We are one week down in the 11-week NRLW season with losers from Round 1 well behind the eight-ball if they go down again and teams who win twice in two weeks well on the way to a finals berth.
Cronulla are an utterly horrific team at night and that bodes poorly for them against a Brisbane team that can run up a score quickly. Over the last two seasons the Sharks have played seven games after 5pm and are 1-6 straight up and against the spread, scoring more than 16 just once. Brisbane come off a 50-4 win with the defending premiers scoring 30-plus in seven of their last nine. They have won three of four against the Sharks and have far too much firepower for a poorly coached and underperforming Cronulla. Romy Teitzel has nine tries in 23 games across the last three seasons. Lauren Dam has four tries in her last seven games.
Tips
Best: Brisbane -15.5 ($1.90)
Next: Brisbane -23.5 ($3.15)
Tryscorer: Romy Teitzel ($19 First, $3.70 Anytime)
SGM: Romy Teitzel Try/Lauren Dam Try ($13.56)
The Wests Tigers were surprise winners in the opening round while North Queensland had 50 put on them by Brisbane – but the latter typically sets up for a strong bounceback the following week so very keen on North Queensland this week. The Cowboys have won all three meetings with the Tigers including a 30-8 win in Sydney last year. The Tigers went 0-4 outside of Sydney last year with three losses by 24-plus. Emma Manzelmann scored the last time these two teams met and now has three tries in her last six games. Caitlin Turnbull is a tryscoring machine with nine tries in 11 NRLW appearances.
Tips
Best: North Queensland +1.5 ($1.82)
Next: North Queensland 1-12 ($2.90)
Tryscorer: Emma Manzelmann ($19 First, $3.75 Anytime)
SGM: Emma Manzelmann Try/Caitlin Turnbull ($8.54)
Canterbury are the worst team in the NRLW this season and are going to find themselves on the wrong end of a series of hidings this year due to the disparity between the top and bottom teams. The Titans aren’t the tippy top of the NRLW but have claims to being the third best best side in the premiership and with the likes of Evania, Chapman, Brown etc they should be able to put a number on a Canterbury side that has lost six of its last seven by at least 16 points. Phoenix Raine-Hippie has nine tries in eight NRLW matches. Jaime Chapman has 14 tries in 23 matches for the Titans. Evania Isaako has nine tries in her last 21 games.
Tips
Best: Gold Coast -11.5 ($1.90)
Next: Gold Coast -17.5 ($2.80)
Tryscorer: Phoenix Raine-Hippie ($10 First, $2.35 Anytime)
SGM: Phoenix Raine-Hippi Try/Jaime Chapman Try/Evania Isaako Try ($9.14)
The Sydney Roosters are one of the two best teams in the competition and even with Newcastle a potential finalist they will be hard pressed to run with John Strange’s women. The Roosters have won the last two against Newcastle – the latest by 16 – but that was a much better Knights outfit. The Roosters have won eight of their last nine regular season games by at least 16 points. Brydie Parker loves playing Newcastle with four tries in four games. Jayme Fressard has 24 tries in 31 games since joining the Roosters and regularly benefits from being on the end of an all-star backline. Tarryn Aiken has 14 tries in 27 games for the Roosters and returned from an ACL injury with a try last week against the Titans.
Tips
Best: Sydney Roosters -13.5 ($1.90)
Next: Sydney Roosters -23.5 ($3.80)
Tryscorer: Brydie Parker ($8 First, $1.92 Anytime)
SGM: Brydie Parker Try/Jayme Fressard Try/Tarryn Aiken Try ($11.19)
Canberra have improved their roster significantly this season and are being dramatically underrated at home against New Zealand. The Raiders were very good in rolling over the top of St George Illawarra with recruits Sheridan Gallagher, Krystal Blackwell and Bobbi Law notably improving the backline. New Zealand lost no admirers in dominating Canterbury but the loss of star winger Payton Takimoana should not be underestimated. Elise Simpson is an elite finisher with six tries in her last six games. Patricia Maliepo is a highly underrated tryscorer with the half scoring five in 10 games.
Tips
Best: Canberra +6.5 ($1.85)
Next: Canberra Win ($2.75)
Tryscorer: Elise Simpson ($12 First, $2.55 Anytime)
SGM: Elise Simpson Try/Patricia Maliepo Try ($8.60)
Round 2 wraps up with an all-Sydney affair between lightweights St George Illawarra and Parramatta. The Dragons have won four of the last five clashes between the two teams and were desperately unlucky not to win last year. They have more attacking upside than Parramatta and the Eels were absolutely horrific losing when heavily favoured in their season opener. Teagan Berry looks the difference here and she has 38 tries in 42 games including five in her last three against Parramatta. Ella Koster has six tries in 25 games and is huge overs.
Tips
Best: St George Illawarra +3.5 ($1.90)
Next: St George Illawarra Win ($2.25)
Tryscorer: Teagan Berry ($9.50 First, $2.20 Anytime)
SGM: Teagan Berry Try/Ella Koster Try ($14.81)
