Our experts check out teams for NRL round 2 and offer their tips

LAST year’s runner-up Michael Carayannis grabbed the lead after a difficult opening round. Check out our experts’ selections for round two plus their no brainers, upsets and coin tosses.

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LAST year’s runner-up Michael Carayannis grabbed a share of the lead after a difficult opening round where a 50 per cent strike rate was good enough for top spot.

In contrast 2017 champion, and Winter Paralympics correspondent, Nick Walshaw props up the field and will be looking to get back on track starting with tonight’s Sharks v Dragons round two opener.

Follow Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie, Michael Carayannis, Matty Logue, Paul Crawley, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw, James Phelps and Paul Kent throughout the season for advice and tips.

With only trial form on the board have they got it right for round 1?

ROUND 1 FIXTURES: Sharks v Dragons, Roosters v Bulldogs, Broncos v Cowboys, Warriors v Titans, Panthers v Rabbitohs, Storm v Wests Tigers, Sea Eagles v Eels, Raiders v Knights.

The local derby is always a battle and Cronulla struggled in their round one clash against North Queensland while the Dragons impressed. Expect Cronulla to fight back and win.

Matt Logue's top tips: Score so far: 4

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: The Panthers will be too strong for the injury-hit Rabbitohs.

Upset: It will be a shock based on the Dragons' red-hot start against Brisbane, but I'm tipping the Sharks to topple the Red V in the local derby.

Coin toss: The Eels vs Sea Eagles clash at Brookie on Sunday could go either way.

James Phelps's top tips: Score so far: 4

Sharks

Bulldogs

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eagles

Raiders

No brainer: The Cowboys to beat the Broncos in the big Queensland derby.

Upset: The Bulldogs are a big chance of sending the Roosters crashing to two straight loses to start the year.

Coin toss: Sharks or Dragons? Tough call.

David Riccio's top tips: Score so far: 4

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: Panthers. Too much strike power for teething problem Rabbitohs.

Upset: Sharks. Turned over too much footy against Cowboys - and still nearly won. Capable of huge improvement.

Coin toss: Warriors. They should be too good for the Titans. But we've all seen this before.

Paul Crawley's top tips: Score so far: 3

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: Storm in Billy Slater’s 300th.

Upset: Eels at Lottoland.

Coin toss: Broncos v Cowboys always a cliffhanger.

Nick Campton's top tips: Score so far: 4

Dragons

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: The Storm in milestone games is as close to a lock as it gets. Tigers are brave but it won't be enough.

Upset: Parra could have too many points in them for the Sea Eagles, even though it's at Lottoland.

Coin toss: Every game the Raiders play is a coin toss. They could be up by 50 and it's still a coin toss.

Fatima Kdouh's top tips: Score so far: 4

Dragons

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: It's Billy Slater's 300th NRL game. The superstar fullback has won every milestone match he has played.

Upset: The Eels will bounce back against the Sea Eagles.

Coin toss: I can't split the Sharks and Dragons. It'll be a cracking game and I reckon the Dragons will edge them out.

Paul Kent's top tips: Score so far: 3

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: The revamped Warriors should be too physical for the Titans.

Upset: Parramatta go into the Manly game as outsiders but should be too strong.

Coin toss: The two local derbies, Sharks-Dragons and Broncos-Cowboys, are tough to separate.

Dean Ritchie's top tips: Score so far: 2

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: Difficult to find one actually but the Raiders should beat Newcastle. Shouldn't they?

Upset: None for me. Think most favourites will win

Coin toss: Difficult to split Manly and Parramatta at Brookvale .

Phil Rothfield's top tips: Score so far: 2

Sharks

Bulldogs

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: Penrith to demolish Souths.

Upset: Dogs to knock over the Roosters.

Coin toss: Sharks v Dragons will go down to the wire.

Nick Walshaw's top tips: Score so far: 2

Sharks

Roosters

Cowboys

Warriors

Panthers

Storm

Eels

Raiders

No brainer: Even from South Korea it's impossible to see Brisbane beating North Queensland.

Upset: None. Although Gold Coast are decent value at over $3.

Coin toss: Sharks/Dragons ... with the Shire boys to get home by less than a converted try.