Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers – Thursday night – AAMI Park

The Storm aren't likely to make the top eight, but they definitely fall short if they can't win on Thursday. This is also their last game of the season at home, and they'll want to give their fans something to cheer about before the long off-season. They also have an incredible record over the Panthers at this ground, winning nine of their last ten, and the return of Grant makes a world of difference. That's a fair list of reasons why the Storm could win this, and they could, but it's hard to ignore the round five result where the Panthers beat them 50-10. The Panthers aren't exactly humming right now, losing five of their last eight. They were all but locked in as minor premiers, and now they run the very real risk of dropping out of the top two. That would likely mean an away game in the first week of the finals, against one of the teams that have beaten them in the last fortnight. They'll want to avoid that, and it's reason enough to tip them here. Alomoti is out with a hamstring injury, but his replacement (McLean) is more than handy. And it's the game of the round.

Verdict - Panthers by 7

Result - Panthers 22 defeated Storm 14

Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – GIO Stadium

The 2025 minor premiers vs the 2025 premiers - 12th plays 16th. Seems hard to process, but here we are. The Raiders, much like the Storm, need to just keep winning and maybe (maybe) sneak into the top eight. For the Broncos, they need to win something or run the risk of running last. Of their last three games, this is likely the hardest. The injury to Walsh doesn't make any of this any easier. The Raiders welcome back Sasagi and Horsburgh, who plays his last game at home in a Raiders jersey. He'll wish to make amends. It's also the last game at home in any jersey for Papalii as he has announced his retirement from the game. Given that, the Raiders should be ready to run through walls and get the win here. Providing the occasion doesn't overwhelm them, they should win and win well.

Verdict - Raiders by 14

Result - Broncos 34 defeated Raiders 30

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

Congratulations to the mighty Redcliffe Dolphins, who play their first finals series this season. In something of a sliding doors moment in time, the Dolphins have won their last seven games at Suncorp Stadium. That run of wins includes victories over the top two teams. Meanwhile, the Broncos have lost eight in a row at their 'spiritual home'. I don't expect Brisbane to become a sea of red and white as a result, but they'll have a few extras cheering for them in September. Lemuelu is out for the home side, with Plath coming into the starting thirteen. De Belin returns for the Eels and Walker succumbs to a wrist injury. The Eels have won two of their last four, and been competitive against top eight teams over the last month. That's good enough to make this a contest, but the Dolphins have edged their way into the top four and I'm sure they'd like to keep it that way.

Verdict - Dolphins by 4

Result - Dolphins 34 defeated Eels 16

Newcastle Knights vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday afternoon – McDonald Jones Stadium

It's the last game of the regular season for the Knights at home, and I expect they'll pack the joint unless the weather is abominable.  If I'm saying the Storm and Raiders are still some chance of making the top eight, I have to accept that the Sea Eagles could make it too, but they're not playing like it. They do add two Trbojevic brothers to their starting thirteen on Saturday - perhaps that's the catalyst that can turn things around. Faulolo moves from fullback to the halves to replace the injured Walsh. The Knights will be without Gagai and the exciting youngster Manuleleua, but Best and Saifiti return to a team in form. I expect the Knights will win and win well. Fingers crossed that Tom Trbojevic gets through the game without issue.

Verdict - Knights by 14

Result - Sea Eagles 44 defeated Knights 24

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – Accor Stadium

The Warriors are still flying high but they can't afford to lose any more playmakers - Metcalf joins Boyd and Martin on the casualty list, with Nicoll-Klokstad suspended until the final round of the regular season. Hansen is the new name in the halves in just his second NRL game. Notably his debut was solid - another prospect there. For the Rabbitohs, Mitchell has been named on an extended bench but he's unlikely to get the call up yet. The Bunnies win over the Bulldogs was solid enough but they have lost four of their last five against top eight teams (and that one win was by two points). The Warriors are a level above that, even with injuries to key players. A potential top two finish is so valuable to the Warriors and while that's within reach I can't see them taking this lightly. 

Verdict - Warriors by 4

Result - Warriors 45 defeated Rabbitohs 26

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

You have to go all the way back to the very first game of the season for the last time these sides met. That Las Vegas opener was a little bit mad - locked up at 14-all at full time, the Dragons had four (yes, four) unsuccessful field goal attempts before Crichton sealed a one-point win for the Bulldogs in the 89th minute. It's been a fairly grim season for the Dragons since then, but with a new coach, some big signings for next season, and some green shoots on the paddock in recent weeks, their fans have legitimate reasons to be optimistic about the not-too-distant future. If they can win this (and they can) they are a very real prospect of offloading the wooden spoon to the 2025 premiers...so something to play for. No changes for to the seventeen for the home side. For the Bulldogs, Rinakama has succumbed to not one but two injuries. Tuala shifts to the wing and Xerri comes into the starting thirteen in the centres. After successive losses, the Bulldogs find themselves in 9th place and needing results to fall their way to improve on that position. Given the Cowboys have a bye that won't be happening this week. But they simply need to win, and while the Dragons are absolutely in this game up to their ears, the Dogs should find this slightly easier than recent outings. It might not be the best game this round, but it could be the most important.

Verdict - Bulldogs by 1

Result - Bulldogs 44 defeated Dragons 14

Gold Coast Titans vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – CBus Super Stadium

Another game where the last match-up was in round one, and it was a day to forget for the Titans who conceded the dreaded half century in their first game of the year. They're clearly going better now...thankfully. Hau returns to the starting thirteen, and he's one of many bright prospects on the Titans roster. Onward and upward. Just as I started to believe in the Sharks they wobbled to successive losses againts teams outside the top eight. Before that, they'd won four in a row against top eight teams, so they're not an easy mob to get a read on. The injury to Trindall doesn't help their finals prospects one bit, but his absence is the sort of thing that will bring Hynes to life. It won't surprise me if he has a big game and steers them to victory on Sunday. Another loss here, and they can probably say goodbye to any hope of a top four finish. 

Verdict - Sharks by 13

Result - Sharks 30 defeated Titans 22

Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers – Sunday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

If the bookies are to be trusted (and they're not) this game has already been run and won. The Roosters are, by my recollection, the shortest priced team here of any NRL game all season. And they should be. Tedesco is back, and they are on track to claim the minor premiership. Only two regular first graders are unavailable for the Chooks (Crichton and Tupou) and they both are expected to return next week. Everything is coming together when it matters most. As for the Tigers, they have nothing to lose...but they will lose.

Verdict - Roosters by 30

Result - Tigers 25 defeated Roosters 24

Wally Lewis - round twenty-five selections (in bold)

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

• Storm vs PANTHERS
• RAIDERS vs Broncos
• DOLPHINS vs Eels
• KNIGHTS vs Sea Eagles
• Rabbitohs vs WARRIORS
• Dragons vs BULLDOGS
• Titans vs SHARKS
• ROOSTERS vs Tigers