NRL 2026 Round 5 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Dolphins vs. Manly Sea Eagles
Kayo Stadium, Thursday 2 April 2026
Kick Off: 7:00pm (AEST)

THE DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles

14. Brad Schneider 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Ray Stone 17. Francis Molo 18. Kurt Donoghoe 19. Trai Fuller

20. Oryn Keeley 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Clayton Faulalo 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Brandon Wakeham 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Simione Laiafi 18. Paul Bryan 19. Josh Feledy

20. Joey Walsh 21. Jackson Shereb 22. Blake Wilson

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Accor Stadium, Friday 3 April 2026
Kick Off: 3:05pm (AEST)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. CONEHEAD Duncan 13. Cameron Murray

14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Liam Le Blanc 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Moala Graham-Taufa

20. Salesi Ataata 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Latrell Siegwalt

CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Enari Tuala 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Sean O'Sullivan 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Lipoi Hopoi

21. Jake Turpin 22. Logan Spinks 23. Jonathan Sua

Penrith Panthers vs. Melbourne Storm
CommBank Stadium, Friday 3 April 2026
Kick Off: 7:00pm (AEST)

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To'o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali'i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

14. Jack Cogger 15. Billy Phillips 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Luke Garner 18. Izack Tago 19. Kalani Going

20. Tom Ale 21. Billy Scott 22. Jack Cole

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Alec MacDonald 13. Trent Loiero

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Davvy Moale 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Cooper Clarke 18. Lazarus Vaalepu 19. Manaia Waitere

20. Angus Hinchey 21. Trent Toelau 22. Preston Conn

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. North Queensland Cowboys
Jubilee Stadium, Saturday 4 April 2026
Kick Off: 4:30pm (AEST)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. David Fale 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Hamish Stewart

14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jacob Halangahu 17. Hame Sele 18. Josh Kerr 19. Tyrell Sloan

20. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 21. Kade Reed 22. Setu Tu

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter

14. Soni Luke 15. Griffin Neame 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt

20. Kai O'Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Robert Derby

Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos
Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 4 April 2026
Kick Off: 6:35pm (AEST)

GOLD COAST TITANS

1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Lachlan Ilias 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Klese Haas 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall

14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Cooper Bai 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Oliver Pascoe 18. Max Feagai 19. Jett Liu

20. Jaylan De Groot 21. Adam Christensen 22. Jenson Taumoepeau

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Ben Hunt 15. Xavier Willison 16. Ben Talty 17. Aublix Tawha 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Antonio Verhoeven

20. Blake Mozer 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Va'a Semu

Cronulla Sharks vs. Warriors
Ocean Protect Stadium, Sunday 5 April 2026
Kick Off: 2:00pm

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun

14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Hohepa Puru

20. Jayden Berrell 21. Michael Gabrael 22. Briton Nikora

NZ WARRIORS

1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark

14. Samuel Healey 15. Marata Niukore 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

21. Morgan Gannon 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 23. Ali Leiataua

Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 5 April 2026
Kick Off: 4:05pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker

14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Thomas Cant 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Wilson De Courcey

20. Cody Hopwood 21. Francis Manuleleua 22. James Schiller

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Matthew Timoko

20. Owen Pattie 21. Jed Stuart 22. Daine Laurie

Parramatta Eels vs. Wests Tigers
CommBank Stadium, Monday 6 April 2026
Kick Off: 4:05pm

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Joash Papali'i 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Dylan Walker

14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Charlie Guymer 17. Luca Moretti 18. Jack de Belin 19. Apa Twidle

20. Ronald Volkman 21. Teancum Brown 22. Araz Nanva

WESTS TIGERS

1. Jahream Bula 2. Faaletino Tavana 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal

14. Latu Fainu 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Bunty Afoa 19. Jeral Skelton

20. Tristan Hope 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Patrick Herbert

 

[Big Pete]

Over to you Foz.

You're only months into your coaching career and you find yourself in the pressure cooker. You've got a license to make changes, will you use it or will you simply act as caretaker?

Dolphins ought to win. They gave themselves every opportunity against the Broncos, I just think they lacked direction in the opposition twenty. Forwards played too laterally and the halves over-thought the plays.

They just need to maintain their composure and be prepared to tough it out in defence. I wouldn't mind having Ray Stone out there early, lay on some big hits and then allow the rest of the team to pick up the pieces.

