NRL Telstra Premiership Round 5 Preview

After a mixed round of predictions last week, we bring you our NRL Telstra Premiership Round 5 Preview hoping for a perfect 8. Check out the rounds matches and teams below:

Canterbury Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Bulldogs $2.30

Rabbitohs $1.57

Both teams sitting inside the top 4 (Rabbitohs 3^rd & Doggies 4^th) we should see a physical match up with both sides harboring very big packs and quality spread throughout the ranks. The Rabbitohs will need to their head back in the game after being out-played by the Eels last weekend, the Doggies winning in golden point after a grinding 80 should have them ready for the Rabbitohs backlash. Rabbitohs 1-12.

Bulldogs

1 Brett Morris 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Tim Lafai 5 Sam Perrett 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 James Graham (c)
11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood

Interchange
14 Sam Kasiano 15 David Klemmer 16 Frank Pritchard 17 Tim Browne 18 Moses Mbye 19 Corey Thompson

Rabbitohs

1 Greg Inglis (c) 2 Alex Johnston 3 Daryl Millard 4 Bryson Goodwin 5 Joel Reddy 6 Luke Keary 7 Adam Reynolds 8 George Burgess 9 Issac Luke 10 Dave Tyrrell 11 Glenn Stewart 12 Chris McQueen 13 Tim Grant

Interchange
14 Cameron McInnes 15 Ben Lowe 16 Chris Grevsmuhl 17 Thomas Burgess 18 Jason Clarke 19 Nathan Brown
Gold Coast Titan v Brisbane Broncos

Titans $2.40

Broncos $1.52

Both teams coming off hard fought wins in round 4, the Broncos appearing to be the stronger looking side in the campaign so far. Brisbane stalwart Justin Hodges is out with a hamstring issue however Dale Copley will have plenty of support as he fills he place. Nate Myles leads his team with an impressive forward pack support in Dave Taylor and Greg Bird; we should see a very even match with both teams squaring up across the park. The Titans need to clean their discipline up if they want to stay in the match as Corey Parker is sure from anywhere inside his range. Broncos 1-12.

Titans

1 Josh Hoffman 2 Anthony Don 3 James Roberts 4 William Zillman 5 David Mead 6 Aidan Sezer 7 Kane Elgey 8 Luke Douglas 9 Kierran Moseley 10 Nate Myles (c)
11 Ryan James 12 Dave Taylor 13 Greg Bird

Interchange
14 Eddy Pettybourne 15 Agnatius Paasi 16 Ryan Simpkins 17 Matt Srama 18 Matt White 19 Lachlan Burr

Broncos

1 Jordan Kahu 2 Corey Oates 3 Jack Reed 4 Dale Copley 5 Lachlan Maranta 6 Anthony Milford 7 Ben Hunt 8 Josh McGuire 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Sam Thaiday 11 Alex Glenn 12 Matt Gillett13 Corey Parker

Interchange
14 Jarrod Wallace 15 Mitch Garbutt 16 Mitchell Dodds 17 Kodi Nikorima
18 Francis Molo

Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders

Sea Eagles $1.55

Raiders $2.35

The Raiders are on a run of 3 consecutive defeats and the Sea Eagles a grinding win from round 4. The Sea Eagles season marred by speculation of player movement and injuries to key personnel however halves Cherry-Evans and Foran are keeping the wheels rolling. Without Jamie Lyon the Sea Eagles tend to struggle in the goal kicking department so they will focus on crossing the white wash rather than taking points. The Raiders were woeful last weekend and the Sea Eagles are trying to get back on board so expect to see a close game. Sea Eagles to pull through 1-12.

