Darry Worthington takes a look at the seven Round 5 NRL games being played between Friday the 12th and Sunday the 14th of June.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
The NRL action continues this coming weekend with seven of Round 5’s eight games being played between Friday the 12th of June and Sunday the 14th.
The highlight of the weekend’s fixtures will see firth-placed Eels take on the Panthers, while the clash between the second-placed Knights and fifth-placed Strom should also make for decent viewing.
New Zealand Warriors v Queensland Cowboys
Friday 12 June
Central Coast Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Warriors 7/4
Draw 22/1
Cowboys 9/20
The Warriors were unable to build on any moment they picked up from their 18-0 Round 3 victory over the Dragons were beaten 26-0 by the Panthers last weekend. This was the New Zealand outfit’s third defeat of the season and it has left them way down in 14th place on the ladders.
The Cowboys also head into this one off the back of a defeat as 16-26 to the Cronulla Sharks at home. Like the Warriors, they had also won the week prior as they beat the Titans 36-6.
Verdict: Cowboys 9/20
The Warriors are super inconsistent and I got suckered into backing them last week. I reckon the Cowboys will take this one.
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers
Friday 12 June
Bankwest Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Eels 5/10
Draw 20/1
Panthers 17/10
Parramatta is now the only undefeated team in the tournament with their hard-fought 19-16 victory over the Sea Eagles being their fourth win in four starts.
While the Eels have been in great form they face another tricky opponent this coming weekend in the form of the Penrith Panthers. The Panthers are also yet to lose a game this term with the only blemish to their record being a 14-14 Round 3 draw with the Knights. They also had a good time of it last weekend as they beat the Warriors 26-0.
Verdict: Eels 5/10
I’m backing the Eels to make it five wins from five starts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans
Saturday 13 June
Bankwest Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Rabbitohs 1/4
Draw 21/1
Titans 3/1
Friday’s final game will see the 13th-placed Rabbitohs take on the 15th-placed Titans. Both teams have only managed one win this season with the Rabbitohs victory coming in Round 1 where they beat the Cronulla Sharks by four points and the Titans victory coming last weekend when they beat the West Tigers 28-23.
The Rabbitohs had a far tougher time of it in the last round as they went down 22-8 away to the Melbourne Storm.
Verdict: Rabbitohs 1/4
I fancy the Rabbitohs here. They’re a decent enough side who will be keen to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat.
Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm
Saturday 13 June
Central Coast Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Knights 14/10
Draw 20/1
Storm 6/10
On to Saturday’s action now and the day gets underway with the Knights taking on the Storm. The Knights continued their unbeaten start to the season as they beat the Raiders 18-34 this past weekend.
The Storm also had a good time of it in Round 4 as they made it three wins from four starts by beating the Rabbitohs 22-8.
Verdict: Knights 14/10
The Knights have a fantastic recent record over their opponents winning all five of the last five encounters between the sides. I fancy them to add another win here.
Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders
Saturday 13 June
Campbell Town Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Wests Tigers 9/4
Draw 21/1
Raiders 7/20
The Wests Tigers will be looking to bounce back from their five-point defeat to the Titans when they take on the Raiders this Saturday.
The Tigers lie in ninth on the table, two points behind the Raiders who currently occupy fourth place.
The side form Canberra suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend when they went down 18-34 to the Knights. The game against the second-placed side on the log was a massive acid test and proved that the Raiders still need to do a lot of work if they are going to challenge for the title.
Verdict: Raiders 7/20
I’m in the Raiders camp here.
Bankstown Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters
Sunday 14 June
Bankwest Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Bulldogs 5/1
Draw 30/1
Roosters 1/8
The penultimate game of the weekend will see the sixth-placed Roosters take on the 12th-placed Bulldogs.
The Roosters head into this one having won two of their four games while the Bulldogs have only managed to notch up one victory.
Both teams had a good time of it in Round 3 with the Bulldogs breaking their duck by beating the St. George Illawarra Dragons 22-2 and the Roosters hammering the Broncos 0-59.
Verdict: Roosters 1/8
I can only see one winner here and that’s the Roosters.
St. George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla Sharks
Sunday 14 June
Campbelltown Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Dragons 18/10
Draw 20/1
Cronulla 9/20
The round comes to a close at the Campbelltown Stadium where the St George Illawarra Dragons will be looking to claim their first win of the season when they take on a Cronulla Sharks side that has registered only one win from their opening four games.
The teams head into this one off the back of contrasting fortunes with the Dragons going down 22-2 to the Bulldogs and the Sharks beating the Cowboys 16-26.
Verdict: Cronulla 9/20
I fancy the Sharks to register their second win of the campaign against a hapless Dragons outfit.
