There are no longer any winless teams in the NRL with both sides at the bottom of the ladder coming into Round 5 – the Dolphins and Eels – producing victories.

All eyes were on Clint Gutherson and Zac Lomax in the clash between the Dragons and Parramatta, with both men playing their former clubs after trading jerseys in the off-season.

It ended up as a thriller, with a Lomax field goal in Golden Point getting the Eels over the line 23-22, despite Gutho scoring two tries.

Gold Coast came crashing back to earth after two impressive wins against Newcastle and the Roosters, putting up little fight against the Dolphins in the 36-10 defeat. The two Titans tries coming too little too late after having to wait until the 65th minute for their first points.

Wests Tigers took the fight to Brisbane in the first half, but the game got away from them in the second, with the Broncos winning 44-24 at Suncorp Stadium.

Zac Lomax of the Eels celebrates kicking the golden point field goal. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

1. Lomax in tears after breaking Dragons’ hearts

Lomax played 114 games across seven seasons for the Dragons, but he was the reason for the Red V’s latest heartbreak, this time in an Eels jersey.

Parramatta fought back from 20-8 down to level the scores twice, sending the game to Golden Point. After several missed field goal attempts, the centre kicked the match-winning point – and he gave an emotional interview after the game.

“I am pumped, but it’s a hard one,” Lomax said on Fox League, fighting back tears.

“It gets a bit emotional, but just a good win.

“I see so much effort and so much courage and so many young players in our team. There is a lot of potential here, and we just have to stick at it.”

“Obviously, the start of the season hasn’t been our greatest. 

“We’re super stoked to be able to win and to lose the first four games, It just doesn’t show where our effort’s been because we worked so hard. 

“And obviously, it’s my previous club. They’re all some of my best mates. In regards to that, it didn’t matter about the team we were playing.”

It wasn’t the prettiest of performances from the Eels, and the Dragons allowed them to work back into the game – but it’s the first time Jason Ryles’ team have dug deep and ground out the result in 2025.

Ryles will be hoping that this come-from-behind performance and the passion late in the game are just what ignites the Eels’ season.

“Yeah, it’s a good storyline … but it could have been Peter Brady to kick the field goal, like as long as it went over,” Ryles said.

“It was a big decision for him (to leave the Dragons), and it’s been well publicised. So hopefully, this kind of puts a bit of a bow on it, and then we just move on. 

“He’s a Parramatta player and hopefully for a long time.”

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2. Reynolds tries to turn back clock, but his body may not be up to it

Adam Reynolds took control of the game for the Broncos with two huge plays on either side of half-time.

Brisbane were not having it all their own way in the first half, with the Tigers scoring three tries to two – although poor goal kicking made it 12-12 nearing the break.

That’s when the Brisbane halfback came into his own, with a massive two-point field goal to take a lead into half-time.

Then, four minutes after the break, Reynolds produced a stunning chip and chase for himself and the try of the match.

But after he kicked the conversion, he headed straight up the tunnel, with what’s believed to be a hamstring injury.

“He must have done that while he was kicking (the conversion) because if he had a problem with his hamstring, he would not have taken the shot at goal,” Greg Alexander said on Fox.

The star halfback stated after the game that the decision to leave the game early was just a precautionary measure, but it’s too early to give a full diagnosis.

“It just tightened up and I didn’t want to risk anything,” Reynolds said.

“I will talk to the medical staff tomorrow. I am a pretty positive person. I felt it in the first half and got to half time and assessed it.

“The good thing is I got through without doing anything serious.”

In a more serious moment, Brendan Piakura had to leave the field via medicab late in the game after suffering a severe concussion. Reynolds later gave the update that his teammate was sitting up, laughing and talking in the sheds but he’ll miss next week under concussion protocols.

3. Gutho brings energy against former team but Dragons run out of puff

Clint Gutherson had a point to prove coming back to CommBank Stadium, a ground and fan base that he called home for nine seasons – and he wasn’t there to just go through the motions.

With Eels fans booing his early touches, there was plenty of passion from the fullback, cheering every Parramatta mistake and Dragons penalty. He even had the opening try, storming through the line from close range.

At half-time, he was still fired up, getting in the faces of former teammates as tensions threatened to boil over. His energy and intensity impressed former Broncos coach Kevin Walters.

“Everything about him has been class,” Walters said.

“He’s been heavily involved in their attack, setting up a try and scoring another.

“Lots of energy – that’s what he brings to this jersey and this game. He’s loving it here, albeit in different colours.”

Gutho had a second try after the break, as he continued to try to lift his team.

However, his enthusiasm and effort weren’t rubbing off on teammates, as the Dragons finished with a completion rate under 75 per cent and led the error count 12-9.

“He (Gutherson) was outstanding,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“He scored two tries. He’s everywhere again. His effort is similar to a lot of players within our team.

“We just need to tidy some things up.”

