Round 5: Previews and Predictions

We're already a month into the NRL season and things are ticking along nicely. The Storm and Roosters have separated themselves from the pack but both face tough games this week while we have a host of teams on four points looking to show the competition they belong in the top eight. So without further adieu, let's have a look at what's to come this weekend. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos Thursday Night, ANZ Stadium Once again, the round starts on Thursday night with the struggling Bulldogs feeling the heat from their fans and the media. Much speculation surrounds Des Hasler and his future however many experts believe it doesn't matter who is coaching them right now, it would still be a struggle. They come up against a hardened Broncos side that have faced last years top four in the opening four rounds this season. They sit at 2-2 with three of those games being won or lost by 2 points or less with the Brisbane defence a standout so far this season. That doesn't bode well for a Bulldogs side who are crying out for anyone that resembles a playmaker. Moses Mbye misses the game through suspension with Matt Frawley in to replace him. In saying this, Brisbane have struggled to cross over the try line as well this season and if the Dogs can keep it to a defensive grind, they might be in with a sniff. Brisbane will be looking to assert themselves in the middle part of the season beginning this week and will turn up the pressure on Des Hasler following Thursday night. Broncos by 14. Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles Friday Night, Allianz Stadium Sydney will look to remain atop of the NRL ladder on Friday night but will have to get past a red-hot Manly side led by an inspired Daly Cherry-Evans. After starting the season 0-2, Manly comes into the game with an accumulated 66-8 score line in their past 160 minutes of football as DCE has recaptured the form that we know he was always capable of. This will be their biggest test however as they come up against a disciplined and polished Roosters side looking to show everyone why they were minor premiers for three years running. The Roosters are favourites to win this but will need to be at their best if they are to repel a surging Manly side. Roosters by 8. North Queensland Cowboys v South Sydney Rabbitohs Friday Night, 1300SMILES Stadium It's not often the Cowboys get embarrassed at home and will want to put a show on for their fans as they return to Townsville. Last home start, Manly sent the Cowboys packing but returned to the winner's list last week with a win on the Gold Coast. While not all too convincing, Coen Hess put in a match-winning performance and gets rewarded by returning to the bench as Dally M Medallist Jason Taumalolo returns from suspension, with Lachlan Coote also returning from a calf injury. The Cowboys will be looking to tighten up defensively after they conceded 26 points last week. As for the Rabbitohs, they will be looking to return to the form that saw them notch up back to back wins in round two and three. Braidon Burns returns to the wing and will look to him for some points after scoring just six last week against the Roosters. The Cowboys have had an interrupted week due to the tropical cyclone hitting the area but there's no doubting JT will have his men primed and ready to lock them in the top four. Cowboys by 10. Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights Saturday Afternoon, Southern Cross Group Stadium The Sharks bounced back after their loss to the Dragons with a strong win over Parramatta last week and will be looking to continue that this week against the Knights. James Segeyaro made his Sharks debut and should only get better and more acquainted with their system and he gives them another string to their bow going forward. While the Sharks will be out to claim back to back wins for the first time this season, the Knights were back to their old selves last week, copping a 40-0 drubbing at the hands of the Panthers. Fullback Brendan Elliot returns for the Knights, however, it's hard to see that being enough for the Knights to get the points. Even if that is the case, coach Nathan Brown will want them to find the way they had been playing in the first three rounds. The Sharks should be too good at home and can't afford a loss which could see them lose grip on the top four. Sharks by 18. Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels Saturday Twilight, GIO Stadium Is there cause for concern in Ricky Stewart's camp just yet? No, there definitely isn't but it may start to creep in if they drop to 1-4 this weekend. A tough loss last week against the Broncos was frustrating for the green machine as they controlled most of the contest but failed to get over the try line. They'll be looking for a more polished offensive performance this week and if they can deliver on that, the result will take care of itself. After a 2-0 start, the Eels have dropped their last 2 and it's their defence that has become a worry. They've conceded 46 points in the last two weeks and last week that was coupled with their inability to put points on the board despite the return of Corey Norman. They'll need to start fast if they want to quiet the Canberra crowd, something the Raiders feed off quite often. The Raiders will be looking at this match to kick start their season and should leave GIO Stadium with the points. Raiders by 8. Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers Saturday Night, AAMI Park If you saw the Storm's opening half last week, you'd have thought they're a team at the opposite end of the table of where they currently sit but an old fashioned Craig Bellamy spray ensure the boys from down south would stay undefeated in 2017. The Storm completed just 66% of their sets last week, something that won't be as forgiving against this dangerous Panthers line up. Jordan McLean appears to have overcome a calf strain that kept him out last week, while Christian Welsh has been named on the bench after suffering a concussion last week. The Panthers meanwhile have hit some form, crushing the Knights last week to move themselves up to fifth on the ladder. The Panther defence has conceded just 16 points since round one, however will still be without Bryce Cartwright after suffering an ankle injury in round two. Billy Slater is slowly starting to find his groove as the Panthers will look to overcome a dismal record against Craig Bellamy's men which has seen them record just one win in over a decade. If you catch one game this round, make sure this is the one. Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith take on Matty Moylan, Nathan Cleary and James Tamou in a mouth-watering clash between the two pre-season premiership favourites. Storm by 4. New Zealand Warriors v Gold Coast Titans Sunday Afternoon, Mt Smart Stadium Kieran Foran has once again been named to make his debut for the Warriors this Sunday and boy don't they need him. For all of their talent on paper, the Warriors sit 1-3 and not far off the bottom of the ladder. The Warriors rank third last in points scored this season and fourth last in points conceded, never a good combination and coach Stephen Kearney must be feeling the pressure in the box. The Titans meanwhile are in a decent patch of form despite a loss last week against the Cowboys. They too have their defensive woes but have no troubles finding the opposition try line with the fourth most points in the competition, just four points off top spot. Typically, the Warriors play better at home but Titans co-captain Ryan James managed to get off at the NRL judiciary and will line up on Sunday. Will the Warriors rise in what hopefully will be Foran's debut? We can smell an upset brewing. Titans by 2. Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons Sunday Afternoon, ANZ Stadium If you told anyone at the start of the season that the Dragons would be third and the Tigers be last on the ladder after four rounds, you may have been laughed out of the room, but here we are. The Dragons continue to defy the odds and are playing some good football that has included back to back wins over New Zealand and Cronulla. The Tigers meanwhile played a solid half on the back of many Melbourne errors before the Storm ran over the top of them in the second half to resign Wests to the bottom of the ladder. Luke Brooks is out for the Tigers with a hamstring injury which will put the ball in the hands of Mitchell Moses a lot more, something that Moses has relished in the past however sometimes when it rains, it pours and it feels like that'll be the case for the Tigers. Dragons by 8.

		P	W	PTS	+/-
1	NEW	1	1	2	10
2	CAN	1	1	2	1
3	WST	0	0	2	0
4	PAR	0	0	0	0
5	DOL	0	0	0	0
6	MEL	0	0	0	0
7	NZW	0	0	0	0
8	SYD	0	0	0	0

Round 5: Previews and Predictions

New Zealand Warriors v Gold Coast Titans

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