Round 5 preview

Happy Easter everyone. A quick preview for round five, starting with tonight?s game between the Roosters and Broncos at Aussie Stadium. The Roosters have six top line players out through injury and suspension and I believe the Broncos will take full advantage in what should be a bruising encounter. Brisbane are slowly finding their feet and should have enough ammunition to inflict a second straight defeat on the Roosters and give Ricky Stuart some more sleepless nights. Broncos by 10.

The Warriors notched up their first win last weekend against Manly and they host the Knights, who are coming off a hiding at the hands of the Dragons but without Johns, they have no direction and whilst Buderus is single handedly holding the team together, there is only so much he can do. I expect the Warriors to win well and get the premiership campaign back on track with a rousing victory over an under strength Newcastle side. Warriors by 16.

The winless Cowboys take on the ill disciplined Sharks at Toyota Park and whilst neither side looks to be finals material, someone has to win the match and on the back of home ground advantage and the Cowboys inability to win close games, I think Cronulla will win purely on the Brett Kimmorley factor and add to the Cowboys woes with another loss which will see their season all but over after five rounds. Sharks by 18.

The Tigers always win when they are underdogs and the Dragons have immense difficulty winning two games in a row and even though the Dragons put the Knights to the sword last weekend, the Tigers won?t roll over as easily and Tim Sheens will be looking for his side to make good on their early season form. I think they can and in the process further dent the Dragons confidence but it will be close. Tigers by 6.

The Bulldogs are coming off the bye and the media frenzy is starting to subside so I expect the Dogs to put thirty on Manly at least whilst the Sea Eagles look on in sheer frustration. Manly have little problem scoring points but their defence is awful to say the least. Even though I tipped the Bulldogs, Manly can win this game if they play it smart and take on the Dogs in the backs, where they are slow and small. Scott Donald and Andrew Walker could have a field day if Michael Monaghan and Jye Mullane play a cunning game, which is not out of the question. Bulldogs by 8.

The Premiers are not, no two ways about it. They systematically dismantled the Roosters last week and should have too much power up front for the never say die Storm, who are playing some great footy but have suffered a crippling injury toll in the backline. Melbourne beat Penrith twice last year and Penrith will be full aware if they give the Storm a sniff, it will be a long evening at the foot of the mountains. Panthers by 12.

The Easter Monday clash should be a beauty with the Bunnies looking to record their third consecutive win for the first time in years and they can do it. Yours truly tipped the Rabbits last week and they delivered so I have faith but I think the Eels will get the points this time round but not without a fight. The crowd should be a good one and Souths fans have a lot to cheer about as the pride has been restored in the Souths jersey, something that has been a long time coming. Parramatta have problems in defence but the signs are there they are on the verge of creeping into the top eight but they have to eradicate the fundamental errors that cost them any chance of victory against the Raiders last weekend. This will be the closest match of the round and if the Bunnies get the points, people will have no choice but to take them seriously. Eels by 2.