History Made in NRL Round 2

Edward Briggs

Round 2 of the 2026 NRL season delivered drama, comebacks, and milestone moments across the competition. From Parramatta’s stunning fightback to Alex Johnston becoming the NRL’s all-time leading try-scorer, fans were treated to a weekend of high-intensity football. Here’s a look at each match.

Parramatta Eels 34 – 32 Brisbane Broncos

The Eels pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Broncos in a defence-light contest at Bankwest Stadium. Brisbane raced out to a 14-6 lead thanks to Reece Walsh’s elusive footwork and early tries from Kotoni Staggs and Patrick Carrigan.

Parramatta fought back through Kelma Tuilagi, Jonah Pezet, and Isaiah Iongi, with each player scoring doubles to overturn the deficit. The lead changed hands multiple times before Pezet’s final kick sealed the win. The defending premiers now sit 0-2 to start their title defence, while the Eels showcased their resilience and finishing power.

New Zealand Warriors 40 – 6 Canberra Raiders

The Warriors dominated at Go Media Stadium, even without Kurt Capewell and after losing Chanel Harris-Tavita early to injury. Tanah Boyd orchestrated a masterclass, combining precise kicking and clever passing to set up multiple tries, including for Leka Halasima and Jackson Ford.

The Raiders scored early through Kaeo Weekes but were unable to maintain pressure. In the final 20 minutes, the Warriors ran away with the contest, scoring five tries in a relentless finish.

Sydney Roosters 26 – 18 South Sydney Rabbitohs

At Sydney Football Stadium, the Roosters held off the Rabbitohs in front of 41,424 fans. Daly Cherry-Evans, Daniel Tupou, and James Tedesco were instrumental in the win.

The night was overshadowed by history as Alex Johnston became the NRL’s all-time leading try-scorer with 213 tries. His milestone, celebrated with pitch invasions and a change into a gold jersey, sparked a brief delay before play resumed. The Roosters eventually extended their lead to secure a hard-fought victory.

Wests Tigers 44 – 16 North Queensland Cowboys

The Tigers put on a statement performance at Leichhardt Oval. With Kai O’Donnell sin-binned early, Wests Tigers capitalised through Samuela Fainu, Adam Doueihi, and Kai Pearce-Paul, building a commanding 28-2 half-time lead.

Jarome Luai was at his creative best, providing multiple try assists, while Luke Laulilii and Jeral Skelton finished strongly. The Cowboys showed flashes of attack but were repeatedly undone by errors and ill-discipline.

Melbourne Storm 46 – 20 St George Illawarra Dragons

Melbourne continued their unbeaten start at WIN Stadium. Will Warbrick, Valentine Holmes, and Harry Grant were key contributors, while fullback Sua Faalogo scored three tries in a devastating final quarter.

The Storm capitalised on Dragons’ defensive lapses, including a critical gap left for Grant to score before half-time. Moses Leo added a solo finish to ice the match, keeping Melbourne perfect after two rounds.

Penrith Panthers 26 – 6 Cronulla Sharks

Nathan Cleary led the Panthers to a controlled victory in Bathurst, with Tom Jenkins scoring twice and Cleary himself adding a try. The Panthers dominated possession and field position, forcing errors and limiting Cronulla to a single try from Sione Katoa.

This result extended Penrith’s record over the Sharks to nine wins from ten matchups this decade, showing their consistency and composure early in the season.

Newcastle Knights 36 – 16 Manly Sea Eagles

The Knights overcame early injuries to Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown to secure a convincing win at 4 Pines Park. Greg Marzhew and Dom Young crossed early, with Brown and Fletcher Hunt contributing before leaving with an MCL injury.

Manly fought back through Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu but were unable to close the gap as Newcastle maintained momentum and clinical execution to remain undefeated after two rounds.

Dolphins 18 – 14 Gold Coast Titans

The Dolphins staged a dramatic second-half comeback at Suncorp Stadium, overturning a 14-point deficit to edge the Titans. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jake Averillo, and Isaiya Katoa scored in the final quarter, with Jamayne Isaako converting to secure the win.

The Titans had dominated early, but turnovers and defensive lapses allowed the Dolphins to claim their first victory of the season, showcasing resilience under pressure.