Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Gold Coast has two footy sides in national competitions – and both are running last. Many would have expected the Suns to struggle in their inaugural season in the AFL, but few would have predicted the Titans would be where they are right now. The Titans aren’t just last – they’re outright last. I would hope the Titans have too much pride to finish the season with the spoon, and avoiding the dreaded cutlery might be the only reachable goal they have left in 2011. Beating the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium would be a rare highlight for the season, but it’s not going to happen. The Broncos are fresh from the bye, their six Origin representatives return and they need the win to stay in touch with the top four.

Verdict – Broncos

Result - Broncos 30 defeated Titans 10

New Zealand Warriors vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Mt Smart Stadium

In the last six weeks these two sides have notched up just one win each – the Warriors beat the struggling Titans last week and the Dogs beat a Benji-free Tigers in round 16. It’s hardly stellar form, but the Bulldogs look to be in a deeper rut than the Kiwis. In fact the Dogs have won just two games since round seven – and their other win was also against the struggling Titans. They offered an improved showing against the Storm last round but they have to back up from the trip to Adelaide with a trip to Auckland. This will be closer than many are anticipating but the home side should get the points.

Verdict – Warriors

Result - Warriors 36 defeated Bulldogs 12

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium

The two foundation clubs in the NRL meet again in what is always a spirited contest. The Roosters have won the last three derbies including a big win in the first game of the 2011 season. Unfortunately for the chickens their season peaked then and there. They did beat the Panthers last week but it was an ugly win, and winning two games in a row isn’t something the Roosters have managed to do this season. Even after their big-scoring effort last week the Roosters are only averaging around 12 points per game. That is considerably less than the Rabbits (18 points) who really need to be winning a game like this if they have any expectations of playing finals football. My money's on the bunnies.

Verdict – Rabbitohs

Result - Rabbitohs 21 defeated Roosters 20

North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – Dairy Farmers Stadium

Is there trouble in Tiger Town? There are plenty of whispers, rumours and innuendo to suggest that all is not well. If they lose this game I might start believing there is some truth in it all. A committed effort from the Tigers will go some way toward quashing the speculation. They happen to have a very good recent record against the Cowboys – winning six of the last seven including two games in Townsville. The Tigers also won both games last year, and Thurston played on those occasions. The Cowboys did win without their go-to man on Monday night and were impressive but they have to back that up again. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they do. I’m stunned that the Tigers are favoured to win this game, and I’m stunned that I’m tipping them myself. Call it a hunch - a really stupid hunch.

Verdict – Tigers

Result - Tigers 38 defeated Cowboys 18

Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – Centrebet Stadium

We are a little bit blessed that we follow a competition where every team is good enough to beat any other team. And with such an even competition, enthusiasm and discipline are the two pillars of success. The team that brings more enthusiasm and discipline wins…almost every time. Penrith are a firm favourite with the bookies in the battle of the west, but I think they’ve got this one wrong. Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh plays his 300^th game in the NRL on Saturday night, and if Parramatta doesn’t turn up to play on Saturday night they never will.

Verdict – Eels

Result - Panthers 23 defeated Eels 22 (groan!!!)

Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – Canberra Stadium

It’s been quite some time since the Storm lost a game. You have to go all the way back to round 10 when they were upset at home by…the Raiders. Can lightning strike twice in the same place? It’s a moot point anyway, as this game is taking place 600kms away from the first clash. And if anyone can deal with a lightning issue you would think the Storm would be up for it - they have lightning bolts on the front of their jerseys for goodness sake. I’m getting nowhere here. Melbourne will continue their march toward what is looking like a minor premiership. Given what they went through last year that would be quite an achievement. 

Verdict – Storm

Result - Storm 26 defeated Raiders 0

Newcastle Knights vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday afternoon – Ausgrid Stadium

The Knights have been in pretty good form in recent weeks, but it all came unstuck with their surprise loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. Adding to their woes is the injury to Kurt Gidley. His absence is significant, particularly against one of the form teams in the competition. Manly has named a full-strength line-up and are averaging nearly 23 points a game in attack. Only two sides have successfully contained the Sea Eagles attack this season – Melbourne and St George. The Knights have won four of their last six games but their highest score in that period is 18. That won’t be enough on Sunday.

Verdict – Sea Eagles

Result - Sea Eagles 32 defeated Knights 10

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks – Monday night – WIN Jubilee Oval

The Sharks know how to beat the Dragons, and proved it way back in round two with one of their most impressive displays this year. Their form over the last month has been the equal of that effort, and they’ll go into this game believing they can win it. Somewhat astonishingly the Dragons have secured just one victory in the last six weeks - albeit a very convincing win over the Sea Eagles in one of the games of the season. The representative period of the year has been difficult for the Dragons and they’ll be pleased to see the end of it. They had a bye last weekend which can only help and they welcome back their Origin representatives and Matt Cooper on Monday night. Given the Sharks impressive form in recent weeks the Dragons will be wearing their game faces on Monday night, and when the Dragons are switched on they are awfully hard to beat. This is the game of the round in a very good round of football. It’s potentially one of the games of the year.

Verdict – Dragons

Result - Dragons 38 defeated Sharks 8

Wally Lewis - round nineteen selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

• BRONCOS vs Titans
• WARRIORS vs Bulldogs
• RABBITOHS vs Roosters
• COWBOYS vs Tigers
• Panthers vs EELS
• Raiders vs STORM
• Knights vs SEA EAGLES
• DRAGONS vs Sharks