 

[ningnangnong]

Over to you Foz.

You're only months into your coaching career and you find yourself in the pressure cooker. You've got a license to make changes, will you use it or will you simply act as caretaker?

Well @Fozz, what's it gonna be?

 

[Morkel]

Just a suspicion, but this looks like the exact scenario where the NRL force the issue of "any team can win on their day" and the embattled Storm overcome all kinds of adversity to beat the unbeaten Panthers. Panthers all of a sudden are called off-side, the Storm are rewarded for their diving and bullshit in the ruck and the Panthers get reamed for 6-agains (except in this case it's on the 4th and 5th, not the 1st), and all the media cheer that Bellamy still has it.

 

[Sproj]

Official leaked Storm training footage.

 

[Fozz]

Well @Fozz, what's it gonna be?

Time to toughen them up

 

[Dexter]

I think The Riff will be looking to make a statement and put the Storm to the sword.
Ill be punting that way for sure.
Panthers by 20plus @ $4 and SGM with mostly penref players.

 

[Foordy]

Liam Kennedy has been dropped from officiating in a match this weekend.

He blew 28 Infringements in last Sundays Dragons vs Titans game

Kennedy awarded 17 penalties and 11 set restarts in the low quality contest – prompting outrage from the 12,241 in the stands at Cbus Super Stadium.

the fact is that he is doing exactly what Vlandys and the NRL want. I wonder if the NRL realise that they have ****ed up yet again and are trying to make him a scapegoat.

here are the stats from the first 4 rounds in 2026

The NRL average so far this season is 20.06 infringements per game (10.25 penalties and 9.81 set restarts) following a total of 328 penalties and 314 ‘six-agains’ across 32 games

 

[Dexter]

I don't know about Flannagan lasting the year at the Merge.
He had a similar look to Seibold, in his final presser, during that Titans game.
He has a demeaner like he's out of answers and knows it and wants it to be over.

 

[Big Pete]

Disappointed with the Dolphins so far. I thought they'd be more dialled in but I still see too much uncertainty about their play. They had every opportunity to beat Brisbane last week and bottled it.

Danger game. Dolphins go in as favourites against a team that's desperate for a win and a club that's averaged over 40 points against them in their previous encounters. They can't afford to be off their game tonight because Manly will make them pay.

We haven't seen the best Dolphins line-up. They have a few prospects coming through who will add to that team but it's best to ease them into the season and get some value out of the veterans.

Will be interesting to see what impact Marshall-King will have on the team. Despite his strengths, his inclusion last year felt like a hindrance more than a positive - one to keep an eye on when the time comes.

 

[Dexter]

Dragons have some crazy win stats for the Easter game and at Jubilee.
Cows have won there last 7 straight against Dragons by an average of 18 points.
One of those stats is going to be wrong though.

 

[Dexter]

Fins have changed there attack to be more down the middle and hitting in behind the ruck.
It worked well against Cronulla and not as well against us although they had their chance but for a forward pass and bad decoy.
Def danger game but would not be surprised if the Fins pulled out a big score if they get to a 2 try lead early.
The Sea Eagles resolve will be fully tested

 

[BroncsFan]

Disappointed with the Dolphins so far. I thought they'd be more dialled in but I still see too much uncertainty about their play. They had every opportunity to beat Brisbane last week and bottled it.

Danger game. Dolphins go in as favourites against a team that's desperate for a win and a club that's averaged over 40 points against them in their previous encounters. They can't afford to be off their game tonight because Manly will make them pay.

We haven't seen the best Dolphins line-up. They have a few prospects coming through who will add to that team but it's best to ease them into the season and get some value out of the veterans.

Will be interesting to see what impact Marshall-King will have on the team. Despite his strengths, his inclusion last year felt like a hindrance more than a positive - one to keep an eye on when the time comes.

Dolphins have been a weird team to start the year.

Ever since they came into the comp their backline sweeps have been super smooth and great at stripping opposition edges, but this year there's been some tries through shape, but a fair few have been opportunistic or unstructured.

Has Nathan Fien left or something?

 

[Santa]

Will be real interesting to see how Manly play post Seibold. Secretly hoping they kill it

 

[Kaz]

I am going for the Phins

 

[Brocko]

Ffs Brooks

 

[Brocko]

Both teams conceding metres for fun. Struggling to slow the ruck

 

[Fernando]

Jurbo has made more metres tonight than in each of his last 2 games