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New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL Round 2 Tips - Death, taxes and Raiders games 1-12

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Wed 11 Mar 2026 08:22

Jeremy Darke 11 Mar 2026

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New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders expert predictions for Friday’s Round 2 NRL game
Kick off is at 6:00 PM (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium
Expect a 1-12 point margin in this close contest.
Leka Halasima is a promising anytime try scorer off the bench.

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New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders, Round 2 2026 - Expert Prediction

The Warriors will break their losing trend against the Raiders and get their second win at home at Go Media in two weeks, however, this mistake has been made before backing against Canberra so either team 1-12 is the play.

New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders, Round 2 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis & Team News
New Zealand Warriors Team News
New Zealand Warriors Team List
Canberra Raiders Form Analysis & Team News
Canberra Raiders Team News
Canberra Raiders Team List
New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2 FAQ’s

The Raiders have won the last 3 matches against the Warriors, however, I was more impressed by what the New Zealand halves did in tearing apart the Roosters last week than the slim victory for Canberra.

This is a fence sitter even for the bookies who have both teams as equal favourites, unable to split them, so why should we. The certainty is that Raiders games finish with 1-12 margins and so do Warriors games at Go Media, so that is what I will be on and can spend Friday evening cheering for both.

Low scoring games between these two and also at Go Media is the trend on the total so this early in the season that is what I will also be following, especially with it sitting as high as 46.5 points.

For a value play at the anytime try scorer market I am looking no further than cult-hero Leka Halasima. The Warriors second rower crossed last week coming off the bench as an impact player and I am backing him to do the same.

15 Raiders games in 2025 and 1 in 2026 finished with a 1-12 margin.
8 of 11 Warriors games at Go Media Stadium in 2025 finished with a 1-12 margin.
8 of the last 10 matches between New Zealand and Canberra have gone under the game total.
7 of 11 Warriors matches at Go Media went under the game total in 2025.
Leka Halasima scored 13 tries in 2025 and scored in the opener against the Roosters.

Head to Head Stats

Canberra won both meetings against New Zealand last season. A 30-8 victory in Vegas got the 2025 Minor Premiers started and they followed it up with a grinding 16-10 victory at Go Media Stadium in Round 12.

The previous 4 matches between the Warriors and Raiders have gone to the under on the game total and also 8 of the last 10.

Warriors Atk Rank	Raiders Def Rank	Stat	Raiders Atk Rank	Warriors Def Rank
3	9	Points	6	6
8	5	Run Mts	9	4
3	7	Linebreaks	5	11
3	13	Comp %	5	4

New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis & Team News

The Warriors couldn't have started 2026 any better, crushing the Sydney Roosters 42-18 in their season opener in Auckland.

An attack that struggled for most of the year, averaging just 21 points (ranked 12th in NRL) responded in the first match of the new season scoring 7 tries. The criticism was against the halves pairing without Luke Metcalf but both Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita both crossing against the Chooks, and also creating for their outside backs.

Boyd finished with 1 try, a line break, 2 line break assists and 2 try assists, while Harris Tavita had a couple of tries and a try assist, a line break and assisted two. A decent stat sheet for them both.

New Zealand Warriors Team News

The Warriors have named an unchanged side from that that took care of the Roosters last weekend.

New Zealand Warriors Team List

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

3. Ali Leiataua

4. Adam Pompey

5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

6. Chanel Harris-Tavita

7. Tanah Boyd

8. James Fisher-Harris (c)

9. Wayde Egan

10. Jackson Ford

11. Kurt Capewell

12. Jacob Laban

13. Erin Clark

Interchange

14. Sam Healey

15. Demitric Vaimauga

16. Leka Halasima

17. Jackson Ford

18. Taine Tuaupiki

19. Morgon Gannon

Canberra Raiders Form Analysis & Team News

The Raiders did it again in Round 1, just as they did all season long in 2025 on their way to the Minor Premiership, escaping with another tight victory 29-28 over the Sea Eagles after Canberra’s defence disappeared in the final 10 minutes.

After the departure of Jamal Fogarty a cloud of uncertainty hung over new No. 7 Ethan Sanders, however it was the 22-year-old who came up clutch and slotted the 1-pointer in golden point to seal a standard 1-12 victory for the Raiders.

For the opening match of the round the Raiders halves looked decent and gave early ball to their backs. Noah Martin found his place in the second-row, running the hard lines and breaking many twice for two tries, while Xavier savage also crossed for a double on the wing.

Canberra Raiders Team News

Morgan Smithies will start at prop with Josh Papalii in concussion protocol.

Matt Timoko comes in in the No. 17 for the Raiders.

Canberra Raiders Team List

1. Kaeo Weekes

2. Savielo Tamale

3. Simi Sasagi

4. Sebastian Kris

5. Xavier Savage

6. Ethan Strange

7. Ethan Sanders

8. Morgan Smithies

9. Tom Starling

10. Joe Tapine (c)

11. Hudson Young

12. Noah Martin

13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange

14. Jayden Brailey

15. Zac Hosking

16. Ata Mariota

17. Matthew Timoko

18. Daine Laurie

19. Joe Roddy

New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2 FAQ’s

How to livestream New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2?

You can livestream the New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2?

To buy tickets to the New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders NRL 2026 Round 2 game check the NRL website or the official New Zealand Warriors site.

Verdict

New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders

This game will finish with a 1-12 margin to either team in a low-scoring encounter that has less than 46.5 points. Leka Halasima will cross from the interchange bench.

Either Team

1-12 Winning Margin

$1.80 - 4 Units

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Under 46.5

Game Total

$1.91 - 2 Units

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Leka Halasima

Anytime Tryscorer

$4.25 - 1 Unit

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