After five rounds, it might be clearer now as to who are the real contenders and pretenders of this competition.

We also have two undefeated teams, who will go head-to-head this weekend, while an icon of the game will face the team he turned his back on five years ago. This makes for what should be a blockbuster round six of the NRL.

Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Friday, April 12
7:35pm
Allianz Stadium

Last meeting: Bulldogs 42-10 at ANZ Stadium, Round 26, 2012.

Last week: The Great Wall of Bondi was detonated in the nation’s capital, while the Bulldogs’ disappointing start to the season continued in the face of Geoff Toovey and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Bulldogs fans, this is your chance. Your chance to unleash your anger on the man who turned his back on your club five years ago.

That’s right. This Friday night, Sonny Bill Williams will face up to the club that he betrayed five years ago, and the Bulldogs fans will be making the trek out to Allianz Stadium to make their feelings toward him felt.

Sonny Bill Williams had just signed a massive five-year contract with the Bulldogs in 2008 when he made the sensational decision to suddenly fly out of Australia quietly and start a stint in rugby union for French club Toulon.

To this day, the Bulldogs fans have never forgiven him and many called for him to be banned from returning to the NRL.

But here he is again, and back in the explosive form that featured in his game prior to that massive betrayal in the winter of five years ago.

On-field, the Bulldogs have endured a disappointing start to the season, only winning one of their first five openers. Ben Barba might be back but he isn’t really making an impact.

You could talk about a curse that strikes past Dally M winners, for example, Todd Carney and Jarryd Hayne have been past victims of their own success.

Perhaps this is what could strike Barba if the Bulldogs don’t replicate their 2012 success for the rest of the season.

The Roosters’ Great Wall of Bondi was finally detonated in the nation’s capital last week, when they let slip a 16-0 half-time lead to lose 24-22 to the Canberra Raiders.

Not since themselves almost a century ago has a team held their opposition scoreless in three consecutive matches and it seemed at half-time last week they were on track to repeat history.

But it was not to be and not only did that wall collapse, their attack also diminished in the second half.

But now that the team is back home at Allianz Stadium, all that the fans probably want now is another victory from the home team to prove that they have really improved this season. But whether they can hold out the desperation of the Bulldogs is another question.

Match-up: Anthony Minichiello versus Ben Barba, Bulldogs forwards versus SBW. This match has it all. A veteran against the reigning Dally M Medallist, and the Bulldogs forwards will be out to annoy SBW all the way.

Key: Can the Roosters put last week’s disappointment behind them and continue their hot start to the season?

Tip: Roosters by 12 points.

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys
Friday, April 12
7:35pm
Suncorp Stadium

Last meeting: Cowboys 33-16 at 1300SMILES Stadium, first elimination final, 2012.

Last week: The Broncos overpowered the Titans on the Gold Coast while the Cowboys shut the Panthers out of the match.

Both teams appear to be back in form, with the Broncos and Cowboys recording only their second victories of the season last week.

The Broncos’ unusually slow (but expected) start to the season was stemmed last week as they came from behind to keep the Titans scoreless in the second half and score what could be their most important victory this season, and in doing so shut out all the criticism that has been directed towards Scott Prince for not firing their attack in the opening rounds of the season.

But a worrying statistic is that they are still winless at home from two matches.

I remember back in 2007 the Broncos had to wait until round eight to win their first home match of the season (and it was a thriller against the South Sydney Rabbitohs which they survived after a Rabbitohs try was dismissed in the final minute).

Hopefully, their first home victory should come this week.

As for the Cowboys, who prior to their shut-out of the Panthers last week were generally disappointing, last week’s victory was a much-needed confidence booster as they try to live up to their name as premiership favourites this season.

Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Bowen (despite their ages) combined for their best match together this season, and directed their attack very well, especially in the first half.

But despite this, their second half attack was very poor as they could only manage one try in the first minute, though it was enough for them to record a convincing win to get their season back on track.

The Cowboys had previously feared playing at Suncorp Stadium in the past but in recent years their record has improved.

The Broncos have not beaten the Cowboys at home since round one, 2010.

Match-up: Scott Prince versus Johnathan Thurston. Both players’ games appear back on track after they directed their respective teams to victories last week.

Key: If the Cowboys continue their good recent record at Suncorp Stadium, Broncos fans will again be sent home unhappy.

Tip: Broncos by 6 points.

Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers
Saturday, April 13
5:30pm
Hunter Stadium

Last meeting: Knights 34-14 at Hunter Stadium, Round 8, 2012.

Last week: The Knights were edged out by the Dragons, while the Panthers continued to disappoint in a loss to the Cowboys in Townsville.

Home sweet home. Newcastle are undefeated at home so far this season and their fortress is not expected to be breached by a team that has been generally poor this season.

In their three victories so far this season, they have only coughed up an average of less than ten points and scored more than 100 themselves.

This is part of Wayne Bennett’s plan to turn Hunter Stadium into a fortress, where Newcastle are unbeaten this season and where their defence has been top notch, as well as their attack.

