NRL Round 5 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

It's taken five weeks into the season for the oddsmakers to get a read on the form teams of the National Rugby League, and Round 5 features six games where the line is set at six points or longer, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

There has been a wealth of games early this season where those who set the markets have been unable to pick a favourite, reflecting a ladder where there is just one game between fifth and 16th.

But there is a lot more betting confidence with this round of matches, with the closest predicted to be the final clash of the round between the Wests Tigers and the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Tigers, under interim coach Andrew Webster for the first time, put up a good fight against the Storm last week and are rated a $2.25 (AUD) chance to end their three-match losing streak when they host the Dragons ($1.66) at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night. The Dragons are third in the ladder with a 3-1 record.

A full four days earlier at the same venue, the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos kick off the round with what is expected to be a one-sided match.

The Broncos got a crucial but narrow win over the Canberra Raiders last week and are $1.35 to go back-to-back in this match, with the Bulldogs at $3.25 after being thrashed by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles last week.

The Sea Eagles front-up Friday night in an intriguing clash with the Sydney Roosters, one of two unbeaten teams in the competition. As you'd expect, the Roosters are $1.41 favourites, but Manly are far from without hope at $2.95 having won three of their past four against the Roosters, including their lone encounter last year.

Friday night's other match sees the North Queensland Cowboys, who are 3-1 and in fourth place, host the 10th place South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Cowboys have only lost to the Rabbitohs once in Townsville since 2008. Accordingly, they are $1.30 with the Rabbitohs at $3.60.

Reigning premiers Cronulla Sharks are the shortest priced favourite for the round when they host the struggling Newcastle Knights. The Sharkies may have lost both their home games to date, but they are $1.13 to break that mini drought, with the Knights at $6.20.

The Canberra Raiders are $1.40 to beat the Parramatta Eels ($3) with both sides desperate for a win after so-so starts to the season, while the other Saturday night match sees premiership favourites Melbourne Storm at $1.57 to continue their unbeaten start to the season against the Penrith Panthers, who are $2.45.

In the remaining game for the round, the New Zealand Warriors play host to the Gold Coast Titans in Auckland on Sunday with both sides at 1-3 and really needing a victory. The home side are $1.46, with the Titans the outsiders at $2.75.