Sea Eagles

1 Brett Stewart 2 Cheyse Blair 3 Brayden Wiliame 4 Steve Matai 5 Peta Hiku 6 Kieran Foran 7 Daly Cherry-Evans 8 Luke Burgess 9 Matt Ballin 10 Willie Mason
11 Jamie Buhrer 12 Tom Symonds 13 Dunamis Lui

Interchange
14 Jesse Sene-Lefao 15 Jake Trbojevic 16 Justin Horo 17 Ligi Sao 18 James Hasson

Raiders

1 Jack Wighton 2 Edrick Lee 3 Jarrod Croker (c) 4 Jeremy Hawkins 5 Jordan Rapana 6 Blake Austin 7 Sam Williams 8 Josh Papalii 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Dane Tilse
11 Jarrad Kennedy 12 Iosia Soliola 13 Shaun Fensom

Interchange
14 Glen Buttriss 15 Frank-Paul Nuuausala 16 Paul Vaughan 17 Mark Nicholls

Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons

Knights $1.42

Dragons $2.70

Both teams playing for the inaugural Alex McKinnon cup which will surely inspire and motivate both sides. The Knights will welcome Tariq Sims for his debut and the Dragons remain unchanged. Both teams coming off solid wins last week and the Knights looking the more convincing with their win and their physical approach to nullify the Penrith halves last weekend will have the Dragons cautious. Knights will be too strong, 13+ Knights

Knights

1 Kurt Gidley (c) 2 James McManus 3 Dane Gagai 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Akuila Uate 6 Jarrod Mullen 7 Tyrone Roberts 8 Kade Snowden 9 Adam Clydsdale 10 David Fa’alogo 11 Beau Scott 12 Tariq Sims 13 Jeremy Smith

Interchange
14 Tyler Randell 15 Chris Houston 16 Paterika Vaivai 17 Jack Stockwell 18 Sione Mata’utia

Dragons

1 Josh Dugan 2 Etonia Nabuli 3 Euan Aitken 4 Dylan Farrell 5 Jason Nightingale 6 Gareth Widdop 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Mike Cooper 11 Tyson Frizell 12 Joel Thompson13 Trent Merrin

Interchange
14 George Rose 15 Jack de Belin 16 Jake Marketo 17 Heath L’Estrange 20 Rory O’Brien

Sydney City Roosters v Cronulla Sharks

Roosters $1.16

Sharks $4.75

Two confrontational packs with the likes of Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Michael Ennis & the Fifita brothers up against Aidan Guerra, Boyd Cordner, Sam Moa & Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Winning the collision and the hard yards will decide this match, expect fireworks and some red mst.

For the Roosters halves Maloney and Pearce are in fine form and with a pack going forward will put many points on any team. For the Sharks Gallen and Ennis will be crucial to keeping a lid on the game and their workman like play could be key to keeping the Sharks alive. Aslong as the Roosters keep their foot on the pedal and don’t blow over when niggled we should see the Roosters 13+

Roosters

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Michael Jennings 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5 Nene Macdonald 6 James Maloney 7 Mitchell Pearce (c) 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9 Matt McIlwrick 10 Sam Moa 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Aidan Guerra 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange
14 Mitchell Aubusson 15 Dylan Napa 16 Kane Evans 17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 18 Willie Manu 19 Lagi Setu

Sharks

1 Valentine Holmes 2 Sosaia Feki 3 Gerard Beale 4 Ricky Leutele 5 Michael Gordon 6 Jack Bird7 Jeff Robson 8 Matt Prior 9 Michael Ennis 10 Chris Heighington
11 Luke Lewis 12 Wade Graham 13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange
14 Jayson Bukuya 15 Anthony Tupou 16 Andrew Fifita 17 David Fifita

Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers

Eels $1.75

Tigers $2.00

Both teams looking in good form and not afraid to run the ball, an Easter Monday fixture on the cards has an exciting prospect to it.

For the Eels an unexpected and impressive win against the Roosters last weekend will see them full of confidence to go back to back. The Tigers seeing the return of Aaron Woods and Dene Halatua from injury. Tigers halfback Luke Brooks had a good game last week and did look confident, his consistency is what often plagues the young half. Hopefully his form continues as this would certainly add fuel to a juicy fixture. The Eels confidence and form should carry through to this fixture to shut out the Tigers, Eels 1-12.

