Round 5 of the NRL season gets underway this Thursday and we are back with a full betting preview of all the matchups below.
NRL Round 5 Preview & Betting Tips
Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury Bulldogs (Thursday, Apr 5 7:50pm AEST)
Round 5 kicks off with an expected close affair between the Raiders and Bulldogs. Mainly because both sides sit in the bottom four on the ladder. After four straight losses, the Raiders season is probably already on the line. The Bulldogs have looked the better of the two sides as they probably should of beat the Rabbitohs and defeated the Panthers previously. They won the last meeting 16-10 against the Raiders and have a 3-1 record in Canberra. But the Raiders have lost both matches at home this season by under 4 points, so I can see them responding with a potential 0-5 record on their minds.
TIP: Either Team Under 8.5 Points - $2.10 at CrownBet
Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters (Friday, Apr 6 6:00pm AEST)
Friday night football starts with the Sharks facing the Roosters at Shark Park. Cronulla outlasted the Storm last week and will be confident of another upset. The Roosters are coming off a poor performance against the Warriors as they were held to just 6 points. The Sharks own one of the best defences in the NRL and that should keep this close until the end. The Sharks lost against the Roosters 16-14 last year, but they do have a 6-1 record against them since 2014. In the Roosters two losses, they’ve struggled to score points against the Tigers and Warriors, which are similar sides to this Sharks defence. So I see value in the Sharks causing an upset.
TIP: Sharks WIN - $2.20 at Sportsbet
St George Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (Friday, Apr 6 7:50pm AEST)
The rivalry between St George and South Sydney continues in the second Friday night match. The Dragons have easily looked the best side in the first four rounds and will look for a 5-0 start on Friday. The Rabbitohs seem to have their measure lately with a 6-1 head to head record. But at the moment, the Dragons attack should get them over the line. The Rabbitohs will also be missing Sam Burgess and that really hurts their forward pack. They do have a solid defence, so there’s value in the Dragons winning 1-12.
TIP: Dragons 1-12 - $3.30 at CrownBet
Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm (Saturday, Apr 7 3:00pm AEST)
The first match of a double header at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday is the Tigers up against the Storm. Melbourne were poor in attack against the Sharks last week and undisciplined by giving away easy penalties. They lost against the Tigers in Round 2 as well, so this should be a tough battle. Wests rebounded from a golden point loss against the Broncos with a 30-20 win over the Eels on Easter Monday. They seem to match up well with the Storm and I can see them covering the line. They’re already 4-0 ATS this season and should be able to keep this contest close at a neutral venue.
TIP: Tigers +7.5 - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
New Zealand Warriors vs North Queensland Cowboys (Saturday, Apr 7 5:30pm AEST)
Not many NRL fans would of predicted the Warriors to start the season 4-0 but they have and full credit goes to them. They smashed the Roosters 30-6 last week and have already won 3 matches in Australia, something they usually struggle with. They also beat the Roosters without Shaun Johnson. So they now face the Cowboys at home for a chance at a 5-0 record. In contrast, the Cowboys have looked really poor in attack and defence this season. They sit 12th on the ladder as a result. To make matters worse, Jordan McLean is out for a lengthy time. So in the end, the Warriors with Shaun Johnson and Simon Mannering back in the lineup are great value to win this.
TIP: Warriors WIN - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos (Saturday, Apr 7 7:30pm AEST)
After a strong start to the season, the Knights have been poor defensively against the Dragons (30-12) and Roosters (38-8). The Broncos also hold a 2-2 record and lost to the Titans 26-14 last week. In the head to head, the Broncos lead 6-0. However, this matchup is usually a high scoring contest so the over total is worth a look. In the last 5 meetings between the sides, the total points has reached 49 or more. They’ve both looked poor defensively so 40+ total points is a good chance again.
TIP: Over 39.5 points - $1.90 at Sportsbet
Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles (Sunday, Apr 8 2:00pm AEST)
Last week, the Sea Eagles rebounded with an impressive attacking display at Brookvale Oval in a 32-16 win over the Raiders. However, they lost two players to an ACL and Tommy Turbo is out for 2 weeks. So the trip to Gladstone could be tough. The Titans also rebounded last week after a 54-8 defeat to beat the Broncos at Suncorp 26-14. So both sides are proving hard to predict. But in the end, the Sea Eagles look the better attacking side so far and will likely contain the Titans attack. Their also coming off an extra day’s rest which should give them an advantage in the Gladstone.
TIP: Sea Eagles -3.5 - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers (Sunday, Apr 8 4:10pm AEST)
The last match of the round is the derby between the Eels and Panthers. They’ve already played each other this season and the Panthers were victorious in Round 1 24-14 at home. Since that clash, the Panthers have easily looked the better team. They comfortably beat the Cowboys in North Queensland last Thursday. The win was especially pleasing without Nathan Cleary. So they now get an extra few days rest over the Eels who just played on Easter Monday. They lost 30-20 against the Tigers and a late flurry of tries flattered the scoreline. They’ve been one of the worst attacking sides in the NRL and that probably won’t change against the Panthers. So I’m backing the Panthers to win this matchup by around 2 tries again.
TIP: Panthers -3.5 - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
