Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters – Friday night – Brookvale Oval

It's a replay of the 2013 Grand Final, and could this be a preview of the 2014 Grand Final? I'm thinking yes. I expect the Sea Eagles to start slight favourites on Friday night based on recent form, a win over the Roosters in round four and the Chooks less than stellar record at Brookvale (33% win rate). Trying to break these teams down into their parts is complicated - I'd say the Sea Eagles have an edge in the halves and the centres and the Roosters have a definite edge in the forwards (particularly the back row) and on the bench. There's not much in it when it comes to the fullbacks, hookers, wingers and kicking in general play. Forwards usually determine who wins football games, but the Brookvale crowd might help lift the Sea Eagles pack to match it with their superior opponents. Only a blowout win to either team would surprise me. This could easily be one of the games of the season and I'm expecting Origin-esque intensity. Not to be missed.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 4

Result - Sea Eagles 24 defeated Roosters 16

Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

As my postcode begins with a '4' I'll need to stay up late to watch the other Friday night game. Let's hope Ray Hadley can keep me awake while he describes this 'contest' to me. To think I tipped the Sharks last weekend. Sheesh! You won't see me doing that again anytime soon. I'm not sure what sort of handicap start the bookies will give the visitors but I'm willing to wager the home team will cover it anyway. If you need to miss one game on Friday night make sure it's this one. Sharks = not waving, drowning!

Verdict – Broncos by 20

Result - Sharks 24 defeated Broncos 22

Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – Campbelltown Stadium

Struggling alongside the Sharks at the bottom of the deep blue sea sea are the Canberra Raiders. If any team can plumb the same depths of wooden-spooniness in season 2014 it's the Raiders. The Green Machine was once akin to the printing press or the cotton gin - today they look like a piece of machinery left to the elements in an abandoned gold town. Meanwhile the Tigers coach is about to extend his contract - not bad for a man most described as 'dead coach walking' at the start of the season. Raiders will try, Tigers will win.

Verdict – Tigers by 10

Result - Tigers 19 defeated Raiders 18

North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday night - 1300SMILES Stadium

The good news for Cowboys fans is their team is back at home this weekend. They probably need to win this one too, as they've got three away games in a row after this round - and they're all in Sydney. I can't rule them out on Saturday night, and if we could add just one Matt Scott to their team I'd be tipping them. Unfortunately their forwards have to contend with three Burgess brothers and that will be heavy going. They also back up from a Monday night away game and the Bunnies should be fresh after a bye. Looks like one of those contests where Jonathan Thurston tries his heart out and falls short.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4

Result - Cowboys 20 defeated Rabbitohs 18

Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium

I haven't got the slightest clue who wins this game, so I'm banking on the Eels impressive record at home this season and the assumption that daytime conditions suit their style of play. I may not know who wins, but here comes my one and only bet for the weekend - I'm backing the overs in the total points scored. This looks like one of those 42-34 kind of games I'm thinkering. Gamble responsibly etc etc.

Verdict – Eels by 4

Result - Knights 16 defeated Eels 10

New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

That Sea Eagles/Roosters game clearly looks the game of the round, but if it doesn't stack up this may be the game that does. Both teams are in pretty good form and both are getting through the Origin period without too many interruptions. Ivan Cleary would love to knock off his old team in New Zealand and I'm sure he has the game plan to do so. The Warriors at Mt Smart in the Sunday timeslot are hard to tip against but, somewhat surprisingly, the Panthers have a pretty good record at this venue (5 from 8). Here comes my upset for the round.

Verdict – Panthers by 4

Result - Warriors 30 defeated Panthers 20

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm – Monday night – WIN Stadium

The Storm had just started finding their gears when they lost Cooper Cronk to injury. Not surprisingly they stalled at that point, but in the last two weeks they seem to be back on song. Ben Roberts as a playmaker always gives me palpitations but perhaps Craig Bellamy is the man to set him right. They remain a well balanced outfit even without Cronk and they may have unearthed some future top-liners in Ben Hampton and Kurt Mann. They both look like they're twelve years old, but ten years of first grade will see them looking like Billy Slater before they know it. Another upset...probably

Verdict – Storm by 2

Result - Dragons 24 defeated Storm 12

Wally Lewis - round sixteen selections (in bold)

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

• SEA EAGLES vs Roosters
• BRONCOS vs Sharks
• TIGERS vs Raiders
• Cowboys vs RABBITOHS
• EELS vs Knights
• Warriors vs PANTHERS
• Dragons vs STORM