NRL Round 2 odds, title update and schedule 2022; Latrell Mitchell back to boost Souths

NRL Round 2, 2022, starts on Thursday, March 17, with a vital clash between Melbourne Storm and South Sydney at AAMI Park.. We take an early look at a big weekend ahead in the NRL.

The wounded Storm host a Rabbitohs team that will be delighted to welcome back fullback Latrell Mitchell from his lengthy suspension, especially given how toothless Souths were in attack in their opening loss to Brisbane.

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More: NRL betting guide
NRL match betting previews and tips

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This match is arguably the match of the round, though the Friday night clash between Sydney Roosters and Manly is huge given both teams are in the conversation for the title and both were soundly beaten in the opening round.

Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne must regroup after their costly first-round win against gritty Wests Tigers, in which they lost star prop Christian Welch, winger George Jennings and powerhouse hooker Brandon Smith to long-term injuries. Only Smith is likely to play again this season.

But bookies have made the Storm hot favourites to pile the early pain on Souths, which is no surprise given the Storm have won their past 17 matches against the Rabbitohs in Melbourne.

Melbourne also welcome back star hooker Harry Grant and champion pivot Cameron Munster, while the return of Mitchell is even more crucial for the Rabbitohs.

Mitchell was sidelined for his ill-disciplined high shoulder hit on former teammate Joey Manu. To say Mitchell owes the Bunnies is an understatement given his absence may have played a part in their 14-12 loss to Penrith in the grand final last season.

Souths also farewell star halfback Adam Reynolds and centre Dane Gagai in the off-season, as well as legendary coach Wayne Bennett. New mentor Jason Demetriou needs his team to stand up in this clash or they could very quickly be dismissed as any sort of threat in 2022.

The Roosters are narrow favourites against the Sea Eagles, but you could not back them at that price given their first-up loss to Newcastle. While the Sea Eages also lost, their reversal was against title favourites Penrith and they were simply overwhelmed by the Panthers’ all-action style.

The best match of the trio on Super Saturday looms as Cronulla ($2.25) v Parramatta ($1.65) in the 5.30pm slot, with both teams aiming to lay out their top-four credentials early.

On Sunday, the Broncos ($1.74) need to prove their opening win was no fluke when they travel to play first-up winners Canterbury ($2.10). The Broncos should have the services of big off-season recruit Reynolds after he missed the first match after contracting COVID-19.

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NRL Premiership odds before Round 2, 2022

Defending champions Penrith are quickly back to the top of title betting, moving in from $5.50 to $4 after their impressive opening win against the Manly Sea Eagles.

But that was not the only factor in their ascent, with Storm easing despite their first-up win thanks to a horror night on the injury front, losing their gun prop Christian Welch to a season-ending achilles injury, along with winger George Jennings (knee) and hooker Brandon Smith (hand).

The Storm eased from $4 out to $5.50, while Parramatta firmed from $12 into $9.50 after their topsy-turvy opening win, and Souths blew from $12 to $13 after their poor first-round loss to Brisbane.

The Broncos finally gave their fans hope the sleeping giant is awakening, and the Broncos firmed from $26 into $21, the shortest they have been in premiership betting for a couple of years.

Newcastle were another team to surprise with their good win against the Roosters and the Knights are alongside Gold Coast at $26 with top Aussie bookies TopSport to lift the 2022 title.

NRL title odds 2022

$4 Penrith Panthers
$5.50 Melbourne Storm
$6 Sydney Roosters
$9.50 Manly Sea Eagles, Parramatta Eels
$13 South Sydney Rabbitohs
$21 Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks, Canberra Raiders
$26  Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans
$31  St George Illawarra Dragons
$41 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New Zealand Warriors,
$71 North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers

Check out all the latest odds at TopSport!

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NRL Round 2 fixture, odds and times

Thursday, March 17 

• 8.05pm: Melbourne Storm  $1.40 v South Sydney Rabbitohs $2.95

Friday, March 18 

• 6pm: St George Illawarra Dragons $3.80 v Penrith Panthers $1.27
• 8.05pm: Sydney Roosters $1.77 v   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles $2.05

Saturday, March 19

• 3pm: Gold Coast Titans $1.37 v New Zealand Warriors $3.10
• 5.30pm:  Cronulla Sutherland Sharks $2.25 v Parramatta Eels $1.65
• 7.35pm: North Queensland Cowboys $2.40 v Canberra Raiders $1.57

Sunday, March 20

• 4.05pm: Newcastle Knights $1.36 v Wests Tigers $3.15
• 6.15pm: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs $2.10 v Brisbane Broncos $1.74