We are a month into the 2023 NRL Premiership season and only one club remains undefeated.
In Round 4, the Brisbane Broncos became the first club to deliver the Dolphins defeat in the NRL, while South Sydney snuck home against the Sea Eagles in an emotional victory, leaving Kevvie Walters’ men the only side yet to drop points.
That winning streak looks a great chance of continuing this week when the Broncos host the winless Wests Tigers in a first versus last farce at Suncorp Stadium. That won’t be one of the standout clashes of the week, but I can assure you – there’s plenty to look forward to in Round 5 of the NRL!
Boy these Thursday night games have been delivering this season, and Round 5 kicks off with what is sure to be another cracker between the Roosters and the Eels.
Tipped by many pundits to win the whole thing in 2023, the Roosters probably haven’t been quite as lethal as previously thought, but they have been good enough to win two of three games, and they return this week following a bye.
The Eels FINALLY recorded their first win of the season at start 4, and to their credit, it was a good one. In games that aren’t the 2022 Grand Final, they’ve been decent against the Penrith Panthers recently, and last week’s win was a deserved one.
The Eels are sure to take plenty of confidence from that effort, and I think that there’s value in back them to cover the line as outsiders this week.
The Raiders face another uphill battle when they take on the reigning premiers in Round 5, who will be particularly eager to win this week following a Round 4 loss of their own.
I tipped Ricky Stuart to be one of, if not the first coach sacked in 2023, and while he probably does get to keep his job as long as he wants it, I still firmly believe that Canberra will finish bottom two this year.
That opinion was only strengthened for me in Round 4 when they suffered a pretty comfortable, particularly disappointing loss to the similarly lowly Knights. I don’t know how they bounce back from that immediately, and against an opponent of this calibre.
The Panthers won’t be losing two in a row, and it looks a very open and shut case to me.
Another Friday night blockbuster sees the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Melbourne Storm in primetime.
The Bunnies climbed into the top eight with a hard-fought win over the previously undefeated Sea Eagles in Round 4, and they enter this match fitting favourites. Their combinations and continuing to return, and I have no doubt that they will be firmly entrenched in the Top 4 by Magic Round.
The Storm meanwhile are battling, and this is their worst start to a season in a very, very long time.
That being said, they did return to winning form against the Tigers last week (big whoop), but that occasion was also marked by the return of Cam Munster, who should only improve for the run.
I think this match will actually go right down to the wire, and it’s another one where I’ll be backing the outsider to cover the line.
The Sea Eagles are unlucky not to remain undefeated, and they can bounce back at the expense of the Newcastle Knights in Round 5.
Anthony Siebold, coupled with the fact that many of Manly’s first team lack NRL experience prompted plenty of pundits to write them off before a ball was passed, but the Sea Eagles have started very positively, and do look a club on the rise.
The Knights, meanwhile, are horrific, but they did record their second win of the season over the Raiders in Round 4. Regardless of that, this is a big step up in class for them, and I don’t think that they’ll be able to effectively compete for 80 minutes.
Sea Eagles win this, and win it well.
How have the Dolphins opened outsiders in this clash?
I know they’re missing a couple of key players (Kaufusi/O’Sullivan), but the Dragons are just awful.
The ‘Phins truly have captured the attention of the Queensland league public, but also that of the entire national community, and they were typically gutsy against the Broncos in Round 4, despite missing several key personnel.
The Dragons look to be on the straight and narrow towards another forgettable season, underlined by their 40-8 loss to the Sharks in Round 4.
I am more than happy to take the $2.05 about the Dolphins in match betting that is available at publish.
The market suggested that the Brisbane vs Wests will be the most one-sided match of Round 5, and for good reason.
The Broncos are undefeated, but are they a tad overrated?
Who is the most overrated team in the #NRL today? Do you agree with @JharalYowYeh5 or @JaredTimms? pic.twitter.com/bhRawgbUFb
— Neds (@NedsAus) March 27, 2023
Even if they are, this is first versus last, and it’ll be played in Brisbane. From my perspective, that points to one result, and one result only.
Same Game Multi selections:
- Broncos 13+
- Herbie Farnworth Anytime Try
- Reece Walsh Anytime Try
One match that I am really hanging out to watch in Round 5 is the Sharks taking on the Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
The Sharks were great in 2022 and I was always confident they’d improve for that campaign, and boy did they look good with Nicho Hynes returning to the fold in Round 4.
Their demolition of the Dragons saw them improve their record to 2-2, and they were noticeable firmers in Premiership betting as well.
The Warriors have also been great so far in 2023, and they currently boast a 3-1 record to sit fourth on the ladder.
They did enough to weather and ultimately beat a decent Bulldogs fight in Round 4, and while this is a pretty big step up in class for them, I think they’ll be in it for a long way.
The other game on Sunday also looks like being a tight contest, and sees the Bulldogs and Cowboys do battle at Belmore.
The Dogs have obviously enjoyed improvement on last year’s horror showing, but there is still plenty of work to be done before they are a legitimate Top 8 side.
They suffered another defeat to the Warriors in Round 4, but do carry a win/loss record of 2-2, and they have plenty of upside.
The Cowboys aren’t a shade of the side that was unlucky not to make the 2022 NRL Grand Final, and their 2-2 record is probably a little flattering.
I still don’t think that the bookies have really come around on the Cows’ drop in form so far this campaign, and I’ll be backing the Bulldogs to win at home.