interesting game that will be worth a watch. Our prime time Aussie game is the Broncos and Cowboys, and my word do North Queensland need to sharpen up.
Saturday kicks off with Cronulla hosting South Sydney, followed by the Dolphins and Wests Tigers in Redcliffe before the Gold Coast play their first home game for 2025 against Newcastle. A good day’s viewing I reckon.
The round wraps Sunday with Parramatta and Canterbury in the arvo at CommBank Stadium, then a great match to finish us off when Manly host Canberra in the late game.
St George Illawarra have the bye but coach Shane Flanagan has said he’ll be flogging them over the break after two poor losses, so there’s that.
Week two’s random thoughts
– Again a round played mostly in extreme heat. If the NRL was serious about protecting its players these early games would be twilight or night games, or at least if it’s a daytime game there’s proper drinks breaks?
– Brandon Smith made the news this week for dropping less than subtle hints he’d happily join the Rabbitohs when it’s possible. The Chooks don’t often get their big name signings wrong, but this one has been a shocker.
– On the other hand, personally I quite like that like a lot of NRL players, Smith is unafraid to speak their piece…
– Good on him getting his money, but goodness me Dylan Brown is in for a rough year if he can’t give the Eels some spark, even if just for a couple of plays.
– Cheers for Gold Coast’s Brock Gray, who yesterday made his NRL debut aged 28 after proving himself in the offseason. He only got a little stint, but that doesn’t matter. A just reward for tough work.
– Good to see his captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui back in the Titans kit too after a year long injury break.
Round two is in the bank… So what’s got you talking now, Roarers?
