The 2024 NRL season is set to be tight, with plenty of player movement during the offseason as clubs hope to turn their fortunes around or maintain their dominance. Tipping eight winners each weekend is going to be near impossible, so each week we'll give you some extra help with three standout games.
The sure thing
Melbourne Storm vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, AAMI Park, Friday April 12, 6pm (AEST)
Last week Melbourne welcomed back their full spine for the first time since 2022, and although they had a hard time putting the Broncos away, they looked like they were nearly back to their best.
The Bulldogs shocked the world last week by running all over an awful Roosters first half performance, before holding on after the break despite their own shocker. They came out of the match with two competition points, embarrassed by their second-half efforts and carrying several injuries.
The Bulldogs often cause the Storm some difficulties in Melbourne, but this time, with the Storm spine having had one game together to iron out some kinks, I can't see them pulling off another upset.
Round 6 sure thing: Storm
The toss of the coin
The toss of the coin games are not always played out between the top teams, sometimes it is just as hard to split a couple of struggling teams. The Tigers looked set to surprise quite a few teams until they lost their exciting new five-eighth to suspension. Their first game without him saw them mix it with the Dolphins before they were simply outclassed.
The bad Dragons turned up in Newcastle last week to be thumped by the Knights. We all know they can play much better than that, maybe the appalling conditions didn't suit.
Does the home ground advantage help the Tigers over the Dragons here? Something in the back of my head is telling me that the good Dragons are better than the Tigers, and if the good Dragons turn up they should win this one.
Toss of the coin game winner: Dragons
The roughie
Believe me, there would be very few people picking the Rabbitohs to beat the Sharks in this one, particularly with Latrell Mitchell out suspended. At $2.40 they are currently the outsiders at home.
There are obviously some internal issues at the Rabbitohs at the moment, with some very good players not playing at their best. The loss of Mitchell and Alex Johnston to a hamstring injury, gives two youngsters in Jye Gray and Tyrone Munro an opportunity to shine on the big stage. Young players often bring a boost in enthusiasm to an entire squad, and the entire squad definitely needs something, because this is becoming embarrassing for everyone involved.
If you are looking to tip an upset, the Bunnies might just turn things around this weekend.
Round 6 roughie: Rabbitohs
Click here for a full guide to Round 6 of the 2024 NRL season