Round five in tipping throws up plenty of questions for the punters and teams alike.

Several teams are either struggling for the first month of the season, or need to show that they are better than their current form suggests.

The round kicks off on Thursday night with two such teams, when the Raiders host Cronulla in Canberra – they have both been up and down to start the year and neither team can be relied upon for a win in this one, even though the Sharks are slight favourites.

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Penrith have Nathan Cleary back on deck, so they should be too strong for North Queensland while the Rabbitohs and Roosters meet in the later game on Friday, and form usually goes out the window in these matches anyway, as the traditional rivals square off.

Saturday features Parramatta desperate to open their account against the Dragons, the winless Dolphins are in the same situation when they travel to Gold Coast and Brisbane should have too much firepower for the Tigers in the third game on Saturday with Wests missing star half Jarome Luai due to suspension.

Sunday’s games kick off with the Battle of Brookvale between Manly and Melbourne, before Canterbury and Newcastle complete the round at Accor Stadium.

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Here’s how the experts see Round 5 unfolding.

Stuart Thomas

Raiders, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Storm, Knights

The Raiders and the Sharks is a beauty to start round 5. At home? On a cold night? After hearing the horn? The Green Machine might just get it done. The Panthers will beat the Cowboys, surely this is just a stumble?

Bennett is doing what Bennett does and the Bunnies have Latrell back. Should be an easy one for them in Sydney on Friday night. Eels and Dragons intrigues me. Dragons with better form and the Eels surely not too far from a win. The Red V in a tight one.

I’m still liking the Titans and was rewarded for doing so last week with the win. Dolphins missing Wayne and things starting to turn a little ugly early.

The Broncos will have too much talent to succumb to the wild Tigers, the Storm will manage the Sea Eagles and their grumpy halfback, whilst the Dogs will lose to a team that drives them crazy more often than most. 

Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Nick Wasiliev

Raiders, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that the Canberra Raiders, when at home, usually win at home – and do not win on the road. It’s an agreed fact.

I know I underestimated the Wayne Bennett factor last week, but the Panthers should be safe to win at home against the Cowboys. Sure, North Queensland got the win last week, but they are hardly firing on all cylinders right now.

God, the Chooks are all over the place. Wayne Bennett seems to be on the right track already with the Bunnies, and defeating the Panthers should give them a bunch of confidence. With Latrell Mitchell back – onwards is hopefully upwards.

Having said the Cowboys are not firing on all cylinders, there is one team that takes the cake right now. Looking at you Parramatta. With the Dragons picking up a good win over the Storm, you’d fancy them to be favourites for this fixture. Here’s hoping their fans can behave themselves.

Can Des Hasler’s men go three on the trot? Heck, why not? The Dolphins are far from red hot right now despite what the literal colour of their jersey suggests. With a settled squad and playing at the GC, I back the Titans to grab the win.

This is a sadistic club-fan relationship. Every time I stick my neck out for the Tigers, they break it. We’re back to bad terms now lads. Broncos to win.

It’s a match of the round on the insular peninsula I reckon, the Sea Eagles have looked very impressive at home. Even with a few changes, Tom Trbojevic out yet again and a much more dangerous side in the Storm coming to town, I can still see the men from Brookvale getting it done. It’ll be a good match though, and an even better day on the hill.

The Knights will be refreshed off the bye which should make this a more interesting contest – but the Doggies are the team to beat right now, and I think that will continue this weekend at Homebush.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Sharks, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Storm, Bulldogs

This first game is a tough one to tip, especially given how much better the Raiders are at home. Despite losing Kayal Iro and Siosifa Talakai I’m struggling to think that the Sharks halves can play that badly two weeks in a row so they get my tip. I also have real concerns about the Raiders and their discipline and if the Sharks are smart they will send bombs Kaeo Weekes’ way all evening.

The Panthers will get back on track with a win over the Cowboys and the return of Latrell Mitchell will push the Bunnies to a win over arch rivals the Roosters.

I’m not bold enough to predict that Parramatta will get their first win of the year, especially against a gritty Dragons team with Clint Gutherson who will be looking for a big game against his old club. The Eels do have a few players returning this week including Luca Moretti but unless the Eels work out how to score some points, it will be a long afternoon.

