The NRL is coming thick and fast now, much like the points against the Broncos at Suncorp last Thursday. One wonders why Fox Sports didn’t have realistic crowd noises though, like the sound of a home crowd booing their own side and walking out with ten minutes to go. Which is sort of what the Broncos did with 78 minutes to go. Aside from kicking something while they’re down, we present our NRL Round 5 Preview with Barely Interesting Stats & Stuff.
There are plenty stats below, enough for every game, and give every team’s fans some hope for the NRL Round 5. More than one could ever need. Or want.
Along with all the stats we have our tip for each game. Which were bloody terrible last week, beaten soundly by tips based on Full Moon like our Alternative Tips.
In case you are interested, all records go back to 1998 unless otherwise stated.
Get ready for some interesting gear in our NRL Round 5 Preview – Barely Interesting Stats & Stuff.
NRL Round 5 Preview – Match by Match Stats N Stuff
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES v BRISBANE BRONCOS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Payne Haas has run more metres than any other Manly player.
Anthony Milford misses every fourth tackle.
Manly have won the only clash between these sides at Central Coast in 2015, the Broncos have won their only other clash on the Central Coast in 2011.
Manly have lost just three of 17 games at Central Coast Stadium – two against Souths.
Manly have only won two of eight Thursday games.
The Broncos aren’t any better, winning just two of the last 11 matches. And just one of their last eight against sides from NSW.
The last two times the Broncos have scored zero points, the opposition have scored 50+.
Last week’s 59-0 loss was the biggest by any Queensland Cup side in the NRL.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
These teams have never met on a Thursday. Explains why this game is not at Suncorp.
Broncos have won all four clashes in June, which is decent effort given origin affects both sides in the past, but especially the Broncos.
THE FINAL SAY
Manly 28 Broncos 10
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v NORTH QLD COWBOYS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Cowboys are 2-2 at Central Coast Stadium, Warriors 2/3 but have won two in a row.
Warriors have won both of the Friday clashes between these sides.
The Warriors have a nice pattern developing for kicks off between 6pm and 7pm away from home. From the most recent result backwards it is L-W-W-L-W-W. So surely that means win.
Similarly, the Cowboys have a pattern on Friday nights home and away. From the most recent result backwards it is W-L-L-W-L-L. So surely that means win
Cowboys have won just four of 21 matches on Fridays in NSW.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
A team has scored zero in each of the last three Warriors games in NSW.
No team has scored fewer points after four rounds since our records go back to 1998 than the Warriors have this season (24).
THE FINAL SAY
Warriors 6 Cowboys 28
PARRAMATTA EELS v PENRITH PANTHERS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Penrith have won the only match at Bankwest Stadium between these two sides. But they lost their only other match at the ground to the Bulldogs.
Penrith have won just two of their last nine away games on a Friday.
Panthers have won eight of their last 11 games v Sydney teams.
Penrith won all three of their games in June last year, and their first this season.
Parramatta have won three of their last four Friday games, but lost six in a row before that.
Only Jason Taumalolo has more post contact metres than Brian To’o (305).
Api Koroisau has made the most tackles this season so far with 207, Isiah Yeo (180) is fifth.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
It is 20-20 for games since 1998 between these two sides. And it is split 50-50 for both Day and Night games.
Penrith and Parramatta are the two leading teams for run metres. If you add the two together, you get the distance in walking from Penrith to the Rooty Hill RSL.
THE FINAL SAY
Parramatta 19 Penrith 18
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v GOLD COAST TITANS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
The only player in the top five tacklers between these two sides is Jai Arrow, who will play for Souths anyway next season.
Souths hold a 5-2 advantage over the Gold Coast in June.
Souths have lost their last five away games.
Souths have lost just two of their last 16 games for 3pm kick offs. But the two losses have been in the last four games.
Gold Coast won their first game in a year on Sunday night against the Tigers. They have still lost their last seven away games.
The Titans have lost 13 Saturday games in a row and won just two of their last 26.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
Neither of these sides have won at Bankwest Stadium. Although, one is a technicality, because the Gold Coast have yet to play there.
THE FINAL SAY
South Sydney 22 Gold Coast 18
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v MELBOURNE STORM
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
The H2H record on a Saturday since 1998 is 10-10.
Newcastle haven’t beaten Melbourne since 2015.
Newcastle haven’t played at the Central Coast Stadium since 2010, when they beat the Roosters. They lost the preceding five games.
Melbourne have 4-2 record at Central Coast, winning their previous game there last season.
Melbourne have only won three of their last eight Saturday games.
Newcastle have won four of their last five games on a Saturday against teams not from Sydney.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
Newcastle have a 4-1 H2H record for games kicking off between 5pm and 6pm.
THE FINAL SAY
Newcastle 20 Melbourne 14
WESTS TIGERS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Wests Tigers have a 7-3 advantage over the Raiders at Campbelltown.
Surprisingly for winter, the Tigers have the better H2H record 10-9.
Canberra have won their last five away games on a Saturday, and seven of their last eight.
Tigers have lost their last two home games and five of their last seven. Make it only Saturday games, and the Tigers have won five of their past six. Make it night games and it is 11 wins in 14 matches.
In 16 home games since the start of the 2019 season, the Tigers have conceded 12 or less ten times. They lost four of the six where it they conceded more.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
Canberra have lost just one of their last six away games v Sydney opposition. That one in six was the six again.
THE FINAL SAY
Wests Tigers 8 Canberra Raiders 40
BULLDOGS v ROOSTERS
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Bankwest Stadium record – Bulldogs 75% (3/4) — Roosters 100% (2/2)
Roosters have lost their last two away games to Sydney sides.
Roosters have lost just three of their last 14 games on Sundays. Bulldogs have won just one of their last eight in a Sunday.
Bulldogs have conceded less than 10 points in four of their last five matches v Sydney teams.
Bulldogs haven’t beaten the Roosters since 2016.
Bulldogs have a 7-2 record against the Roosters for Sunday games not at SCG or SFS
Overall record since 1998 is 22-21 to the Roosters, but that swings to 13-6 for the last 10 seasons.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
Monday was the first time the Bulldogs had scored 20+ against Sydney opposition in 15 games, going back to March 2019.
THE FINAL SAY
Bulldogs 14 Roosters 20
CRONULLA SHARKS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Record is 22-22 since 1998
Campbelltown record – Dragons 0/1 – Sharks 1/3 (last win 2016)
Sharks have won four of their last five v Dragons on Sundays.
Sharks have lost six of their last seven games against the Dragons for games kicking off at 5pm or later.
Dragons have won just four of their last 21 games, but have at least won three of the last 11 away games.
Dragons have lost their last nine games v Sydney opposition.
The Dragons have also lost 12 of their last 13 v Sydney opposition on a Sunday. Unsurprisingly, ten of these 13 matches were on Channel Nein.
Dragons hold a 12-8 H2H advantage over the Sharks for games kicking off at 6pm or later. They also have a 10-8 advantage on a Sunday.
The Dragons have made the most amount of tackles this season so far, and a full 350 odd more than the Sharks. And they have the best tackle efficiency. But strangely have run for 800 more metres than the Sharks. Quality over quantity then.
Cronulla are the most penalised team so far this season. Aaron Woods is the equal most penalised player with five.
MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S
Sharks have won 13 of their last 14 away games on a Sunday.
THE FINAL SAY
Sharks 20 Dragons 12
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