Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – BlueBet Stadium

If you count the World Club Challenge game, the Panthers are potentially facing a third successive loss at home. For a team that has lost just eight games across three seasons, that seems unusual. Mind you, there back to back losses have both been by a solitary point, so they aren't far away. I suspect an 'off-season' that included a World Cup (where Penrith were heavily involved has played a part. I expect they'll improve with games under their belt. I also expect they will improve if Soni Luke wasn't playing off the bench, but I'll leave those decisions with the coach. The Bunnies impressed under difficult circumstances in round one, but the depth of their forwards will be tested again with Tatola and Arrow unavailable. Mitchell will play although his knee does seem to be an issue. If he gets through the season the Bunnies can win the lot, and I've decided he strikes the ball while goal-kicking better than anyone I've seen (yes...really), but can he get through a season, and can he get through this game? The Panthers have won 9 of the last 10 clashes with the Bunnies, and I think they're due. Proper contest this.

Verdict – Panthers by 1

Result – Panthers 16 defeated Rabbitohs 10

Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – CommBank Stadium

Both sides went down in competitive losses in round one. No-one wants to lose their first two games of the season, so plenty to play for here. The Eels looked the winner against the Storm but didn't have the composure to ice the game when the game needed icing. There were positives though, particularly J'maine Hopgood who couldn't get a crack at first grade at the Panthers but made 57 tackles and gave his all. Potential Origin representative this bloke (Queenslander). The Sharks were competitive against the Bunnies but always looked like they wouldn't quite get there. The return of Hynes will bolster their prospects, but he's not back for this game. Eels at home in what should be another competitive affair.

Verdict – Eels by 4

Result – Sharks 30 defeated Eels 26

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

I had to drop into my local Bunnings last weekend, and I counted eight Broncos jerseys as I walked around the joint. That's what happens around here when the Broncos are going well, and they impressed many with their round one victory over the defending premiers. To my eye, they are a proper top eight (and probably top four) team when Adam Reynolds is on the paddock. For years the Broncos have been missing a proper halfback, and Reynolds is the guy. They just need to manage his body and keep him on the field. Reece Walsh returns and they'll go up another level as a result. The Cowboys appeared in control against the Raiders last week but left the door ajar and the game became a contest. They were good enough to steady the ship and win the game, but it's not a habit you want your football team getting into. There could be some rain about on Friday which will tighten the contest and lower the attendance, but given my jersey count at Bunnings I'm expecting 40,000+ to head through the turnstiles for the game of the round.

Verdict – Broncos by 1

Result – Broncos 28 defeated Cowboys 16

Sydney Roosters vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

A difficult game to make a call on right now. The Chooks got out-muscled by a pack of dolphins on the weekend. They've named Brandon Smith and Victor Radley for this clash, but both need to pass concussion protocols. They've also lost Matt Lodge to a facial fracture that looks like he got caught in a hailstorm, and their big dog (Waerea-Hargreaves) still doesn't have the all-clear from the vet. Potentially their forward pack for this game could be Collins, Turpin, two Butchers and a Baker. They may yet call up a candle-stick maker to start off the bench. They do get Joey Manu back though, so their backline is world-class. The Warriors were polished in their win over the Knights, but they often under-perform in Australia. I'm with the Chooks based on current team line-ups, but keep an eye out for late changes.

Verdict – Roosters by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Roosters 20 defeated Warriors 12

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday afternoon – Kayo Stadium

You only get one chance to win your first ever NRL match, and the Dolphins did exactly that. Congratulations to all involved, including the crustiest, craftiest coach in the business. Years ago critics would suggest Wayne Bennett was only a good coach because he had a good team, but the Broncos have never won a premiership (or even made a grand final) without him. Since he left the Knights, the club have been in the wilderness. Since he left the Dragons,...well...I'll get to the Dragons shortly. What the Dolphins need to do now is back up six days after an emotional debut and do it all again, this time in front of the local supporters at a venue that sold out days ago. It's a big ask, but they've got the right coach at the helm. Ricky Stuart got his season off to its usual start with a dig at both the NRL and the RLPA. Whatever the outcome on Saturday, the post-match press conferences from both coaches will be worth a listen. I'm with the Raiders here in another close encounter of the league kind. The team have been in Queensland for a while now and should be adjusting to the weather, and they won't take their competition lightly.

Verdict – Raiders by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Dolphins 20 defeated Raiders 14

Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday night – AAMI Park

The Storm kept their extraordinary run of first round wins intact after I took them on like an idiot, and now they return to their home ground where their record is pretty good too. They'll be keen to put on a show before the AFL circus suffocates all other things in Melbourne. Munster will be out for a while they put his finger back where it belongs, but Harry Grant showed us all that he can put his hand up and win a game when it needs to be won. You don't replace Cameron Smith easily, but the Storm have done the next best thing. The Bulldogs are sticking with the team that came up short last week. They're a work in progress, and there best is still ahead of them.

Verdict – Storm by 10

​​​​​​​Result – Bulldogs 26 defeated Storm 12

Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval

The good news is one of these teams will pick up their first win for the season on Sunday. Jackson Hastings takes on his old club, as does David Klemmer for the Tigers. Neither side were awful last week but it's already clear to me that neither team are likely to be competing for a finals berth this season. I expect the faithful will pack out the eighth wonder of the world on Sunday afternoon and it's the venue that has me leaning to the home team. Two winnable games at Leichhardt Oval to start the season and it would be a disastrous start if they were to lose both of them.

Verdict – Tigers by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Knights 14 defeated Tigers 12

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Netstrata Jubilee Oval

The Dragons were once the glamour team of Australian rugby league. The merged, mashed-up entity they are today is much less glamourous. Since Wayne Bennett departed in 2011, they have made the finals twice in 11 seasons, and their best finish was 7th. As a club they appear to be range-bound, permanently ending their season somewhere between the fringe of the top eight and around 12th. They don't seem to get any worse or better than that, which leaves them as a club that is making up the numbers. They need to aim higher, but I can't see them getting any better this season, or even the next. As for the Titans, they don't make the top eight very often either, but their win in round one was impressive. They were solid in the pre-season trials too. If they can keep this new-look spine on the field they'll win more games than they lose this season.

Verdict – Titans by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Dragons 32 defeated Titans 18

Wally Lewis - round two selections (in bold)

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

• PANTHERS vs Rabbitohs
• EELS vs Sharks
• Broncos vs COWBOYS
• ROOSTERS vs Warriors
• DOLPHINS vs Raiders
• STORM vs Bulldogs
• Tigers vs KNIGHTS
• DRAGONS vs Titans