<p>Magic is in the air! Magic Round that is! NRLW round 5 will mark the first time the Magic Round initiative has been rolled out in the women’s game.</p> <p>That means this weekend all 12 NRLW teams will head to McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle for a female footy fiesta, the likes of which have not been seen before.</p> <p>It’s a milestone moment for the women’s game, considering just seven short seasons ago the competition featured just four teams and seven matches.</p> <p>While it’s always fun to reminisce and see how quickly the girl’s game has grown, it’s time to get the party started and look ahead to Magic Round with our NRLW round 5 tips and predictions.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the inaugural NRLW Magic Round, check out our expert NRLW round 5 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans Women vs Canterbury Bulldogs Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 2, 12:15pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The first game of NRLW round 5 and the first ever game of an NRLW Magic Round should be one of the closest of the weekend.</p> <p>Both the Titans and the Bulldogs are 2-2 to start the season and the H2H odds have them nearly neck and neck here too.</p> <p>While their records are the same, their form is not. The Bulldogs have lost their last two, while the Titans have won their last couple.</p> <p>Momentum is everything in this game and that’s why we’re taking the Titans here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/gold-coast-titans-women-v-canterbury-bulldogs-women-9459589">Gold Coast Titans Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jamie Chapman first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Wests Tigers Women vs Sydney Roosters Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 2, 2:15pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>From teams with identical records, to sides with opposite ones. The 0-4 Tigers are going to need plenty of magic if they are to upset the 4-0 Roosters.</p> <p>While the Tigers most recent loss was a hard fought 20-16 scrap to the Sharks, the fact of the matter is they are still winless in 2025.</p> <p>Meanwhile the Roosters rolled on in round 4 with a high scoring 42-22 win over the Bulldogs that saw superstar Isabelle Kelly cross for a classy double.</p> <p>In terms of the result of this one, we doubt even Harry Potter could help the Tigers out here. The Roosters by plenty.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/wests-tigers-women-v-sydney-roosters-women-9459595">Sydney Roosters Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Isabelle Kelly first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Women vs Cronulla Sharks Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 2, 4:15pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Brisbane Broncos will look to keep touch with the runaway Roosters in the premiership race when they take on the Sharks in NRLW round 5.</p> <p>The location of the NRLW’s inaugural Magic Round means that Brisbane superstar Tamika Upton gets to return to her old stomping ground in the Hunter Valley.</p> <p>Speaking of Upton, she was up to her usual tricks last week and she helped the Broncos to another big win, this time over the Dragons.</p> <p>We’re tipping her to play a big part here at her old home and help Brisbane to another win, this time at Cronulla’s expense.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/brisbane-broncos-women-v-cronulla-sharks-women-9459603">Brisbane Broncos Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Tamika Upton anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys Women vs New Zealand Warriors Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 3, 11:50am AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The New Zealand Warriors return to the NRLW has been a rough one, as they tasted defeat yet again last week.</p> <p>That loss to the Titans now has them sitting 10th with a 1-3 record. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier for the Wahs in NRLW round 5, as they have to take on the high-flying Cowboys.</p> <p>North Queensland moved into the top four last week with their best performance of the season to date – a classy 26-0 win at home over the Raiders.</p> <p>Krystal Blackwell capped off proceedings with a classy brace and we’re tipping her and the Cowboys to pick up where they left off last week when they hit the Hunter.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/north-queensland-cowboys-women-v-new-zealand-warriors-women-9459634">North Queensland Cowboys Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Krystal Blackwell first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights Women vs Canberra Raiders Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 3, 1:45pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Does it get much better than this for the Newcastle Knights? The location for the NRLW’s first-ever Magic Round is their home ground, they’re coming off a big win against a quality opposition and now they get to face the Raiders who currently occupy the bottom of the ladder.</p> <p>The Raiders are running last for a reason, they’re yet to win this season and we don’t see that changing here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/newcastle-knights-women-v-canberra-raiders-women-9459639">Newcastle Knights Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Big win little win – Knights 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Parramatta Eels Women vs St George Illawarra Dragons Women Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 3, 3:45pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Like the opening game of NRLW round 5, the final game appears to be just as hard to predict.</p> <p>Both the Parramatta Eels and The St George Illawarra Dragons are coming off identical defeats. Both sides went down exactly 30-6 last time out, in showings that have no doubt sent both clubs back to their respective drawing boards.</p> <p>They both now have 2-2 records to start the season, making them nearly inseparable on paper.</p> <p>In times like this we always turn to the odds and at the time of writing, the H2H market has the Eels as the slight, slight favourite.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrlw/parramatta-eels-women-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-women-9459645">Parramatta Eels Women.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRLW Premiership Odds 2025</h2>