We’re a month down and head into Round 5 of the 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership this Easter long weekend, and what a beauty of a line-up this week’s draw is.
An early season surprise package, the Knights are the only team to remain undefeated after the opening four rounds with a perfect quartet of wins thanks to their 26 – 14 victory over Penrith last Saturday.
The Bunnies, three from four, have slipped down into third spot on the ladder and second in our NRL Premiership 2015 betting markets here at Ladbrokes ($4.75) after suffering a shock 29 – 16 loss to the Eels on Friday night.
So can Souths bounce back this Friday afternoon in last year’s Grand Final rematch taking on the fourth-ranked Bulldogs in the Good Friday feature?
It’s a cracker to kick things off followed by plenty more ace showdowns including a Queensland Derby between Titans and Broncos in the other Friday clash, and Newcastle shooting for their fifth on the trot taking on the current Wooden Spoon-favourites Cronulla on Sunday in Sydney.
Our full NRL Round 5 preview and early picks are detailed below so you can lock in the winning teams at our winning Ladbrokes prices!
Check out our NRL Round 5 Cash Back offer if your team is first to score but goes on to lose in the head-to-head markets!
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Friday, April 3 – 4:00pm (AEDT) – ANZ Stadium
The last time these two played was in the 2014 Grand Final, and we all know the result of that. The Bunnies got off to a flying start with three wins this season after a stellar “off” season, but it’s hard for a team to play at that level that well for that long. That showed last week when they went down to the Eels (29 – 16) so they’ll be out to atone. The Bulldogs meanwhile sit one below them on the ladder in this 4th vs 3rd blockbuster. Canterbury won last Friday night’s other match in a thrilling 25 – 24 Golden Point victory. They trailed 16 – nil to the young Tigers outfit before fighting their way back in to take it out so are capable of a gutsy game here too. A State of Origin feel to this too with QLD’s best centre taking on NSW’s best winger with two of the game’s best fullbacks up against each other here. It’s a definite toss of the coin, will the big GI be the difference come the final whistle blow?
Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos
Friday, April 3 – 8:35pm (AEDT) – Cbus Super Stadium
After a bad start for the returning Bennett, Brisbane posted their third straight win last week moving into 5th on the ladder after travelling across the Tasman and defeating the always-dangerous Warriors 24 – 16. The game was 16 all at one stage but the Broncos, while somewhat ragged, never panicked and took it home. The Titans meanwhile are 14th on the ladder, finally winning their first of the season in a 24 – 22 victory over the Sharks – big deal. Brisbane to make it a four straight and hand the competition’s youngest (and most disappointing) team another loss. Stats work in Broncos favour too as they’ve won 12 of the 17 played between these two.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday, April 4 – 5:05pm (AEDT) – Lavington Sports Ground
What happened to Manly? A rough and tumble bunch of hard-hitters that sent a shiver down the spines of their opposition last season now line-up as one of the teams other outfits most want to play this year to post easy points. The Sea Eagles lost 12 – 4 in a low-scoring game, which was actually quite entertaining to watch, last Saturday and return a week later to take on the Green Machine. Canberra sit one higher (12th) than Manly (13th), who are still suffering after the announcement their star halves head elsewhere at the season’s end, on the ladder and come off a massive 34 – 6 hiding from the Roosters on Sunday. The Raiders have the shorter turnaround and will still be bruised after round four so expect Manly to fluff up their feathers and get a confidence-booster here.
Newcastle Knights vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Saturday, April 4 – 7:30pm (AEDT) – Hunter Stadium
Wow! We would never have guessed the Knights would be in number one spot after the first four rounds without a loss but that’s footy for you. They won over the Panthers last Saturday and now play St George who are the latest team to enjoy defeating Manly in 2015. Newcastle will start shorties in our markets for this, but we still don’t rate them for the Premiership. If you do though get them at $17 now! Saturday’s game has heart behind it too as it is the inaugural Alex McKinnon Cup clash giving both clubs plenty more than just pride to play for. The Dragons were embarrassed 40 – 10 in Round 26 by the Knights last season when they last played, and with Newcastle at home here think they are going to give St George something to moan about again.
Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Sunday, April 5 – 5:00pm (AEDT) – Allianz Stadium
The Chooks are our new favourites for the Premiership here at Ladbrokes and we’ve got them above South Sydney at $4.50. They are second on the ladder after an all-too-easy 34 – 6 win over the Raiders last Sunday. They get a week between matches and should find this another walk in the park with the Sharks looking the gummy variety this season – again. Cronulla are last on the ladder, still haven’t won a match and won’t do it here either. Shaun Kenny-Dowall into the centres for the Tri-Colours with Blake Ferguson out for four months, and the Roosters also call up Nene Macdonald for the first time this season.
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers
Monday, April 6 – 4:00pm (AEDT) – ANZ Stadium
Parra scored the upset of the round last week when beating the Bunnies 29 – 16 and they will still be charging off the excitement of that. They play a young and impressive Wests outfit here though in one of the week’s other top matches. Our markets on this one are narrow and really it’s a bit of a toss of the coin. Wests had a two-converted try lead over the Bulldogs before giving away too many unanswered points to eventually go down by one point in extra time last week. Have they learnt from that?
Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors
Monday, April 6 – 6:00pm (AEDT) – AAMI Park
Seventh play ninth here with Melbourne boasting the home ground advantage over the travelling Warriors. New Zealand lost at home to an improving Brisbane side last week and could be in a bit of strife here with the Storm looking to make up for their devastatingly close one point loss in the second Golden Point game of last week to the Cowboys. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has named the exact same team as last Monday night’s squad and hopes they’ve got that extra point in them this time. Adding to the Warriors’ woes is the loss of Ben Henry (ACL) for the season, Sebastine Ikahihifo his replacement.
Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys
Monday, April 6 – 8:00pm (AEDT) – Pepper Stadium
North Queensland finally posted their first competition points last Monday night and play their third less-favoured-night feature in a row this week. They had just the one point to spare over Melbourne after extra time in round four and are at juicy odds to go back-to-back when they play the Panthers in Sydney here. Penrith are sixth on the ladder now and are looking to win back some love after going down 26 – 14 to Newcastle last Saturday at Hunter Stadium. The Panthers are also boosted by the return of Isaac John, James Segeyaro and Nigel Plum.