I’m tipping the Titans against the Dolphine and the Broncos against a Tigers outfit missing a few key players.

The Storm won’t lose two weeks in a row and I’m expecting the Bulldogs to continue to aim up and beat the Knights.

Paul Suttor

Sharks, Panthers, Roosters, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Storm, Bulldogs

The Raiders aren’t going to make the finals, so that means they’re a team that Cronulla will beat. Sharks by 4

The return of Nathan Cleary will get Penrith firing in attack, and with the Cowboys fielding one of the worst offensive units in the NRL, they could leak a few points. Panthers by 10

Wayne Bennett has pulled a surprise with Latrell Mitchell at centre for his comeback game. But that’s wise given that he needs to be eased back into the NRL after a lengthy absence, and Jye Gray has been dynamic at the back for Souths. Roosters by 8

Parramatta get their best chance of 2025 for a win when they take on St George Illawarra, but they just won’t have enough. Dragons by 6

Gold Coast are surprisingly strong this season, which usually means they are due to lay an egg. But with Tom Gilbert out, they should be able to conquer the Dolphins. Titans by 12

Brisbane have been far from convincing despite winning three of four. The Tigers are in a similar boat, and despite showing plenty of spirit, they still lack the class in clutch moments. Broncos by 14

Manly have not been affected by the Daly Cherry-Evans drama on the field anyway, and the Storm look a shadow of their former selves without Jahrome Hughes but they can still come away from Brookvale with two competition points. Storm by 4

Canterbury are cruising at the top of the ladder, and even though Newcastle are coming off a week’s rest with the bye, the Dogs will have too much bite. Bulldogs by 16

Toby Sexton. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

AJ Mithen

Raiders, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Dolphins, broncos, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs

These tips are all being decided by the quality of defence. All you see here are teams that will be able to stop their opponent from scoring while doing just enough on their own end. 

There is one notable exception though, and it’s tonight in the capital when your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders lay a casual 56 on the hapless Cronulla. 

For the record I was very close to tipping the Titans and Newcastle but I just couldn’t go that courageous next step…  

Mike Meehall Wood

Cronulla, Panthers, Souths, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Melbourne, Dogs

After last week’s bonfire, here goes nothing…

As bad as the Sharks were last week, the Dogs were good. Canberra, on the other hand, have been annoying me of late by constantly lying in tackles and, while the ref might let them away with it at home, the chances are they won’t and thus Cronulla will run all over the top of them.

The Panthers have Cleary back, it’s Yeo’s 250th and Cowboys, even though they’ve won a game now, are still quite rubbish…easy win for Penrith.

Easts are cooked, Souths aren’t as good as people think but will be plenty good enough here.

Parra are absolutely untippable at the moment, so despite a general aversion to tipping the Dragons, it’ll have to be them.

It would be very like the Titans to lose this one, but we’ve seen nothing from Redcliffe to suggest that they’re going to beat anyone any time soon.

Brisbane remain basically underwhelming/haven’t played anyone good, but that’ll continue to happen until they make the top four and lose in the Finals anyway to the first decent side they play. Fortunately for this weekend, the Tigers aren’t that good (especially without Luai) and thus the Bronx will win underwhelmingly.

We’re wheeling out the reverse psychology tip for the first time. My Beaches Boys will lose to Melbourne *wink wink nudge nudge*, and I will be very happy when I am wrong.

Canterbury are better than Newcastle and there’s not much more to it than that.

David Shilovsky

Sharks, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Storm, Bulldogs

I fully expect Cronulla to get back to winning ways after a disappointing effort against the Bulldogs. Penrith to get the job done at ‘home’ in Parramatta over the struggling Cowboys.

In Friday primetime the latest chapter in the Book of Feuds will describe a Rabbitohs win. The Dragons to beat the awful Eels, Titans will claim derby bragging rights and the Broncos’ firepower will be too much for the improving Tigers to handle.

Couple of intriguing clashes on Sunday, with Melbourne to edge out the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs to continue their excellent start.