Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Thursday night – Allianz Stadium

Both sides have named eight on their bench, but that appears to be the new normal for just about everybody. It does give the coaches an opportunity to keep an ace up their sleeve before game day, but it doesn't make tipping any easier. The Bulldogs didn't find attacking any easier last week but that was against the Storm who can suffocate the very best of attacks when their systems are working to capacity. We can't assume the Bulldogs attack isn't firing after one game, but it's a cause for concern. No problems for the Roosters attack last week...in the first half at least. Their coach will remind them to play for 80 minutes if they want to remain undefeated. Much gets made of the Bulldogs forwards and with good reason, but the Chooks aren't short of Foghorn Leghorns in the engine room. That's a battle worth watching. As for the backs – on what we've seen the Chooks outpoint the Dogs with the ball in hand. I've done the maths, and I'm pretty sure that points to a Roosters victory. I say, I say boy, don't bother me when I'm thinking.

Verdict – Roosters by 8

Result – Roosters 28 defeated Bulldogs 24

New Zealand Warriors vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – Mt Smart Stadium

Just one change to the line-ups from last week but it's a pretty big one, with Jesse Bromwich taking some time away from the game while he puts his skeleton back inside his skin. Two weeks tops. They breed them tough in Auckland. Tim Glasby steps up to the starting line in his absence, and he'll be perfectly fine. Note that my rising star suggestion for the purple machine gets his chance alongside Cooper Cronk this weekend – the name is Riley Jacks (not a restaurant). Munster slots back to fullback and Tonumaipea joins the cast of thousands on the extended bench. As I said last week it's hard to get a read on the Warriors performance last week, but barely beating the Knights at home doesn't sound like the right form to beat the purple machine. Note that the Storm have just a 50% win rate at Mt Smart – possibly their least successful venue. A game that could surprise to the upside if the Warriors have one of their nights, but even if they do the Storm probably get the points anyway.

Verdict – Storm by 7

Result – Storm 26 defeated Warriors 10

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

Their last five clashes (yes...five) have given us rugby league at the top of its game. They can't keep up this level of wow forever, but this is the match of the round regardless. Both sides won in round one against high class opponents and impressed in the process. Yours truly looked to get tickets to this game about six weeks ago, and the best I could find was up in the third tier of the grandstand. That put me off a little, so I'll be plonking down on The Lounge instead (sorry Coach). Join me if you wish. I'm leaning to the Cowboys but it's a very light lean. I think their forwards can gain the advantage and Granville has the pace out of dummy half to wreak havoc if the defensive line is on the back-pedal. Thurston, Morgan and Coote can conjure magic off the back of that. Ben Hunt, bless him, still has a habit of making errors when he needs to make quick and important decisions. This looks like the sort of game where such an error could prove the difference. Thurston eats pressure for breakfast. Hunt chews his nails. Cowboys for mine.

Verdict – Cowboys by 4

Result – Cowboys 21 defeated Broncos 20

Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – McDonald Jones Stadium

The Knights go into this game with something they've been lacking for quite some time – confidence. There was enough in their first up performance to suggest they can compete with the most of them. While I would never begrudge anyone a bit of self-belief, I will always take a competitive performance against the hot and cold warriors with a dose of scepticism. I liked what I saw from the Titans when they finally woke up against the Chooks, and I expect a better start from them here. Proctor has been named so lets assume he plays, and you'd think Jarryd Hayne at fullback will be keen to make his mark given the recent criticism. Great players respond to criticism in the best way possible – it's time to find out if Hayne is great.

Verdict – Titans by 8

Result – Knights 34 defeated Titans 26

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday afternoon – Lottoland

After recent periods of on-field success these two sides ended season 2016 in 13th (Manly) and 12th (Souths). It's a long season, but finals football already looks a bridge too far for both these teams. Eventually the Bunnies had to get used to a post-Inglis world but they wouldn't have thought it would happen so quickly. Once-in-a-generation players don't grow on trees – I fear that 2017 will be a very lean year for the red and the green. Manly didn't jag the supplementary number at Lottoland, and they won't win a lot of games at him this season, but they can win this one.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 2

Result – Rabbitohs 38 defeated Sea Eagles 18

Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – GIO Stadium

The first of our viking claps in season 2017, and Michael Ennis won't be there to fire up the locals. Both sides lost in round one but there were positives to take out of both performances – certainly enough to suggest that both teams can be in contention at the pointy end of the season. The Sharks have a pretty good record in the capital, but the inclusion of the largest man in the world (Junior Paulo) and Jack Wighton at the back has me feeling green. I'm feeling confident too.

Verdict – Raiders by 8

Result – Sharks 42 defeated Raiders 16

Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

What the heckity heck do we do here? The Tigers impressed while my tip to win the premiership this season leaked 42 points to an attack that usually takes months to score 42 points. If the Dragons can do that to the Panthers what can Tedesco and Co. rack up on a Sunday afternoon at home? Can the Panthers just turn on the form like a tap? A rational mind would say no, but time and again we see teams that are humiliated one week turn it all around the next. Perhaps the off-field controversies got the better of the Panthers last week but we're all guessing right now. My guess is Panthers, but if they get flogged again I wouldn't be surprised.

Verdict – Panthers by 2

Result – Panthers 36 defeated Tigers 2

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – WIN Stadium

Naturally I'm as confused by the Dragons form as I am by the Panthers. On face value they were bloody terrific, but perhaps their opponent made them look better than they are. I honestly have no idea. What I do know is that I was keen on the Eels in round one and they didn't let me down. Their under-rated pack was tough and resilient and they will need more of that this week as that is clearly where the strength of the Red V lies. I'm banking on the Eels backline outscoring the Dragons, but I could have that hopelessly wrong if the Dragons can repeat their round one heroics. As for Corey Norman, if he can keep things together off the field he's the best number seven for the Eels since Peter Sterling. Cor blimey...he's probably better than Peter Sterling. He's got better hair, and Ms Thinker tells me he's much better looking.

Verdict – Eels by 8

Result – Eels 34 defeated Dragons 16

Wally Lewis - round two selections (in bold)

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

• ROOSTERS vs Bulldogs
• Warriors vs STORM
• BRONCOS vs Cowboys
• Knights vs TITANS
• SEA EAGLES vs Rabbitohs
• RAIDERS vs Sharks
• Tigers vs PANTHERS
• Dragons vs EELS

Last one on the Coach competition

For those of you looking for the Coach Potato competition you can find it in the Lounge section of the website. Just click on 'The Lounge' tab at the top of the page, or you can find it here.