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4. Saifiti announces himself as a Dolphins enforcer

Dolphins fans would be wondering where this form has been in 2025, as Kristian Woolf’s men finally strung a near 80-minute performance together and never let the Titans into the game.

One of the standouts was forward Daniel Saifiti, with the former Knight coming up with a try and leading several of the stats areas. The front-rower had 13 hit-ups for 149 metres, including four tackle breaks and 35 tackles.

It was the perfect partnership with fellow prop, Felise Kaufusi, whose numbers were almost as impressive: 13 hit-ups for 136 metres and 27 tackles.

The pair had the Dolphins on the front foot for most of the contest, with fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow having his best game of the season, scoring his first try of the season.

But Woolf was also impressed by man-of-the-match Isaiya Katoa, saying his running game was phenomenal, and he complemented that with astute passing and kicking.

“He was really good, he has been one our best in the first weeks,” Woolf said.

“I can see him growing in confidence, I can see him running the football more and playing what he is seeing more.

“He’s obviously an excellent player in the making. It’s going to be great watching him get better and better.”

5. Despite scoreline, Tigers are no longer cellar-dwellers

The Wests Tigers may have come into this season as wooden spooners, but they are playing like anything but in 2025.

The final 46-24 scoreline reflects a lopsided result, but it doesn’t quite tell how close the contest was, especially in the first half.

Benji Marshall’s side travelled to Brisbane as huge outsiders and were missing the suspended Jarome Luai – but from the opening 15 minutes of the game, they started to go toe-to-toe with one of the premiership heavyweights.

The Tigers even outscored the Broncos in terms of tries, but missing three conversion attempts in the first half had them two points down at halftime.

“I’m really proud of the guys’ effort,” Tigers coach Benji Marshall said.

“We learnt tonight we have a team where, if we get it right, we can do some good things.”

It was just skillful moments of experience from the Brisbane halves that wore them down in the second half, as well as some disallowed tries, as the game got away from them.

Lachie Galvin continues to take his game to a new level, showing plenty of confidence in the Tigers first try, with the foresight to kick into the in-goal on just the first tackle.

Former Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson was still impressed by the Tigers, highlighting Luai’s absence and goalkicking as two areas that prevented the visitors from gaining any momentum.

“There’s elements out of tonight that you bottle for sure,” he said on Fox League.

“You have a massive piece missing, and it’s always going to be the challenge; if Jarome couldn’t stay healthy every game, then what does it look like?

“They got a real good look at it against a real quality side.

“Their first 40 minutes is as good as you would have seen all year from them.

“Goal kicking can damper that feeling when you don’t see it correlate on the scoreboard; then a dummy half try and two point field goal and you’re suddenly left wondering what just happened.

“There’s lots to like for Benji.”

The Kick: Consistency again a problem for Titans as Hasler defies ref mandate

Right from the opening set of six, it was shaping as a disaster for the Titans. With the NRL clear about its high tackle crackdown, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui hit Felise Kaufusi high, resulting in a sin bin.

While the Gold Coast skipper was off the field, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow capitalised on the extra-man advantage and broke through for his first try of the season.

It was the worst performance of the season for the Titans, who conceded the first four tries to the Dolphins, with the game virtually over at the hour mark.

But the hosts weren’t without their chances. Jaylan De Groot crossed midway through the second half, only for the Bunker to chalk it off for an obstruction, and then there were two errors in quick succession from Brian Kelly and Jayden Campbell near the Dolphins line.

Despite threatening a comeback with 10 straight points, Des Hasler’s side would be ruing missed opportunities and sloppy mistakes – with an old habit of inconsistent form threatening to return to the side in 2025.

But the coach was more interested in hitting out at the officials over the sin bin of Fa’asuamaleaui in his post-match press conference.

“People pay good money to come and see a game of footy,” Hasler said.

“With the playing at the head, I think it just interferes a bit with the integrity of what the game is about.

“Where is the intention? It’s just another spoiling part of the game. It’s not quite as bad as Magic Round two years ago, but I find it’s disappointing.

“It’s an area that they have to look at with the intention. In six weeks, when another competition starts with State of Origin, there are going to be people in the sin-bin.

“I’m not going to be using it as an excuse (for losing) … but it’s just uncalled for. It’s not the first time it is going to be stated, but it’s a forceful game sometimes.”

Hasler was also frustrated that second-rower Beau Fermor was penalised in the game for “tapping” Isaiya Katoa on the head with a try-saving tackle.

“That is a great rugby league play. To come from the other side of the field and get across there and make a great try-saving tackle,” Hasler said. 

“The referee comes and says you tapped him on the head.

“I don’t think there was anything too malicious. I just don’t get it. The pressure is coming from somewhere, but we are just too reactive sometimes.

“It’s something they are just going to say they have to lower their target. It’s not as simple as lowering your target.”

with AAP