However, these statistics don’t seem to exist when they are on the road, as evidenced by last week’s 19-16 loss to the Dragons where they could not get anything firing in the first half.

Last week’s loss to the Cowboys was the Panthers’ fourth straight defeat since their first round win over the Canberra Raiders, which now appears all but a false dawn.

Their attack and defence was very poor in the first half and this led to them trailing 24-0 at half-time, before anybody could blink.

Though their defence improved in the second half, they could never really threaten the Cowboys line and could not find ways to score against them.

And against Newcastle, who are one of the best defensive teams at home this season, it’ll be hard to score against their brick wall which provides no mercy to the opposition.

The Tigers, Cowboys and Raiders have all fallen victim to Newcastle’s no-nonsense game plan. Will the Panthers be next?

Match-up: A great defensive side against a poor attacking side. Newcastle’s home form this season says it all.

Key: It’s a Knights home game, so they will be fired up for this one.

Tip: Knights by 16 points.

South Sydney Rabbitohs versus Melbourne Storm
Saturday, April 13
7:30pm
ANZ Stadium

Last meeting: Storm 24-6 at AAMI Park, second qualifying final, 2012.

Last week: The Storm came from behind to beat the Tigers, while the Rabbitohs held off a Warriors comeback to remain unbeaten.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 2013 NRL grand final brought forward half a year early.

Yes, that’s right. The Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs are the only two undefeated teams in the competition so far this season and by Saturday night one team must suffer its first defeat of the season (unless in the unlikely event a draw occurs, in which case both will still be undefeated after then).

The Storm were again challenged for the third week running, as the Wests Tigers tried to find ways to get past the Storm by dominating the first hour of the match.

But the Tigers fell victim to the Storm’s merciless premiership defence which has now claimed five teams, with the Rabbitohs next on the Storm’s list.

Melbourne were uncharacteristically slow last week, but they were aided by a 14-7 penalty count in their favour which allowed them to win last week.

But they cannot afford another slow start here, as the Rabbitohs are tough in punishing slow starts by the opposition.

For the second week running, the Bunnies found another way to win a narrow match.

On Good Friday, they finished their match against the Bulldogs five points in front, and last week their defence stood up to the desperate comeback of the Warriors to win by two.

The Rabbitohs have based their game plan around that of Melbourne’s and there are two key men behind this: Michael Maguire (former assistant coach) and Greg Inglis (former Storm player).

Since switching to the Rabbitohs in 2011, Inglis has made the fullback position his own, after the then (and still) great form of Billy Slater forced him to play centre and occasionally five-eighth.

But ever since switching to the back last year, Inglis’ game has exploded and he is the main reason why the Rabbitohs are enjoying their present-day success.

But whether he can stand up to his apprentice this Saturday night remains to be seen.

Match-Up: Billy Slater versus Greg Inglis. Teammates and friends during their time in Melbourne, this will be all cast aside as one seeks to claim authority over the other.

Key: This is Melbourne’s first trip to ANZ Stadium since last year’s grand final glory, but this is the Bunnies’ home ground. Who will take the honours in this potential grand final preview?

Tip: Storm by 4 points.

Canberra Raiders versus New Zealand Warriors
Saturday, April 13
7:30pm
Canberra Stadium

Last meeting: Raiders 42-22 at Mount Smart Stadium, Round 26, 2012.

Last week: The Raiders defeated the Roosters 24-22 at home, while the Warriors left their comeback against South Sydney too late.

Not only did the Canberra Raiders beat the Sydney Roosters last week, they also detonated the Great Wall of Bondi which had held firm for three-and-a-half hours stretching back to round two.

The Raiders looked gone for all money last week when they trailed the Roosters 16-0 at half-time. But their fighting spirit remained and they came out in the second half a brand new team.

Two tries in ten minutes re-ignited the match, as they sought to find a way past a Roosters side which had been hard to score against in recent weeks.

After last week’s escape act, they can take a lot of confidence into this match against a team whose comeback act fell short against the South Sydney Rabbitohs last week.

The New Zealand Warriors were very poor in the first half last week, but, like their opposition this week, came out all guns blazing in the second half.

Only a failed conversion from Shaun Johnson was the difference between what could potentially have been golden point and heartbreak.

But they are finally starting to show signs of life under Matthew Elliot, after a hat-trick of losses to start the season where their attack and defence was very poor.

There are so many new names in this Warriors’ squad and this is partly due to the influence of Elliott, who has a track record of developing juniors and turning them into the players they are now (or for some, were).

He’s turned Todd Carney, Terry Campese, Michael Jennings, Tim Grant, Lachlan Coote, Michael Gordon, Wade Graham, and many others, from little-known juniors into regular first graders. He has, and will, continue to do the same at the Warriors.

Match-Up: Two comeback teams. Last week, one comeback was successful but the other fell short.

Key: The Warriors have a shocking record in the nation’s capital, having not won there since 2001 (when that match had to be relocated to Manuka Oval due to the Super Rugby final which was being played the same night).

