Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Thursday night – Leichhardt Oval

The Tigers did barely enough last week to keep their dreams of avoiding last alive. They don't need to win this game to achieve that, but it would obviously help. Winning on Thursday won't be easy, against a side jostling for positions in the bottom half of the top eight. If Manly can stay in the top six they play their first final at Brookvale, an option they'd most definitely prefer over, I don't know, Townsville. Note that the Tigers have lost their last nine games against teams in the top eight, while Manly have won their last games against teams outside the top eight. If those statistics aren't convincing enough, in the last six clashes between these sides, Manly have won the lot of them. The Tigers will try, but the Sea Eagles have the class and experience to claim the points here.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 10

Result – Tigers 34 defeated Sea Eagles 26

New Zealand Warriors vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Shaun Johnson Stadium

The Bulldogs have an opportunity to spoil the part at Shaun Johnson Stadium on Friday night. This is the last Warriors game at home for the year, and the last game for Shaun Johnson ever. Other than a brief stint with the Sharks, Johnson has been the face of the Warriors since 2011. He's left quite the mark on the rugby league landscape in New Zealand, and I wish him all the best post-football. Needless to say this game has sold out, as per every other Warriors home game this season. It's the only time in rugby league history, anywhere on earth, that has happened. It might be time for an upgraded stadium. Many of us would be hoping the Warriors can find a way to win this one, but it won't be easy against a side on quite a run of form. Notably, the Bulldogs away form is pretty ordinary. So ordinary that if the NRL ladder just counted results at away games, the Bulldogs would be in 13th place instead of 5th. So I can't rule out a happy ending for Johnson*, but the Bulldogs won't have given up on a top four finish this season, and they're hard to tip against.

* Ms Thinker said I'm not allowed to write that

Verdict – Bulldogs by 7

Result – Bulldogs 34 defeated Warriors 18

Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

A 2023 grand finalist taking on a 2022 grand finalist and, sadly, 10th plays 16th. Both sides still have something to play for. The Eels are nice guys but they don't want to finish last, while the Broncos have asked NASA to help them find a way to mathematically make the top eight. It's not impossible - all they can do is keep winning and hope other things fall into place. The Broncos have already defeated the Eels once this season (30-14), and you would hope they'd put up a decent performance for their home fans that continue to turn up in outrageous numbers. I'm tipping them here, but the Broncos have been letting me down for much of the year, so I'm tentative.

Verdict – Broncos by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Broncos 30 defeated Eels 24

Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday afternoon – GIO Stadium

Another stint for the Panthers without Nathan Cleary running the show, but they've had plenty of practice without him this year, and they're still second on the ladder. It looks like he'll be back in time for the finals, which is good for rugby league I say. While both sides lost last start the Raiders were clearly the more disappointing, and played like a team that have started plotting their end of season plans. The coach gave them a bit of a spray, but I doubt he sprayed them enough. Liam Martin returns to the Panthers pack which is a handy addition, given the strength of the Raiders forwards. The Raiders have struggled against the Panthers in recent seasons and, to be fair, they aren't the only ones, but this looks tough.

Verdict – Panthers by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Raiders 22 defeated Panthers 18

Melbourne Storm vs Redcliffe Dolphins – Saturday night – AAMI Park

The last home game of the regular season for the Melbourne Storm, and they can seal the minor premiership with a victory on Saturday night. These sides met not so long ago where the Storm prevailed 30-24. It was another typical effort from the Dolphins - played well, gave their all, and fell just short. For a team in just their second season in the NRL they're doing a fine job, but this looks like one of those games where the Storm may be in a celebratory mood, and could put up a score to match the occasion. Note that Xavier Coates won't be playing on Saturday, but he's nearing a return.

Verdict – Storm by 22

​​​​​​​Result – Storm 48 defeated Dolphins 6

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday night – Accor Stadium

The Rabbitohs are stuck in limbo with nothing much to play for - they can't make the eight and they can't finish last. Under those circumstances, it's not easy to give it your all, and the Rabbitohs are playing like they aren't. Four losses in a row for the Bunnies - the first three they were never really in the contest, and last week they lost to the team running last. Cody Walker gives his weary head a rest this weekend, while Dean Hawkins joins Wighton in the halves. The Knights have also had to find a new halfback, with their Mr Fixit (Phoenix Crossland) putting his hand up for the role. Two weeks ago, the Knights comfortably accounted for the team the Rabbits couldn't beat last week, and I'm happy to use that as a form reference.

Verdict – Knights by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Knights 36 defeated Rabbitohs 16

Gold Coast Titans vs Sydney Roosters – Sunday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium

The Chooks have won their last ten clashes with the Titans, so the trip to the Gold Coast won't have them too concerned. They might appreciate a warmer and dryer surface after playing in a shallow lake last week. Waerea-Hargreaves and Butcher return for the tricolours to boost their stocks, not that they needed boosting. The Titans have been quite the unpredictable beast this season, at least for me. I can't tip them here, but you just never know which these shysters.

Verdict – Roosters by 10

​​​​​​​Result – Roosters 48 defeated Titans 22

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – WIN Stadium, Wollongong

The Dragons have another set of twins on their hands, and they look the goods. Toby and Ryan Couchman will both start off the bench on Sunday afternoon, and good luck telling them apart. Remember the names, kids. I'm not sure they'll be as good as the Morris twins, but I wouldn't rule it out. If results earlier in the round go to plan, the Dragons can all but secure a top eight finish with a win here, and I'm prepared to back them in what would be something of an upset. The Sharks have a top four spot to play for, and this is a game they always lift for, but I think the former Sharks coach can pick up a win against his old club here. Call me nuts, but this is my game of the round - there's something about those Sunday afternoon games in front of the ocean at Wollongong that makes me happy.

Verdict – Dragons by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Sharks 38 defeated Dragons 10

Wally Lewis - round twenty five selections (in bold)

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

• Tigers vs SEA EAGLES
• Warriors vs BULLDOGS
• BRONCOS vs Eels
• Raiders vs PANTHERS
• STORM vs Dolphins
• Rabbitohs vs KNIGHTS
• Titans vs ROOSTERS
• Dragons vs SHARKS