The 2026 NRL season continues to confuse and confound, providing plenty of headaches for tippers throughout the year. Tipping all the winners each weekend is near impossible, so we'll give you some extra help with three standout games.
The sure thing
Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday April 4, 7:35pm (AEDT)
It is a fair indication of how unpredictable the early rounds of the 2026 season have been, that this guide has a success rate of two from four when picking a sure thing winner. I'm not sure how many people would have predicted a Tigers victory over the Warriors last weekend, but I certainly didn't.
This weekend I am going with the Broncos, who look to be working their way back to their best form, after beating the Dolphins last week. They still have a lot of work to do, particularly in defence, but with the ball they are back to being unpredictable and dangerous. They also welcome back Payne Haas, who is the rock on which they build most winning performances.
The Titans will be on a high after breaking their duck last week with a solid victory over the Dragons. Despite this breakthrough, they still have a long way to go before thy can compete with the top sides, like the Broncos. (My apologies to Brisbane fans for placing the "sure thing" curse on their team this week).
Round 5 sure thing: Broncos
The toss of the coin
There are several games across this weekend which could easily fall into this category, especially with the spate of recent upsets. The Sharks bounced back to defeat the Raiders last week in an impressive performance. They return to Shark Park for this clash against a Warriors team still seething after a very ordinary performance against the Tigers.
Both teams will know that this game will be a very good test of just how their season will go from here. Evenly matched, with similar premiership aspirations, they have to prove themselves with a win.
This game really could go either way, but the coin has been tossed at Shark Park, so it has come down Sharks side up.
Toss of the coin game winner: Sharks
The roughie
Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday April 5, 4:05pm (AEDT)
Despite a very impressive win over the Bulldogs last week, the Knights go into this clash with the wobbly Raiders as outsiders in the betting markets. Anyone studying the teams on paper would agree that the Raiders look to be the stronger of the two, particularly with the Knights missing their two best players, even though they do welcome back Fletcher Hunt to the fullback role.
The Knights have been playing with a lot more than talent, they have found their heart again under new coach Justin Holbrook. There is nowhere in the world that they will show that heart more readily than at their home ground in front of a full house.
The Raiders have attacking weapons across the field, but can get in their own way at times. They will be keen to bounce back from last week's loss, but the Knights might be set for an upset.
Round 5 roughie: Knights
