Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers – Thursday night – Suncorp Stadium

I shouldn't say the Broncos can't win this game, because they have already beaten the Panthers this season. In the very first game of 2023 the Broncos surprised most of us with a one point win over the Panthers in Penrith. It was a wet night in Penrith, and there's every chance there will be similar conditions in Brisbane on Thursday night. So they can do this, but there is a big question mark surrounding Adam Reynolds. We are told he will play, but I'm not convinced that he will. Last week the Broncos looked disjointed and confused after Reynolds left the field, and their season derailed in 2022 when Reynolds couldn't finish the season. If he's there, they're a chance. If he isn't they're no chance. Penrith gave us what I think was their best performance of the year last week. A repeat of that and they win this, and comfortably so.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

Result – Panthers 15 defeated Broncos 4

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters – Friday night – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Two teams under more scrutiny than most face off in the early fixture this Friday. The Dragons are the first club this season to sack the coach. It feels like this decision has been coming since last year, so there may be a sense of relief for all involved (even the coach). It's always interesting watching how a team responds in these circumstances, but as a general rule, they improve. They'll need to though, after the Cowboys gave them a lesson last week. The Chooks are under no shortage of scrutiny either, and their drop in form started when the Cowboys gave them a lesson the week prior. They backed up that with their worst performance of the year, although their opponent in that 48-4 were at the top of their game. Again, it's interesting watching how a team responds to a drubbing, but as a general rule, they improve. I'm repeating myself here, aren't I? I'm repeating myself here, aren't I? The Chooks have scored just two tries in their last two games. Their spine for this game is a hooker down on form (and possibly out of position), a fullback down on form, and a cobbled together halves pairing of Keary and Hutchison (while Manu and Walker get repaired). In the ANZAC clash, not so long ago, the Chooks prevailed by a solitary point, but the Dragons scored more tries that day and won the second half comfortably. If Lomax has spent his time in the penitentiary working on his goalkicking, they can win this. I'm repeating myself here, but it will be interesting watching.

Verdict – Dragons by 2

Result – Dragons 24 defeated Roosters 22

Souths Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

First plays fourteenth, but the Parramatta Eels are better than that. Strangely, if the ladder was just based on points differential (for and against) the Eels would be in 5th place. They're a good team, but they aren't winning. Winning isn't everything but it's pretty darn important, especially on the NRL ladder. Mitch Moses returns this week which helps, while Shaun Lane is out with a hamstring injury for a few months, but the Eels backrow ranks are fairly deep. The Rabbitohs are on quite a roll, and their run of successive wins includes victories over four teams in the top six. That's solid form, and I doubt that Mitchell and Walker are going to led indigenous round slide by without some first class performances. It's the game of the round.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 7

Result – Eels 36 defeated Rabbitohs 16

Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – C.ex Coffs International Stadium

A road trip for both teams to a sold out Coffs Harbour, but it's not too much travel for either team - it's certainly closer than Bali. The Knights were impressive last week, continuing the good run of teams coming back from the bye. They'll need to back that up against a team that has held them comfortably in recent outings, but a repeat of last weeks form would get it done. Thus far, the Knights haven't won successive games this season, so I'm reluctant to tip them here. Nicho Hynes has probably earned a NSW jersey already, but a big game on Saturday might change the number he gets to wear on his back.

Verdict – Sharks by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Sharks 26 defeated Knights 6

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – Leichhardt Oval

The much-maligned Luke Brooks racks up game number 200 with the club he grew up supporting and playing for - a tremendous achievement in one of the toughest sporting competitions on the planet. The Tigers will need to score more than the 0 they managed against the Bunnies last week, but this is easier, and we shouldn't forget that they competed with the Bunnies for most of that match last week. The Cowboys have found their mojo over the last two weeks but I'm taking them on here. They've only left Queensland three times this season, for three losses. They deserve to be the short priced favourite in this, but I'll go out on a limb in the crazy tree and pick the Tigers in an upset.

Verdict – Tigers by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Tigers 66 defeated Cowboys 18

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Dolphins should be fresh following the bye and will relish the opportunity to take on another NRL heavyweight, particularly those ex-Storm players in the engine room. They'll carry the Dolphins a long way in this, particularly if Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a late withdrawal. He's been named to play but it might pay to keep an eye on that. The Storm did enough to get the job done against the Broncos last week, but this is their third game in a row up in Brisbane, and I wonder if the Dolphins might be taking on the Storm at the right time. For entirely obvious reasons the Storm are expected to win here, but it's another upset from the biggest outlier in rugby league.

Verdict – Dolphins by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Storm 24 defeated Dolphins 16

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Accor Stadium

26 points is usually enough to win you a game of rugby league. So you'd think the Titans, who have scored exactly 26 points in five successive games would be going pretty well. Incredibly, they've lost three of those five games, which tells you their defence is still an issue. So the big question we have to ask ourselves is 'can the Bulldogs score more than 26 points?' The return of Josh Addo-Carr certainly helps. He'll be pushing for an Origin call-up and perhaps his inclusion can prove the difference in what should be a high-scoring try-fest.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Bulldogs 20 defeated Titans 18

Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium

Some key returns for the Sea Eagles on Sunday, with Jake Trbojevic and Josh Schuster returning from injury. Josh will be keen for a big effort given recent discussions, and Jake doesn't know any other way. They'll be needed though, with the Sea Eagles losing Aloiai, Tuilago and Woods to injury last week. All three Trbojevic brothers are in the starting thirteen this week - I'm not sure if that's happened previously but it feels like a first. They're taking on the red hot Raiders who are chasing their sixth win in a row. They've lost Woolford for a week (concussion) but Levi returns from a jaw injury and will share dummy half duties with Tom Starling. Looks like another win for the Green Machine.

Verdict – Raiders by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Sea Eagles 42 defeated Raiders 14

Wally Lewis - round twelve selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or Thursday morning

• Broncos vs PANTHERS
• Dragons vs ROOSTERS
• RABBITOHS vs Eels
• SHARKS vs Knights
• Tigers vs COWBOYS
• Dolphins vs STORM
• Bulldogs vs TITANS
• RAIDERS vs Sea Eagles