In Round 6 of the NRL season, disappointed tipsters get yet another opportunity to turn things around and showcase their forecasting skills.
If the Eels managed to break their losing streak from last weekend, then there’s hope for everybody.
The season resumes with two squads that no one anticipated would only have a single victory heading into mid-April, as the Dolphins welcome the Panthers to Suncorp Stadium.
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The matches scheduled for Friday include a Dragons squad playing in Wollongong that has the potential to falter against a Gold Coast team which delivered an impressive showing over the weekend. In contrast, the subsequent match is anticipated to easily favor the Broncos as they face off against the underperforming Roosters at their home ground.
The action on Saturday takes place in the Wild West setting at Perth's Optus Stadium, featuring a doubleheader. This comes after the NRL faced some self-inflicted issues when news broke during the week about their planned expansion in Perth being close to cancellation.
It should be intriguing to observe the number of supporters who show up to watch the Sharks face off against the Sea Eagles prior to the match between South Sydney and the Cowboys. On Saturday evening, Parramatta will also play an away game against Canberra in Darwin.
After their match in Sydney, The Warriors head back to take on Melbourne at AAMI Park on Sunday. Then, the round concludes with an unpredictable encounter as the Knights and Tigers go toe-to-toe in Newcastle.
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This is how the pros envision Round 6 progressing.
Stuart Thomas
Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Storm, Knights
The Dolphins haven’t secured a victory yet in 2025, but their new coach now has one under his belt following some challenging beginnings. There’s no cause for concern at Penrith; they remain calm as long as they secure the win away from home this week. Last week, both the Titans and the Dragons disappointed me. While I see greater potential in the northern teams, predicting the outcome of this game remains uncertain.
‘Twill be a cricket score at Suncorp when the Roosters lose their fourth in a row and the Sea Eagles will test the Sharks in what looks like a potential draw in the Shire. Cronulla by a point. North Queensland’s recent form makes the match-up with Souths very interesting. The Bunnies at home in a disciplined performance.
The last three games of this round should be relatively easy. Canberra secures another victory against the Eels, the Storm easily defeats a mistake-prone Warriors squad in Victoria, and the Knights leverage their strong home support to beat the Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Panther players respond during their defeat against North Queensland. (Image courtesy of Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Nick Wasiliev
Dolphins, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Storm, Knights
It seems like Penrith is in a tough spot right now. They were left speechless following last week's performance. Meanwhile, the Phins appear to have finally found their footing after securing a victory at the Gold Coast. I believe the Dragons have been the more consistent team throughout this season, even though they suffered a defeat against the Eels last week. This might leave them quite upset, so let's hope Shane Flanagan gives it his all and turns things around.
Linking up with Penrith along the creek is the Chooks, and although Robbo might have pushed through significant alterations, securing victory at Suncorp Stadium proves challenging for many teams. The Broncos ought to manage the win.
The Sea Eagles had a tough outing at home, causing quite a letdown. However, the Sharks seem to be climbing back up after their defeat in Canberra; I predict they will come out victorious this time around.
There was significant impact from Wayne Bennett, as even with the extensive injuries plaguing South Sydney, the Rabbitohs remain in fourth place with a record of four wins and one loss. The Cowboys are gradually improving, yet they will have to contend with this challenge. really Return if they manage to defeat a team that's currently performing well. The Raiders win when playing at home but lose when playing away, correct? That’s how things stand, isn’t it?
The Warriors chose an awful time to return after their break. The Storm are particularly formidable at home, and this trend seems likely to persist over the weekend. As for my pick for the final game, you probably know where I stand. Let’s move forward.
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Mary Konstantopoulos
Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Storm, Tigers
Considering my recent poor tips, I might as well just flip a coin. Let’s see how things go this week.
The Panthers could very likely clinch the championship, yet they aren’t invincible anymore like they used to be. Adding Dylan Edwards significantly bolsters their team, and I anticipate them overcoming a Dolphins squad that’s still refining some aspects of their play.
The upcoming match hinges on which iteration of the Titans makes an appearance. David Fifita performed quite poorly in their previous game, so he'll likely aim to establish a higher benchmark when facing a Dragons team that’s bound to be hurting following their hard-fought defeat at the hands of Parramatta.
The Broncos are set to defeat the Roosters, while the Sharks undoubtedly aim to make a statement following several disheartening defeats. The Sea Eagles currently face numerous challenges, with speculation surrounding DCE and ongoing injury worries, which may leave them exposed.
