NRL Round 2: Dragons v Rabbitohs tips & top odds | 15/3/25

Dragons v Rabbitohs NRL R2 best bets

NRL Round 2: St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs preview

The St George Illawarra Dragons host the South Sydney Rabbitohs at WIN Stadium in Wollongong in a crucial Round 2 NRL clash on Saturday, coming off contrasting Round 1 performances.

The Dragons fell short against the Bulldogs last Saturday, going down 28-20 after a poor first-half showing left them with too much to do.

The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, ground out a 16-14 win over the Dolphins in their season opener last Friday night, displaying the kind of defensive resilience expected under Wayne Bennett.

However, the South Sydney attack looked disjointed at times, particularly after losing Tyrone Munro to injury, and the absence of Jack Wighton through suspension this week further limits their strike power.

The Rabbitohs have historically struggled away from home, losing 11 of their last 13 games on the road, with the top rugby league betting sites pricing them as $2.65 underdogs.

The Dragons have won three of their last four meetings with the Rabbitohs, including a 28-14 victory in 2024, and have generally performed well when favoured at home.

Their attack, led by Clinton Gutherson and Valentine Holmes, has the potential to cause problems for South Sydney’s defence, which leaked 34 or more points in four of their last five games in 2024.

However, Souths tightened up last week, holding the Dolphins to just 14 points, and if they can replicate that effort, they’ll be in with a strong chance of an upset.

This game could come down to whether the Rabbitohs can maintain the defensive structure they showed against the Dolphins while generating enough attacking opportunities to trouble the Dragons.

St George will look to exploit South Sydney’s reshuffled backline, but their error rate remains a major concern.

Dragons v Rabbitohs teams

St George Illawarra Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Mathew Feagai
3. Moses Suli
4. Valentine Holmes
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Toby Couchman
9. Damien Cook
10. Emre Guler
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack De Belin
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Blake Lawrie
16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
17. Hamish Stewart

The Dragons have made one change from their Round 1 side, with Blake Lawrie returning from a hamstring injury to replace the injured Ryan Couchman on the bench. Hamish Stewart retains his spot after a solid debut.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray
2. Isaiah Tass
3. Fletcher Myers
4. Campbell Graham
5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
6. Cody Walker
7. Jamie Humphreys
8. Sean Keppie
9. Peter Mamouzelos
10. Davvy Moale
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Jai Arrow
13. Lachlan Hubner
14. Jayden Sullivan
15. Siliva Havili
16. Tallis Duncan
17. Tevita Tatola

The Rabbitohs have been forced into several changes, with Fletcher Myers replacing the suspended Jack Wighton at centre and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape making his NRL debut on the wing for the injured Tyrone Munro. English recruit Lewis Dodd is listed among the reserves and could be a late inclusion.

Dragons v Rabbitohs Round 2 betting predictions

NRL betting odds have South Sydney as outsiders at $2.65, but there’s strong value in backing them for an upset with BetOnline. The Dragons’ error count and inconsistency make them a risky favourite, and South Sydney’s ability to slow the game down and turn it into a defensive grind plays in their favour. If the Rabbitohs can keep it close in the first half, their structured play under Bennett could be enough to edge them over the line.

Rabbitohs winger Isaiah Tass looks like the best tryscoring option, with BetOnline pricing him at $1.96 anytime and $10.50 as the first tryscorer. With Cody Walker pulling the strings on the left edge and Campbell Graham demanding attention inside, Tass should have plenty of opportunities to break through a Dragons defence that struggled out wide last week.

With the total set at 51.5 points, the under at $1.96 with BetOnline looks the best play. The Rabbitohs will be looking to control possession and limit attacking chances, and their defensive performance last week suggests they’ll make it tough for the Dragons to pile on points. Souths’ attack is still a work in progress, and with Wighton missing, they may not have the firepower to force a high-scoring contest.

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