NRL Round Five betting previews, free tips, analysis, predictions & TV channel

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for round five of the 2020 NRL season.

Where to watch

All games live on Sky Sports

Best bets

Jorge Taufua first tryscorer in
Manly Sea Eagles v Brisbane Broncos (10.55am Thurs)
1pt each-way 15-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

North Queensland Cowboys -6 (9am Fri)
2pts Evs general

Parramatta Eels to win by one to 12 points (10.55am Fri)
1pt 19-10 bet365

Under 40.5 total points in Newcastle Knights
v Melbourne Storm (8.30am Sat)
1pts 10-11 Betway

Over 37.5 points in Wests Tigers
v Canberra Raiders (10.35am Sat)
2pts 5-6 Betway

Sea Eagles v Broncos
10.55am Thursday

The NRL season is only four rounds old but the Brisbane Broncos are already feeling the heat.

When the coronavirus pandemic halted competition in early March, Brisbane were two from two after a brace of victories over North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

However, they have fallen to heavy defeats in both of their matches since the NRL's resumption a fortnight ago, sinking to a new low in last week's 59-0 humbling at home to the Sydney Roosters.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and, despite having not played rugby league for six years, Ben Te'o has been drafted into the Broncos side. He has been training for less than a week since his return from rugby union.

However, it's difficult to see how the veteran's inclusion will fix some glaring problems against the Manly Sea Eagles.

Manly were beaten in controversial fashion by table-toppers Parramatta last week but are just 1-4 to get back to winning ways at the first time of asking.

The Roosters had a field day down Brisbane's right side last week and in Jorge Taufua Manly have a winger primed to take advantage of those defensive deficiencies.

Taufua bagged a brace of tries against the Eels last week and has a great opportunity to touch down for a third match in a row.

New Zealand Warriors v
North Queensland Cowboys
9am Friday

New Zealand Warriors could not back up their first win of the season at Penrith in round four as they were nilled a week after keeping a clean sheet themselves.

They could be at risk of a Cowboys backlash on Friday morning with North Queensland looking to make amends for a lacklustre performance against the Sharks.

The Cowboys have lost four-try winger Ben Hampton but blockbusting loose forward Jason Taumalolo could return which would be a major boost to their chances.

North Queensland boast a fearsome backline who have averaged just over 24 points per game this season, whereas the Warriors have scored just 24 points all season.

That could prove the difference with the Cowboys fancied to make light of a six-point handicap.

Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers
10.55am Saturday

First plays third at the Bankwest Stadium in Friday's second clash and the match looks sure to live up to its billing.

Parramatta Eels sit top of the pile after winning their first four matches but Penrith Panthers are themselves unbeaten with three wins and a draw.

In their two games since the resumption Parramatta have shown two different sides to their play, both of which mark them out as genuine title contenders.

The round-three win over Brisbane demonstrated their intensity and clinical prowess while last week's dogged 19-16 win over rivals Manly was built on grit and determination.

Penrith could be playoff dark horses if they can maintain the performance levels they have shown so far but the Eels represent their toughest test to date and it could be Parramatta who emerge with their unbeaten record still intact.

The Panthers are unlikely to go down without a fight, though, so take an Eels win by up to two converted scores.

South Sydney Rabbitohs
v Gold Coast Titans
6am Saturday

Gold Coast landed a first victory in over a year against the Tigers last week and will be praying they don't wait as long between drinks again.

Opponents South Sydney Rabbitohs slumped to a second straight defeat since the NRL restart at Melbourne in round four but were largely competitive against the Storm.

The Bunnies should hop to victory but there look to be few edges for punters with a 12-point handicap looking spot on.

Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm
8.30am Saturday

Newcastle Knights burst Canberra Raiders' bubble in authoritative style last week and will hope to build on that success against Melbourne Storm.

The Knights have not beaten Melbourne since 2015, slumping to seven straight defeats against the Storm, and are chalked up as four-point underdogs to end that barren run on Saturday.

They certainly have the attacking might to do so, entering round five with the NRL's best attack so far having posted 110 points in four games.

However, how much room they get against such a well-drilled Storm defence is open to debate and going under total points at 40.5 may be the best option.

Melbourne have on average scored 14.5 points per game this term and conceded just 11.

Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders
10.35am Saturday

Both Wests and Canberra are seeking to make amends after defeats in round four and the Raiders seem more likely to do so.

Canberra have won six of their last seven meetings with the Tigers and, despite their loss last week, remain a side who should be in the Grand Final mix.

There have already been 199 points scored in Wests' four games this season so a total points line of 37.5 may be underestimating the amount of action likely at Campbelltown Stadium.

Canterbury Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters
7.05am Sunday

The Bulldogs got off the mark for 2020 with victory over St George Illawarra last week but could be brought back down to earth by Sydney Roosters.

The reigning champions are beginning to crow after a sluggish start to their title defence and as such are 16-point favourites to land a third win in a row.

St George Illawarra Dragons
v Cronulla Sharks
9.30am Sunday

Cronulla Sharks put their best foot forward against North Queensland in round four and are 1-2 to slay the winless Dragons.

St George are the only side yet to win in the NRL this season and another defeat would intensify the pressure on head coach Paul McGregor.

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