Round two NRL tips: 'Interesting' draw quirk as cyclone ripple-effect cruels Dolphins
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Tipsters are backing the Knights to start their season with a perfect 2-0 record as the Dolphins' unfortunate start to the season is compounded by an "interesting" quirk of the draw.
After having their home round one clash against the Rabbitohs moved to Sydney last week due to the impending arrival of Cyclone Alfred, the Dolphins face a second straight week on the road as they travel on a six-day turnaround to a buoyant Newcastle for Thursday night's opening clash of round two.
Two interstate clashes on the bounce would make for a difficult start for any side and with the Dolphins also missing some key forwards due to injuries, Kristian Woolf's side has its back against the wall.
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New Dolphins player Daniel Saifiti will face his former side the Knights in Thursday night's round two clash. Getty
"Interesting, the Dolphins second week in a row on the road, six day turnaround, that'll affect them," Andrew Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth's Tips.
"They're missing a few players too, both back-rowers, (Kulikefu) Finefeuiaki and (Connelly) Lemuelu, they're both out as well, a couple of strike back-rowers," Brad Fittler replied.
Johns agreed the pair of casualties were "big outs", adding that their absence contrasted with the emergence of Knights' back-rower Dylan Lucas, who was excellent in round one off the back of representative selection at the end of last season, when he was picked in the Prime Minister's XIII.
Both Johns and Fittler picked the Knights to win and were joined unanimously by Nine's other tipsters, although Fittler was able to find a slither of hope for the Dolphins in team selection.
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"Down on troops, they get Kodi Nikorima back who I think, can give them enough creativity to compete," Fittler said.
Nikorima was one of three Dolphins players who sat out of the club's round one clash with the Rabbitohs after choosing to stay home for family reasons to prepare for the cyclone.
Nikorima's pregnant wife Bree had lashed the NRL's decision to move the round one game rather than postponing it, describing the decision as "disgusting" in a social media post that she later deleted.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 2 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
Nine's NRL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Andrew Johns: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Brad Fittler: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Darren Lockyer: Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Eels, Bulldogs
Danika Mason: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Johnathan Thurston: Knights, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Panthers, Cowboys, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Paul Gallen: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Ruan Sims: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Broncos, Eels, Bulldogs
Mat Thompson: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Titans
Peter Psaltis: Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Eels, Titans
David Middleton: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
Michael Chammas: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
The Mole: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Eels, Bulldogs
Ben Glover: Knights, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Broncos, Tigers, Bulldogs
