Looking for a way to get into this weekend’s NRL action, but don’t have the time to examine the form guide, Facebook pages, Fox Sports website, or watch the Channel Nein Sports news to help with your selections? Of course you can always try the excellent NRL Tipping Club. But if none of those work for you The Gurgler website is nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our 2026 NRL Round 5 Bets & Best Bets.
We’ve done the math and the homework of all our stats and offer up just our favourite suggested bet in each game. Then roll them up in a mega multi at the end.
2026 NRL Round 5 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct at time of use.
THURSDAY 8PM – DOLPHINS v MANLY @ Kayo Stadium
Dolphins -5.5 Start Second Half @ $1.89
Dolphins are unbeaten on a Thursday at Kayo Stadium and have a great Thursday record of W8 L2. Plus, . Manly’s Thursday away record isn’t great at W1 L10. But the Dolphins aren’t playing that well, and Manly will have the New Head Coach bounce, that might last for a half. Aside from last weekend, the Dolphins usually finish strong. Manly are yet to win a second half and are ordinary on a Thursday in general
FRIDAY 4PM – SOUTH SYDNEY v BULLDOGS
Total Points Under 46.5 @ $1.87
The last 13 games between these sides on Good Friday have averaged 38 points with 10/13 under 40 points. Bulldogs are averaging 15 points a game so far in 2026. Souths are averaging 19 points a game from Round Two and come off the bye this weekend and averaging 15 points per game after a bye in 2025.
FRIDAY 8PM – PENRITH v MELBOURNE @ CommBank Stadium
Penrith to Win @ $1.42
Form this good has to beat stats. Get some value for Penrith while you can.
SATURDAY 5:30PM – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v NORTH QUEENSLAND @ Kogarah
North Queensland to Win @ $1.70
North Queensland have won six in a row v St George Illawarra. It’s three in a row as the away side. And they have won the last two games between these sides at Kogarah. The Dragons have also extended their 2025/2026 losing streak to eight games and conceded 40 or more points in half of those losses. Cowboys have won two in a row now, and Tood Payten can breathe easier now he isn’t the first coach sacked in 2026.
SATURDAY 7:30PM – GOLD COAST v BRISBANE
Brisbane to win @ $1.22 or Reece Walsh 1+ Tries @ $1.62
Gold Coast are on an eight game losing streak v Qld sides and lost all three Qld games at home in 2025, so a win for the Titans looks unlikely. Brisbane have such a good record v Qld teams – they are on a seven game winning streak v all Qld clubs. Gold Coast did beat Brisbane three times in a row in 2023-2024, so can’t guarantee a big win for the Broncos, so chickening out with a straight H2H bet. Reece Walsh has scored six tries in five games for the Broncos v Titans.
SUNDAY 2PM – SHARKS v WAHS
Total Points Over 47.5 @ $1.82 (Total Points Band 51-60 Pts @ $3.85)
Five of the last six clashes between these sides has seen or passed 50 points. Four of the last five games at Shark Park has seen 50+ points too. Warriors scored 38 points or more in their first three games this season before dropping off last weekend. Cronulla did score 50 in their first home game of the season.
SUNDAY 4PM – NEWCASTLE v CANBERRA
Newcastle to score first @ $2.04
Newcastle have scored the first try in all four games thus far, and have a decent W2 D1 L1 first half record this season. They are fourth highest for first half points too. Canberra are winless in the first half this season (D1 L3) and average nine points less than the Knights for first half points.
MONDAY 4PM – PARRAMATTA v WESTS TIGERS
Pick Your Own Line – Wests Tigers +8.5 start @ $1.49
A quirk in the stats show that the team named as the home side has lost all three games between these sides on a Monday at CommBank Stadium. Wests Tigers looked real good last weekend, but their record against Parramatta isn’t the best – Since 2021 Parramatta lead the H2H over the Wests Tigers of W6 L3 – although not awful as the Tigers stats were heading into last weekend’s clash in New Zealand. And look how that ended up. But can you trust Wests Tigers to win? Not really.
2026 NRL Round 5 Bets MMMMMega Multi
Add all the specials together for turning $1 into plenty. But gamble responsibly, by betting within your limits and ignoring our tips all together.
$1 for $58
Last week 6/8
READ MORE ON THIS WEEKEND’S NRL
The Gurgler’s Round 5 NRL Predictions
The NRL Donkey’s Round 5 Expert Tips and Opinion
NRL Results – R4 One Minute Match Review