Eels

1 Will Hopoate 2 Bureta Faraimo 3 Ryan Morgan 4 John Folau 5 Reece Robinson 6 Corey Norman 7 Chris Sandow 8 Darcy Lussick 9 Nathan Peats 10 Tim Mannah (c) 11 Manu Ma’u 12 Tepai Moeroa 13 Anthony Watmough

Interchange
14 Isaac De Gois 15 Joseph Paulo 16 David Gower 17 Danny Wicks 18 Peni Terepo

Wests Tigers

1 James Tedesco 2 Kevin Naiqama 3 Tim Simona 4 Chris Lawrence 5 Pat Richards 6 Mitchell Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Aaron Woods 9 Robbie Farah (c) 10 Keith Galloway 11 Curtis Sironen 12 Kyle Lovett 13 Martin Tapau

Interchange
14 Dene Halatau 15 Ava Seumanufagai 16 Jack Buchanan 17 Sauaso Sue 18 Brenden Santi

Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors

Storm $1.42

Warriors $2.70

The Storm host the Warriors at AAMI Park, traditionally the Warriors are the Storms bogey team and with returning son Ryan Hoffman now with the Warriors should add more excitement to this fixture. For the Warriors they need to be playing for 80 minutes, last week they were guilty of leaking tries early on and poor kick return defense. Johnson sparked midway through the game but he and Townsend need to complement each other and control their games, their pack will charge all night but they also need to control the urge to offload early in the set. Melbourne will look at Cronk and Smith to control play and much like the Warriors the Storm pack will be running hard to put Cronk and Smith on the front foot where they’re most dangerous. Storm offer a more complete game, it will be tight but the Storm will take it by 1-12.

Storm

1 Billy Slater 2 Young Tonumaipea 3 Will Chambers 4 Kurt Mann 5 Marika Koroibete 6 Blake Green 7 Cooper Cronk 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Cameron Smith (c) 10 Jordan McLean 11 Kevin Proctor 12 Tohu Harris 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange
14 Ryan Hinchcliffe 15 Tim Glasby 16 Dayne Weston 17 Felise Kaufusi 18 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 19 Hymel Hunt

Warriors

1 Tuimoala Lolohea 2 Jonathan Wright 3 Ngani Laumape 4 Solomone Kata 5 Manu Vatuvei 6 Chad Townsend 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Jacob Lillyman
9 Thomas Leuluai 10 Ben Matulino 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman 13 Simon Mannering (c)

Interchange
14 Nathan Friend 15 Sebastine Ikahihifo 16 Sam Lisone 17 Albert Vete 18 Sione Lousi

Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys

Panthers $1.50

Cowboys $2.45

Panthers are on a two game losing streak and come up against a Cowboys who look to have found some good form. The Cowboys will look to their pack again to lead the charge after impressive displays this year putting the likes of Thurston, Coote, and Morgan on the front foot to do some damage. The Panthers will need to muscle up against this hard running Cowboys outfit and the return of James Segeyaro should help with the hooker full of energy and exciting runs surely to catch the Cowboys pack napping. Whare and Idris combination should provide some supremacy for the Panthers but ultimately the Cowboys form and the packs confidence looks too good for this fixture. Cowboys 1-12

Panthers

1 Matt Moylan 2 Josh Mansour 3 Dean Whare 4 Jamal Idris 5 Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6 Isaac John 7 Peter Wallace (c) 8 Sam McKendry 9 James Segeyaro 10 Jeremy Latimore 11 Sika Manu 12 Isaah Yeo 13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange
14 Tyrone Peachey 15 Nigel Plum 16 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17 Bryce Cartwright 18 Apisai Koroisau

Cowboys

1 Lachlan Coote 2 Matthew Wright 3 Tautau Moga4 Kane Linnett 5 Antonio Winterstein 6 Michael Morgan 7 Johnathan Thurston (c) 8 Matthew Scott (c) 9 Jake Granville 10 James Tamou 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange
14 Rory Kostjasyn 15 Kelepi Tanginoa 16 Scott Bolton 17 Ben Hannant 18 John Asiata 19 Justin O’Neill