NRL Tipping: Expert tips for Finals Week 2 games
Finals Week Two sees a pair of in-form sides embark on tough away trips to face formidable opponents in sudden-death footy.
Our crew of expert tipsters are here to offer their take on who will advance to the Preliminary Finals and what the key contributing factors could be.
Storm v Roosters
Alicia Newton: The Roosters have been gutsy, but injuries have caught up with them and the Storm should bounce back after their worst performance of the year last week. Storm by 10.
Colleen Edwards: Melbourne will be smarting after their heavy loss against the Broncos last week. I'm expecting a much-improved performance against a Roosters side who will fight hard but struggle to overcome a substantial injury toll. Storm by 10.
Corey Rosser: It's been an impressive effort to get to this point of the year for the Roosters, but with their backline decimated by injuries I'm not sure where their points will come from. Craig Bellamy-coached teams rarely disappoint two weeks in a row. Storm by 14.
Dan Talintyre: Melbourne have bounced back relatively well at home when coming off a disappointing loss all season, which is certainly what last week was. The absence of Ryan Papenhuyzen is a blow, but it’s something the Storm overcame for the best part of the regular season to still earn a top four spot. I think they’ll have too much against an injury-ravaged Roosters side. Storm by 4.
Martin Lenehan: Both sides have been ravaged by injuries in the outside backs but there’s still plenty of quality in the halves with big-game specialist Cameron Munster matching wills and skills with Sam Walker and Luke Keary. The Storm failed to trouble the scorer last week in Brisbane, but they’ll bounce back on home turf and move on to next week in a thriller. Storm by 1.
Match: Storm v Roosters
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Storm
3rd Position
away Team
Roosters
7th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Warriors v Knights
Alicia Newton: I think backing up after that classic extra time game against the Raiders last week might be too much for the Knights, and the Warriors will be in their own backyard where they’ll be riding huge home support. Warriors by 4.
Colleen Edwards: The book is sadly going to close this week for one of the two fairytale teams of 2023. The Knights head to Go Media Stadium with nothing to lose in many ways, which makes them a dangerous proposition, but this game is just too big for the Warriors, with or without Shaun Johnson. I'm tipping the Warriors to march on, just. Warriors by 2.
Corey Rosser: On current form and based off individual matchups Newcastle should win this. But the boisterous Auckland crowd, coupled with the toll of last week's 90-minute thriller for the Knights, tilts this in favour of the home side. Warriors by 1.
Dan Talintyre: No Jackson Hastings for the Knights is a huge blow, while Shaun Johnson’s likely inclusion (even if not at 100 percent fitness) should be enough for the hosts. Go Media Stadium will hold an electric atmosphere for one final time this season and Andrew Webster’s side will have learned enough lessons last week against a high-class Penrith side to get the job done here. It’s been a helluva ride for the Knights but the Warriors, in New Zealand, may just be one bridge too far. Warriors by 4.
Martin Lenehan: The likely return of Shaun Johnson will spark the home side, who were short of ideas against the Panthers and simply ran out of energy after doing so much defence. They showed plenty of heart not to be blown away by 50 and once the disappointment subsided they will have taken plenty of positives out of the game. Expect plenty of points and plenty of drama but it’s the Warriors who will live to fight another day. Warriors by 8.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Knights
5th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
