Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Thursday night – ANZ Stadium

Well what do you know? Eels fans get to see their team at the top of the ladder for two weeks in a row - and I'm not sure if they're finished yet. I haven't been able to say this for quite some time - the Eels were very good last week. If they keep playing like that I'm going to have to start referring to them as a football team. If you told me before the start of the season that after two weeks one of these sides would be undefeated and one would be 0 from 2 it's safe to say I would have gone the wrong way. Parramatta (or their fans...or me for that matter) don't want to get ahead of themselves however. They haven't beaten the Bulldogs since 2010, and even a Barba-less Bulldogs would run riot over the 2012 version of the Eels. But this 2013 version looks impressive...for now.

Verdict – Eels

Result - Bulldogs 20 defeated Eels 16

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – WIN Stadium

I tried to make a cake once. It was for a pretty big occasion. I had all the right ingredients and I was pretty sure I knew what I was doing before I started. Then I just couldn't get the darn thing to work, and by the end I just got so frustrated and gave up. I mention this because I was reminded of this cake while I watched the Broncos in their first hit-out of the season. I have to assume their attacking combinations will improve, at least I'm hoping that they do. In any case I can't tip the Broncos against anyone until I see some genuine signs of life with the ball - particularly away from home. The Dragons aren't exactly world-beaters, but they aren't taking on the world on Friday night. If they can beat Tunisia they can beat the Broncos. Am I being too harsh? I don't think so...I'm not too flash in the kitchen.

Verdict – Dragons

Result - Broncos 22 defeated Dragons 6

North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

Well it might be a terrible name for a stadium but at least it's hard to forget it. Jonathan Thurston has at least 1300 reasons to smile after securing his future with the biggest contract in NRL history. He was in typically good form in round one but he'll definitely be earning his salary on Saturday night if he can steer his Cowboys to a win over the defending premiers. In an inconsistent competition the Melbourne Storm are like a metronome. We all know what they'll do this weekend and what they do is usually enough, but I'm keen on the Cowboys in what will almost certainly be a tight, low-scoring contest. Unless you're giving birth on Saturday night or landing on the moon (or both), this match is compulsory viewing. For those that miss this game congratulations on the birth of your moon baby - don't let the lack of gravity get you down.

Verdict – Cowboys

Result - Storm 32 defeated Cowboys 10

New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – Eden Park

You would assume that the Warriors would be advantaged by the big crowd at Eden Park - but they just can't seem to win there. The Roosters didn't show an awful lot against the Rabbitohs but they showed me more than the Warriors did - a team whose line speed and defensive lapses need to be addressed very quickly if they don't want this season to get away on them. It might be an away game for the chooks, but they'd have almost as many Kiwis in their line-up as the Warriors. Sonny Bill was solid enough in his first hit-out without shining like some godly beacon - and I did enjoy his monologues on the television coverage if no-one else did ("first I wake up, then I make a piece of toast, and then I play some footy etc"). I'm sure the crowd will let him know he's there, but he's one player on Saturday night who knows how to win at this venue.

Verdict – Roosters

Result - Roosters 16 defeated Warriors 14

Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Skilled Park

I used to have a pretty good theory about these clashes - throw the form guide and the team lists out the window and just plonk the lot on the home side. It's a theory that kept me in good stead for quite some time - until last season. But one should never throw out a theory on the basis of one or two disappointing results - it just needs more testing. And besides, I can't imagine the Raiders are going to risk taking Josh Dugan to the Gold Coast at the moment. Too many lights. Too many distractions. Too many tattoo parlours.

Verdict – Titans

Result - Titans 36 defeated Raiders 0

Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

Has the worm turned in western Sydney? Four teams represent that enormous geographical expanse and in recent times it's been the Bulldogs and the Tigers that have looked most likely to grab some silverware. All of a sudden it's the Eels and the Panthers that are starting to look good. Campbelltown Stadium usually brings out their best in the Tigers, but the chasm between their best and what they showed us in round one is quite a gap. I can't see them doing enough in one week to beat the Panthers.

Verdict – Panthers

Result - Tigers 28 defeated Panthers 18

Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday night – Brookvale Oval

Both sides impressed in round one, and sometimes the only way to determine who was better is to try and line up the efforts of the teams they beat. The Broncos weren't flash, particularly in the second half, but the Tigers were simply awful. Couple that with the quick turnaround for the Knights and the Sea Eagles extraordinary record at Brookvale and the Sea Eagles are the safe selection here.

Verdict – Sea Eagles

Result - Sea Eagles 32 defeated Knights 0

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Cronulla Sharks – Monday night – ANZ Stadium

I was rather pleased for the Sharks on Sunday night. Their players, fans and the few staff that remain deserved that win after what has been the darkest week in the history of a club that has had a fair share of dark weeks. A big home crowd and plenty of emotion got them over the line against the Titans, but they are likely to come back to earth with a thud pretty quickly. I'm expecting a thud on Monday night. Sam Burgess won't be there, but I doubt it matters. Naturally my best tip in round one lost so be wary - but here's my best for round two.

Verdict – Rabbitohs

Result - Rabbitohs 14 defeated Sharks 12

Wally Lewis - round two selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

• EELS vs Bulldogs
• DRAGONS vs Broncos
• Cowboys vs STORM
• Warriors vs ROOSTERS
• TITANS vs Raiders
• Tigers vs PANTHERS
• SEA EAGLES vs Knights
• RABBITOHS vs Sharks