NRL Round 6 Preview | Get Ready for Round 6 2026

Who Can Possibly Stop The Panthers?

The Penrith Panthers are sitting clear at the top of the ladder, and they are already at almost unbackable NRL betting odds to win the Premiership, paying around the $2.50 mark. They have scored the most points in the first five rounds and conceded the least amount of points.

With the way they have been playing and the stability in the squad, it’s hard to see any other team beating them. It would have to be a massive drop off in form from the Panthers for any other team to even come close.

You know who else is still in the top four? The Wests Tigers! They have certainly been the surprise packet of 2026 so far. The Tigers play the Newcastle Knights this round, and the Knights have been another team full of surprises.

They are sitting pretty in third spot on the ladder, even after losing Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown. Now, they will have to keep their momentum going without Bradman Best as well. Best suffered a groin strain last time out and is expected to miss a few weeks.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have also snuck into the top four thanks to their win over the Canterbury Bulldogs last time out. The Bulldogs have now lost their captain, Stephen Crichton, for a couple of weeks due to an AC joint injury.

In some further good news for the Rabbitohs, both Jonah Glover and Ashton Ward look like they are nearing returns. It’s unlikely that we’ll see them in Round 6, but expect them back on the field soon.

The Pack: The Broncos Have The Momentum

With three wins in a row, the Brisbane Broncos looked to have found their form after a shaky start to the season. They have wins over the Melbourne Storm, Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans. They are currently sitting in eighth spot on the ladder, and definitely look like a team on the rise.

However, they have suffered a host of setbacks, with some star players set for a stint on the sideline. Reece Walsh needs surgery for a facial fracture (don’t go looking for the photos if you have a weak stomach!), and will be out for at least a month.

Captain Adam Reynolds will miss at least this game with a groin strain. Ben Hunt is also out for the Broncos after suffering a grade 3 MCL injury; he will likely miss six to eight weeks. Michael Maguire is probably wondering who’s got his voodoo doll right now!

The Storm have dropped out of the top eight for the first time in what feels like a long time. However, you can’t really count out a team like the Storm. A big win in Round 6 at home will be just what the doctor ordered, and it could potentially see them move back up into the top eight.

Wooden Spoon Watch: The Dragons’ Winless Run Continues

The Dragons remain the only team to have not won a game so far this season. That’s five games in a row they’ve lost, and if you count last season, they have lost a whopping nine games in a row. While it’s not anywhere near the Knights’ 19 consecutive losses in 2017, it’s starting to get up there.

The pressure is on big time for coach Shane Flanagan and his players. Interestingly, the Dragons play the Sea Eagles this round, the team that sacked their coach after just three games. Now, it’s being reported that the Dragons have placed a freeze on all contract negotiations with their current playing group.

Most notably, the Dragons seem to be well advanced with Damien Cook’s contract negotiations, but he has reportedly been told the deal is no longer on the table. The Dragons have a host of players who are off contract at the end of this season. If things don’t turn around soon, we could see one of the biggest roster overhauls in recent history.

Another team vying for the wooden spoon are the Canberra Raiders. The Raiders have lost their last four games, and the one win they did get in Round 1, they won in Golden Point. I don’t think the Raiders are that far from finding their form, but it’s hard when losing becomes a culture.