So rugby league is back, and Round One had so much to offer: loads of points, set restarts, golden point games, standard first round Melbourne Storm victories, premiership dreams dashed, bottom four reality sinking in. The only thing it didn’t offer was points for the Broncos. Talking of a lack of points, our 2026 NRL Round 2 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview could hardly be accused of that, with loads of barely interesting stats and visuals to keep you in the game.
Each week this season we will offer up a quick preview glance for each match, throw in a bunch of barely interesting stats, and mix in a pinch of opinion, plus throw in our weekly predictions like chicken salt on hot chips and you have something that seagulls and humans will fight over.
2026 NRL Round 2 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
BRISBANE by 10
CANBERRA by 2
ROOSTERS by 6
WESTS TIGERS by 10
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA by 4
PENRITH by 8
MANLY by 12
DOLPHINS by 26
2026 NRL Round 2 Tips Weekly H2H Stats Summary Cheat Sheets
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one size fits all visual.
Plus our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
2026 NRL Round 2 Tips – Weekly Barely Interesting Stats
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for you convenience and arguments.
THURSDAY 8pm – BRISBANE v PARRAMATTA
Parramatta won this fixture last season at Suncorp Stadium. That broke a run of six straight losses for games in Queensland.
Parramatta have won four of the last five games v Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. Parramatta have scored at least 22 points in each game of that run.
Brisbane’s win rate is 42% v Sydney teams at Suncorp Stadium since 2020. Overall it is 50%.
FRIDAY 6pm – WAHS v CANBERRA
Canberra have won the last three games v Wahs.
Warriors lead the H2H v Canberra at Mt Smart Stadium by 13-7, but Canberra edge the H2H on a Friday 2-1.
Canberra have won their last five Friday games.
Canberra have won their last four away games on a Friday too.
Since returning to Mt Smart after Covid in 2022, the Warriors record at the ground is W9 L7 on a Friday.
Warriors haven’t won back to back home games at Mt Smart since Round 7 last year.
Seven of the last eight games between Warriors and Canberra have seen 41 points or less.
FRIDAY 8pm – ROOSTERS v SOUTH SYDNEY
Roosters have won five of the last six games v South Sydney.
Roosters have won five of the last six games v South Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium, including the last three.
Roosters have won six of the last seven games v South Sydney on a Friday.
The Roosters are 10/10 against South Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium on a Friday.
Roosters have won 12 of their last 13 at the Sydney Football Stadium on a Friday.
South Sydney lost all five away games on a Friday last season, and both of the away Friday games in 2024 too.
SATURDAY 3pm – WESTS TIGERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND @ Leichhardt
North Queensland have won the last five games v Wests Tigers.
North Queensland have won the last two, and three of the last four games v Tigers at Leichhardt.
The last six games between these sides have averaged 71 points.
The last four games between these sides at Leichhardt average 72 points.
Wests Tigers record at Leichhardt for the last two seasons is W5 L3.
Wests Tigers have won their last three games at Leichhardt on a Saturday v Qld teams.
North Queensland were W3 L6 v non Qld opposition away last season.
SATURDAY 5:30pm – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v MELBOURNE @ WIN Stadium
St George Illawarra have won the last two games v Melbourne.
Melbourne have won the last three games v St George Illawarra at Win Stadium.
Melbourne lost three of four games last season on a Saturday to Sydney clubs.
Melbourne have won nine of their last 11 games v Sydney teams away.
It is four in a row away on a Saturday too.
St George Illawarra are W9 L10 at Win Stadium since 2023.
SATURDAY 7:30pm – PENRITH v CRONULLA @ Bathurst
Penrith are W6 L5 at Bathurst. That improves to W6 L4 on a Saturday.
It’s W2 L2 v Sydney teams at Bathurst.
The last three games at Bathurst have been 31 points or less.
Penrith have won five in a row v Cronulla and nine of the last ten games. Cronulla have scored zero three times in that run.
Penrith have won their last five Saturday games, and 42 of their 51 Saturday games since 2020.
Penrith are on a run of seven straight home wins v Cronulla, with the last two not at Penrith Stadium.
Cronulla were W4 L2 away on a Saturday last season.
Cronulla have won their last four Round 2 games, the longest streak of teams.
SUNDAY 4pm – MANLY v NEWCASTLE
The record for team that played in Las Vegas in Round 2 in 2024 and 2025 is W5 L3.
Manly’s record v Newcastle as the home side is W14 D1 L2 from the last 17 games. At Brookvale since 1998 it is W12 L4. On a Sunday at Brookvale it is W8 L2.
Manly are W3 L2 at home on a Sunday last season.
Newcastle have lost their last eight away games on a Sunday.
Newcastle have lost all seven away games on a Sunday v Sydney teams across 2024 and 2025. They lost the 2025 games by a combined 26-126.
SUNDAY 6:15pm – DOLPHINS v GOLD COAST @ Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins are W5 L1 v Gold Coast, but their only loss has come on a Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Dolphins have won three of their last games at Suncorp Stadium v Qld opposition as the home side.
Dolphins are W4 L7 overall at Suncorp Stadium v Qld sides as the home or away side.
Gold Coast have lost their last seven away games in Round 2.
Gold Coast are W5 L10 away to Qld teams since 2020. At Suncorp Stadium it is W4 L5. And W4 L3 on a Sunday v Qld teams away.
Gold Coast have lost their last seven away games on a Sunday v all teams.
Bonus Round 2 Stats
Not as interesting as Round 1 Stats, but still interesting enough.
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