It’s a big weekend of Easter ahead, with a full book of rugby league games to put a hop in your step. Talking of bunnies, our 2026 NRL Round 5 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview is like getting a pre-Easter basket full of tipping goodness from the Easter Bunny.
Each week this season we will offer up a quick preview glance for each match, throw in a bunch of barely interesting stats, and mix in a pinch of opinion, plus throw in our weekly predictions like chicken salt on hot chips and you have something that seagulls and humans will fight over.
2026 NRL Round 5 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
DOLPHINS by 12
SOUTHS by 4
PENRITH by 10
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 4
BRISBANE by 12
WARRIORS by 16
NEWCASTLE by 8
WESTS TIGERS by 2
2026 NRL Round 5 Tips Weekly H2H Stats Summary Cheat Sheets
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one size fits all visual.
Plus our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
2026 NRL Round 5 Tips – Weekly Barely Interesting Stats
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for your convenience and arguments.
THURSDAY 8PM – DOLPHINS v MANLY @ Kayo Stadium
The Dolphins are unbeaten on a Thursday at Kayo Stadium aka Dolphin Oval.
Overall their record at the spiritual home of the Dolphins since 2023 is W5 L3.
Dolphins have a great Thursday record of W8 L2.
Dolphins have won five in a row as the home side on a Thursday at any ground.
Manly’s Thursday record isn’t great – W6 L19.
Manly’s Thursday away record is even worse, W1 L10.
Manly have a decent recent record v Qld teams – they have won six of the last seven matches.
Manly are yet to play away this season, and their 2025 away record was W4 L8. It was W1 L1 in Qld.
FRIDAY 4PM – SOUTH SYDNEY v BULLDOGS
Bulldogs won the Good Friday clash 32-0 last season but had lost six in a row before that.
South Sydney have won the last three Good Friday clashes as the home side, and the Bulldogs scored 16 points in all three games.
Bulldogs won both games v Souths in 2025.
Souths have lost four Friday games in a row, but won both of their Friday home games in 2025.
Bulldogs have also lost four Friday games in a row.
Since 2021 Bulldogs are W2 L15 as the away team on a Friday.
FRIDAY 8PM – PENRITH v MELBOURNE @ CommBank Stadium
The last time Melbourne lost three in a row was 2022 when Canberra knocked them out of the finals.
The last time Penrith started the season with four wins in a row was 2022, and they went on to win seven in a row to start the season.
Melbourne have won four of the last five v Penrith, the loss was the 2024 Grand Final.
Melbourne have won the last two away games v Penrith.
Penrith lead the Friday H2H v Melbourne by 6-4.
Penrith have won all four home games v Melbourne on a Friday.
Penrith were W1 L3 at home on a Friday in 2025. They lost both home games v non-Sydney teams on a Friday in 2025.
Melbourne have won only one of their last five away games on a Friday v Sydney teams.
Melbourne have won five in a row at CommBank Stadium v Sydney teams.
SATURDAY 5:30PM – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v NORTH QUEENSLAND @ Kogarah
North Queensland have won six in a row v St George Illawarra. It’s three in a row as the away side.
St George Illawarra are W4 L3 at Kogarah v North Qld but have lost the last two.
Dragons are W15 L17 at Kogarah since 2020. It’s W4 L3 over the same period v Qld sides.
The Dragons have lost their last three games on a Saturday at home and conceded 40 or more points in all three games.
North Qld were W1 L3 away on a Saturday last season.
North Qld have won one of their last five games away to Sydney teams.
St George Illawarra have won their last three and seven of their last eight home games v Qld teams.
SATURDAY 7:30PM – GOLD COAST v BRISBANE
Broncos won both of these H2H games last season, but Gold Coast won both in 2024.
Gold Coast are only W2 L5 v Brisbane at home on a Saturday, but did win the last occurrence in 2024.
Gold Coast lost all three home games v Qld sides last season.
Gold Coast are on an eight game losing streak v Qld sides.
Overall Gold Coast are W3 L10 at home on a Saturday.
The Titans are going for three straight home wins for the first time since mid 2024.
Brisbane are on a seven game winning streak v all Qld clubs.
Brisbane have won their last five away games, all against non Sydney teams.
SUNDAY 2PM – SHARKS v WAHS
Cronulla have lost their last three home games v Wahs.
On a Sunday at Shark Park, Cronulla have the H2H advantage 6-2.
Cronulla have won seven in a row at home on a Sunday.
Cronulla have won six in a row at home on a Sunday v non Sydney teams.
Warriors away record since last season is W8 L5.
Warriors have won their last three Sunday games.
SUNDAY 4PM – NEWCASTLE v CANBERRA
Canberra have won on their last two trips to Newcastle.
Newcastle are W9 L3 v Canberra at home on a Sunday, including wins in the last two games.
Newcastle have the upper hand v Canberra overall on a Sunday on H2H 16-14.
Newcastle have won both of their Sunday fixtures this season, that’s after losing all nine Sunday games last season.
Newcastle lost all four home games as part of that run.
Canberra are now on a three game losing streak on a Sunday.
Canberra were W4 L2 away on a Sunday in 2025.
MONDAY 4PM – PARRAMATTA v WESTS TIGERS
Since 2021 Parramatta lead the H2H over the Wests Tigers of W6 L3.
At CommBank Stadium the record is W5 L3 for Parramatta v Wests Tigers.
The team named as the home side has lost all three games between these sides on a Monday at CommBank Stadium.
At any ground, Parramatta lead the H2H v Tigers 9-7.
On a Monday since 1998, Parramatta’s record is W25 L28.
Wests Tigers are W19 L23 on a Monday.
Wests Tigers are W5 L20 away to Sydney teams since 2022.
Parramatta have won their last four home games.
2026 Season Stats so far……
With only a few games gone, there’s not a lot to see yet, but that doesn’t stop us showing what we have.
More Stuff
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