<p>Then there was one. After yet another week of absolute chaos in the NRL, the Canterbury Bulldogs remain the only undefeated team left in the competition.</p> <p>Yes, the Storm are immortal no more after being stunned by the previously winless Dragons.</p> <p>Elsewhere the Warriors revival continues, the Sea Eagles continue to cook with gas and the Cowboys are finally on the board.</p> <p>Things aren’t as rosy in Western Sydney with the Panthers losing again and the Eels remaining firmly rooted to the foot of the table.</p> <p>Still, it’s a long season and NRL round 5 is as good a week as any to start turning things around.</p> <p>Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu this week at the five-star restaurant&nbsp;that is rugby league.</p> <p>For the latest footy news, odds, analysis and betting advice, check out our NRL round 5 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, April 3, 8:00pm AEDT – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Raiders and the Sharks get NRL round 5 rolling at GIO stadium this week. Both will be hungry to bounce back after losses last start, with the Raiders in particular will be desperate to make amends for their most recent showing, as they lost to the previously winless Cowboys.</p> <p>Cronulla can’t be too upset going down to the undefeated Bulldogs and they’ll look to immediately bounce back by taking advantage of a Raiders’ defence that leaked 30 points to North Queensland.</p> <p>The Sharks are still very much a top four side in our eyes, and we expect them to collect the points down in the Nation’s capital on Thursday night.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-cronulla-sharks-9069472">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jesse Ramien first try scorer.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, April 4, 6:00pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Will Cleary be back for this one? Team list Tuesday will shed some serious light on the potential outcome of this one, with the fate of Penrith seemingly tied to the participation of their star No.7.</p> <p>Last week, without him they were completely rudderless against the Rabbitohs, with the first 40 minutes at Stadium Australia particularly calamitous.</p> <p>According to reports Cleary is set to be given the all clear and is expected back on deck in time for Friday night’s showdown with North Queensland.</p> <p>If that does prove to be the case, we will be siding with Penrith here as the Cowboys only just recorded their first win of the season last week.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-9069474">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Paul Alamoti first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, April 4, 8:00pm AEDT – Stadium Australia</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Run rabbit run! Lesson learnt, never question Wayne Bennett. Widely considered the greatest coach Rugby League has ever seen for a reason, Uncle Wayne has got the undermanned and until now, underrated, Rabbitohs rocking.</p> <p>They picked off the Panthers last week, have only one loss so far this season, and their fullback Jye Gray, who is a fill in for Latrell Micthell mind you, finds himself on top of the Dally M leaderboard.</p> <p>Speaking of Mitchell, the mercurial fullback is tipped to return for injury this weekend, just in time to face his former side.</p> <p>That means we may see the man currently leading the Dally M race be dropped to the bench. It will be interesting to see what Wayne does end up doing here, but regardless, against a rapidly unravelling Roosters side, he should be able to guide his chargers to the win.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v-sydney-roosters-9069475">South Sydney Rabbitohs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Latrell Mitchell anytime try scorer.</p>

<h2>Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, April 5, 3:00pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Oh Parramatta. The less said about the Eels, the better. It’s simply not happening for Jason Ryles’ men at the moment.</p> <p>They take on St George this week, who snapped their winless start to the season in stunning style last start, shooting down the Storm. No prizes for guessing who we’re siding with here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-9069477">St George Illawarra Dragons.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Clint Gutherson anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, April 5, 5:30pm AEDT – Robina Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Another Queensland derby? That’s three in three weeks, with the Titans and Dolphins gearing up for another Sunshine State showdown this weekend.</p> <p>It’s all good on the Goldie at the moment, with the Titans flying high in fifth. It’s not so sunny on the beaches of Redcliffe unfortunately, with the Phins still searching for their first win of 2025.</p> <p>We think they’ll have to keep on searching, as we doubt they’ll find it at Robina Stadium on Saturday afternoon.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-dolphins-9069479">Gold Coast Titans.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jayden Campbell first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, April 5, 7:35pm AEDT – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After a little blip, the Broncos are back on track, with back-to-back wins over fellow Queensland sides.</p> <p>They saw off the Dolphins last week in a wet and wild encounter and now in NRL round 5 must turn their attention to the much-improved Tigers.</p> <p>Wests were unlucky to not hold on against a fast-finishing Warriors side last start, ultimately going down by two points to prevent them from winning three games in a row for the first time in eons.</p> <p>If the Broncos can beat Dolphins in water, they can probably take the Tigers on land, particularly as Wests will surely be without star recruit Jarome Luai who is facing a ban for a high shot on Ed Kosi in his side’s loss to the Warriors.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/brisbane-broncos-v-wests-tigers-9069480">Brisbane Broncos.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Gehamat Shibasaki anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, April 6, 5:05pm AEDT – Brookvale Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>What a matchup we have here! Easily the standout game of NRL round 5, two of the teams right in premiership contention are all set to duke it out on Sunday arvo.</p> <p>This could very well harken back to the kind of contests that existed in the ‘Battle of Brookvale’ days, so buckle up!</p> <p>Melbourne might be vulnerable after their shock loss to St George last week, with Manly ready to pounce.</p> <p>Sea Eagles skipper DCE blocked out all the noise around his future with a MOTM display against the Eels last start in pleasing scenes for head coach Anthony Seibold.</p> <p>He won’t be as pleased with the news that star fullback will miss at least the next month of footy with a new knee injury. Is there an unluckier man in the NRL?</p> <p>Still, the way they starred without him a few weeks back, we are confident they still have what it takes to condemn the Storm to back-to-back losses.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-v-melbourne-storm-9069481">Manly Sea Eagles.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, April 6, 7:15pm AEDT – Stadium Australia</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The only undefeated team left in the land, the Bulldogs, close out NRL round 5, when they host the Newcastle Knights on Sunday night.</p> <p>Cameron Ciraldo’s men are doing everything right at the moment, they’re playing a tough, structured brand of footy that transcends dependency on specific personnel.</p> <p>The fact that they saw off Cronulla last week, away from home, without the services of Burton and Kikau, who are arguably their two best players, speaks volumes of their current team chemistry.</p> <p>We are giving the Knights little to no hope here, particularly on the road.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-newcastle-knights-9069483">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Bronson Xerri first try scorer.</p>

<h2>New Zealand Warriors – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After a nail biting 26-24 win on the road to the Tigers, the Wahs get a well-deserved week off in NRL round 5.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>