NRL round 2, 2026: Watch Alex Johnston become the greatest try-scorer
The National Rugby League’s 2026 season‘s round two kicks off on Thursday, March 12, with the defending premiers hot favourites to collect their first win against battlers Parramatta.
Anyone who watched the Broncos’ inept attacking display in their first-up loss against the Panthers would not be keen on the short odds. Fortunately for them they come up against a Parramatta side that was even more woeful in a 52-4 loss to the powerful Storm in Melbourne.
It’s an intriguing opening match but this week we will turn our focus to the Friday night match-up between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney. Not only are they the oldest and fiercest of NRL rivals but the Rabbitohs’ flying winger Alex Johnston needs just one try to equal legend Ken Irvine as the all-time top try scorer in top-level Australian rugby league history.
The Bunnies would love nothing more than to have Johnston break the record while also giving their arch rival a blood nose with a second straight loss to start the season.
Penrith and Brisbane sit at the top of the NRL title betting markets after one round in 2026 but we think it’s more open than recent seasons.
The value, in our opinion, lies with Canterbury, Canberra and Cronulla. If you are interested in backing teams to win the title, or even to finish in the top four at the end of the regular season, now is the time, before the real contenders start emerging.
Read on for our Roosters v Rabbitohs tips and winner prediction for their round-two NRL clash.
Roosters v Souths match information
- Kick-off: 7pm local time, Friday (8pm Friday, March 13, AEDT)
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Brisbane
- Head to head odds: Roosters $1.80, South Sydney $2.02
- Line betting: Roosters (-1.5 points) $1.90, South Sydney (+1.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 49.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$5 Penrith Panthers
$6 Brisbane Broncos
$7 Melbourne Storm
$9 Sydney Roosters
$13 Canterbury Bulldogs
$15 Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs
$21 New Zealand Warriors
$31 Redcliffe Dolphins
$41 Parramatta Eels, Manly Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers, Newcastle Knights
$51 North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra Dragons
$81 Gold Coast Titans
Roosters v Rabbitohs betting tips
The NRL season is under way and the old rivals meet on a likely momentous day for the NRL.
The Roosters head into this match as firm favourites despite their ordinary display in a round-one 42-18 reversal at the hands of the inspired Warriors.
They have won five of their past six matches against the Rabbitohs, including 36-6 at their most recent encounter in round 27 last season. But that was against a decimated Bunnies outfit.
Souths started the season with a breezy 40-30 upset win against the Dolphins on the road in which front-rower Keaon Koloamatangi was immense. If he can back that up the Bunnies should be right in this contest, which promises to be brutal up-front.
Th Bunnies suffered a big blow when young gun halfback Ashton Ward limped off with an ankle injury against the Dolphins and he will be sorely missed but we see no reason the Rabbitohs can’t ride the emotion of AJ’s big day to another win here.
South Sydney by 8.
Alex Johnston to score 2+ tries/match total under 49.5 points at around $10.50 with Australian betting sites.
NRL round 2, 2026
- Thursday, March 12: Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 8:00pm AEDT
- Friday, March 13: Warriors v Raiders, Go Media Stadium, Auckland | 6pm AEDT
Roosters v Rabbitohs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney | 8pm AEDT - Saturday, March 14: Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | 3pm AEDT
Dragons v Storm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 5.30pm AEDT
Panthers v Sharks, Carrington Park, Bathurst | 7.35pm AEDT - Sunday, March 15: Sea Eagles v Knights, 4 Pines Park, Sydney | 4.05pm AEDT
Dolphins v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 6.15pm AEDT
*Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have the bye
