With four rounds of NRL done and dusted, our experts quickly break down the best bets for every game of Round Five.
The game of the week is a battle of 8th vs 9th, two powerhouses of the NRL will meet when the South Sydney Rabbitohs host the Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium on Friday night.
Both sides returned to form with Round Four victories, paving the way for a highlights-riddled clash under the lights.
game of the week: Rabbitohs vs. storm
31st March 8:00pm
It had been a few weeks since Jason Demetriou’s men had tasted success as they pulled off a one-point victory over the Sea Eagles. With just one win in the season’s opening round, the pressure was on the Rabbitohs to produce. And produce they did, with Cody Walker scoring two tries and Lachlan Ilias sealing the match with a field goal in the 81st minute.
Hame Sele returns from a concussion for the Bunnies, while star winger, Alex Johnston, should be fine to take his place in the starting line-up after suffering a corked thigh in the win over Manly.
If the Bunnies needed to win last weekend, the Storm were deadest desperate in their match-up against the Tigers. After falling to the Bulldogs and Titans in successive weeks, the Storm came out firing and piled on four tries to one in a match-winning opening half. They led in almost all the major statistical categories, with Will Warbrick running for a game-high 202m. Tom Eisenhuth will join the bench after being the 18th man last week.
Round Four was the first time the Rabbitohs had the opportunity to play at home, and they look as though they’ve found their groove in front of the old faithful. It should be tight, but Latrell Mitchell and co can finish the job.
Suggested Bet: Same Game Multi
- Leg 1: Souths to win
- Leg 2: Over 41.5 total points
- Leg 3: A. Johnston score anytime
- Leg 4: Second half highest scoring
- Total: $6.25
Roosters vs. Eels
30th March 8:00pm
The Roosters will be well-rested heading into this one after sitting out last weekend with the bye. They defeated the Rabbitohs the week prior but will be without Joey Manu, who is serving a one-game ban. The Eels finally got off the mark in 2023 with a one-point win over the Panthers, but two monster clashes within a week might prove too much against the rejuvenated Roosters.
Suggested Bet: Roosters to win @ $1.53
Raiders vs. Panthers
31st March 6:00pm
Despite being $1.24 with BetDeluxe, the Panthers are only the third-shortest team going into the weekend, so we’ll need to be creative to find some value. They’ll be keen to bounce back after losing the grand final re-match with an 81st field goal, and there’s arguably no better chance than against the 16th-placed Raiders.
Suggested Bet: Panthers to win 13+ @ $2.03
Sea Eagles vs. Knights
1st April 3:00PM
So the Sea Eagles are human, after all? Although they lost their first game of the year to the Rabbitohs last weekend, Anthony Seibold’s chargers moved above the Dolphins and into second spot on the ladder – somewhere they’d love to cement with a decisive win over the Knights. Newcastle will be without Kurt Mann in this one, and they’ll need to be at their very best to make any inroads against the Sea Eagles.
Suggested Bet: G. Marzhew anytime try scorer @ $2.45
Dragons vs. Dolphins
1st April 5:30PM
It was a brutal Brisbane Derby for the Dolphins with injuries to Sean O’Sullivan and Tesi Niu. Still, they’re well-placed to go straight back into the winner’s enclosure with the return of Isaiya Katoa, Jeremy Marshall-King and Herman Ese’ese. The Dragons were no match for the Sharks in their 32-point loss at home, giving reason to back the Dolphins at $2.
Suggested Bet: Dolphins to win @ $2
Broncos vs. Tigers
1st April 7:35PM
According to the Broncos, there’s only one Brisbane-based team, and it’s the team sitting on top of the ladder after four rounds. And the fixture is doing them favours when it comes to keeping the throne as they come up against the winless Tigers. Both coaches have stuck solid with their squads from last week, so it should be a straightforward day out for Kevin Walters and his in-form Broncos.
Suggested Bet: Broncos to win 13+ @ $1.67
Sharks vs. Warriors
2nd April 5:05PM
The Sharks launched into sixth spot on the ladder with a dominant 8-40 victory over the Dragons. They’ve scored more than any other team in the league with 108 points but will need to improve on the defensive end, where they rank 12th. The Warriors have been just as impressive with wins against the Bulldogs, Cowboys, and Knights. While the Sharks should be the favourite, $1.30 is far too short.
Suggested Bet: Warriors (+10.5) @ $1.91
Bulldogs vs. Cowboys
2nd April 7:15PM
The most even matchup of the round – $1.90 each in the market – the Bulldogs and Cowboys will both be keen to notch their third win and start making tracks up the rungs of the ladder. It’s an exciting time for the Bulldogs with Josh Reynolds playing his first game for the club since 2017 while Peta Hiku returns from suspension to fill the No. 4 jersey for the Cowboys. The market is tight for a reason, but the home crowd and Reynolds’ return forces us to lean towards the Dogs.
Suggested Bet: Canterbury to win 1-12 @ $3.05