Tip: Raiders by 14 points.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles versus Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sunday, April 14
2:00pm
Brookvale Oval

Last meeting: Sharks 17-14 at Shark Park, Round 3, 2012.

Last week: The Sea Eagles’ unrelenting start to the season continued while the Sharks were very poor against Parramatta.

Just how good can this Manly side get? Many had tipped them for a decline following the departure of Des Hasler in the 2011-12 off-season but the arrival of club icon Geoff Toovey hasn’t slowed down their dominance.

The Sea Eagles’ unrelenting style of football was there for all to see last week when they scored 18 points to nothing against a disappointing Bulldogs side in the first half.

Though their attack diminished in the second half (failing to score a try), their defence was rock-solid until they conceded their only try with less than ten minutes left.

While they will be disappointed with that, they can fall back on the fact that they have performed defensively well this season.

It seems the controversy involving ASADA has finally taken its toll on the Sharks. Or has it? For the second week running, they played poorly in a match in which they were expected to win, as they fell victim to the great redemption story that is the Parramatta Eels.

They were still in with a chance in the second half, but didn’t really look like scoring as the Eels’ defence denied them many times.

Shane Flanagan will no doubt be disappointed with that and with a tough match against the Sea Eagles this weekend, any chances they have of returning to the winners’ list may have to be delayed until after the first representative weekend of the season.

Match-Up: Kieran Foran versus Todd Carney. Injury pending, Carney’s return might once again reignite the Sharks’ attack which went missing in the second half last week.

Key: Manly will relish the chance to return home after three weeks on the road.

Tip: Sea Eagles by 14 points.

Wests Tigers versus St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sunday, April 14
3:00pm
Sydney Cricket Ground

Last meeting: Tigers 22-12 at Allianz Stadium, Round 23, 2012.

Last week: The Tigers’ ill-discipline cost them against the Melbourne Storm, while the Dragons recorded a victory over the Knights at home.

This match marks the 50th anniversary of the famous grand final between St. George and Wests, and the enduring image of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons which has since become the focus of the NRL’s premiership trophy.

The Wests Tigers had the measure of the Melbourne Storm last week but it was their ill-discipline which ultimately cost them the chance to become the first team to beat the premiers this season.

A 14-7 penalty count against them did not help their cause as they lost their way in the second half, and this week against the Dragons, they must take their chances and be well-disciplined if they want to get their season back on track.

The Dragons finally appear to be back on the right track, or at least they are. They have scored two wins over quality opposition in the Sharks and Knights in the past fortnight, and have proven to their critics that they are not done just yet.

However, their defence has suffered a massive blow, with news just in that Gerard Beale is set to miss the rest of the season while trying to tackle Darius Boyd last week.

His loss will be a bitter pill to swallow for Dragons fans, just as they are trying to find their best form ahead of the first representative weekend of the season.

Jason Nightingale is a reliable replacement, though, and so too can be Brett Morris.

Match-Up: Benji Marshall versus Jamie Soward. While Marshall last week scored the try that should never have been (after five shocking tackles), Soward again had a blinder, masterminding his team’s victory by booting a field goal and kicking efficiently.

Key: Can the Dragons continue their good form and kick the Tigers while they’re down?

Tip: Dragons by 10 points.

Gold Coast Titans versus Parramatta Eels
Sunday, April 14
6:30pm
Skilled Park

Last meeting: Titans 24-16 at Skilled Park, Round 24, 2012.

Last week: The Titans were very disappointing in the second half against the Broncos, while the Eels bounced back from its half-century shut-out against the Roosters to beat the Sharks at home.

The Gold Coast Titans were very disappointing last week in which it lost a match it should have won.

The Brisbane Broncos had entered the match out of form and they weren’t expected to challenge the Titans at all.

After the Titans had their measure in the first half, they completely switched off in the face of a resurgent Scott Prince performance.

The Titans are at home for the second consecutive week, and will he hoping that they do not repeat that performance ever again.

Their next opponents are the Parramatta Eels, who last week bounced back from their half-century loss to the Sydney Roosters to record what could be a morale-boosting win as they seek to break out of the bottom this year.

The Titans have an all-star side, one that has not previously been seen in the history of the club.

It’s up to them to deliver for the Titans on the field to prove that they were lured to the holiday strip for good money and to play good football, not to holiday.

For the Eels, last week was all about redemption after one of the club’s worst displays in eight years. Eels coach Ricky Stuart conceded after the 50-0 loss to the Roosters that there would be more tough times ahead, but his comments must have meant nothing at all last week after their fighting victory over the Cronulla Sharks.

But Sunday night presents another tough task, as they face up to the Gold Coast Titans, who, before last week’s shocker, have had their own good start to the season.

The Eels need to get off to a good start if they are to catch the Titans napping in the first half. Their attack needs to be on from the get-go as well if they are to win this one.

Match-Up: Chris Sandow versus Albert Kelly. Sandow has one of his best matches last week, while Kelly continues to impress for the Titans.

Key: Can the Titans bounce back? The Eels have not won away from Parramatta as of yet this season.

Tip: Titans by 10 points.