I'm betting on the Bunnies to defeat the Cowboys and enjoying forecasting another victory for the Eels. Although Zac Lomax might miss this game, we witnessed Parramatta show promising offensive skills in their recent match. Additionally, the Raiders could find themselves struggling against the tropical conditions in Darwin.
The Storm is set to defeat the Wahs, while Jarome Luai’s comeback will lead the Tigers to victory against the Knights.
Paul Suttor
With Dylan Edwards back on board, the Panthers are a much more potent team as well as one that can actually stop tries so they should be able to sink the Dolphins. Panthers by 8
Anyone who tells you they know who will win between St George Illawarra and the Gold Coast is a liar. Dragons by 1 in wonderful Wollongong.
Even if Adam Reynolds is unable to suit up, the Broncos should have too much class for the Roosters who have been one of 2025 season’s biggest disappointments. Broncos by 10
Over the last several weeks, Cronulla has performed quite disappointingly. In contrast, Manley has shown moderate but noticeable performance. Without Turbo, the Sharks are considered slightly more likely to win. Predicted victory for the Sharks by 6 points.
Despite suffering from injury issues, South Sydney demonstrated last Friday against the Roosters that they can still succeed without their top-tier players in crucial roles. However, the Cowboys, although inconsistent, appear to be a somewhat steadier pick for this match. Expect the Cowboys to win by approximately 14 points.
Heading to Darwin, Parramatta will be missing Zac Lomax as they face off with Mitchell Moses also sidelined. This could well result in Canberra emerging victorious in the Top End. Expect the Raiders to win by about 16 points.
The Warriors have had time to recover following their break, yet Melbourne, considering how they dominated Manly last Sunday, stand out as being superior to nearly all other teams in the league. Expect Melbourne to win by around 10 points.
The Newcastle Knights and the Wests Tigers are set to face off again, marking their second encounter of the year. In their previous match, the Knights barely managed a win in a game characterized by lower scores. However, this time around, the Tigers will level the score sheet with a higher-scoring affair. Expect the Tigers to come away victorious by 12 points.
Hudson Young is sent to the sin bin. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
AJ Mithen
Dolphins, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
This year’s predictions have been lackluster and all too obvious. It’s time to shake things up with some guaranteed surprises!
We begin with the Dolphins running rings around Penrith’s out of sorts defensive structure, then the Titans doing the same to the Dragons.
The Broncos and Sharks will likely secure unimpressive victories over the Chooks and Manly, while North Queensland, currently in good form, pose a significant challenge to South Sydney.
Your presumed champions, the community favorites, the Canberra Raiders will make their way to the steamy northern city and aim for the top four as they casually score 56 against the struggling, injury-ravaged Eels.
The Storm narrowly edge out New Zealand in an exciting match, and ultimately Newcastle defeats the Tigers as they are now defending stronger at this time of the season.
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Mike Meehall Wood
Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
A surprising matchup indeed—I acknowledge that even though the Panthers haven’t been great, they're still much better than the Dolphins. Looks like Penrith is getting back into form.
The Titans have regained their unbeatable form following several tough weeks... St George isn’t great but should manage to pull off a win here.
Brisbane still has a long way to go before living up to expectations, but with another match at their home ground against an inferior team, they're likely to secure yet another modest victory in The Bronx.
I truly believe Manly will defeat Cronulla, but to help make it happen, I'll use reverse psychology. This way, my beloved Beaches Boys can come out on top. Go up!
While Souths may boast four victories, many of those wins seem hard-fought. North Queensland has struggled too but appears slightly improved recently and won't be fielding Bud Sullivan as coach this time around. Let’s go with the Cows then.
A single victory doesn't constitute an entire season, and Parra consistently loses when playing in Darwin. The Raiders had a poor performance – and this wasn’t solely due to the weather conditions.
Storm at home, next.
The Newcastle team seems to be favored to defeat the Tigers, though I can’t understand why. Wests should have won against them in Round 1 and since then have improved, whereas the Knights seem to have declined. Benji’s crew will likely come out on top here.
David Shilovsky
Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Storm, Knights
Penrith needs to bounce back on Thursday. The Dragons should manage to overcome Gold Coast, while the Broncos look to put an end to the struggling Roosters' run.
The game of the round might be a bit challenging, but I think Manly will recover from their dismal defeat last week. Following that, we'll head over to Accor Stadium where the Rabbitohs ought to triumph over North Queensland. Lastly, Canberra will take on Parramatta in Darwin.
At home, Storm are strong favorites against Warriors, and Newcastle will take care of the Tigers.