Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

It wouldn't surprise me if Tigers captain Robbie Farah sits out this game although he has been named. In the interest of player welfare I hope he does give his head a rest but I'm the first to admit that I'm not the most qualified doctor on the internet. On current form I couldn't tip the Tigers on Friday night either way, because big losses to the Roosters and the Knights isn't the sort of form that will have you competing with a team that hasn't lost since round eight and is coming off a convincing win over the Storm. Clearly the Tigers have lost their way in defence in recent weeks - missing 100 tackles in their last two losses. I'd be rather surprised if Ben Barba and Josh Morris don't add to their try-scoring tally for the season. The Tigers will give an improved showing, but they can't win.

Verdict – Bulldogs

Result - Bulldogs 32 defeated Tigers 20

Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – AAMI Park

I've just cast my eye over the run home for the Melbourne Storm and I expect them to win eight of their last nine games. Pencil them in for minor premiership in 2012 if you haven't already. There's no reason to think that Smith, Cronk and Nielsen won't back up from Origin duty and the purple machine will be keen to reignite their season campaign after what has been a difficult Origin period for them. The bye should have freshened them up and it's worth noting that the last time they came off the bye they beat the Broncos by 24 points. Canberra surprised everyone by beating the Storm the last time they played in Melbourne. Not this time.

Verdict – Storm

Result - Raiders 40 left the rugby league world scratching its head by defeated Storm 12

Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors - Saturday night – Skilled Park

This is the game of the round footy fans. Both sides have found some form, and there's plenty of great match-ups all over the park, but I'm keen to see Jamal Idris and Konrad Hurrell crashing into each other for 80 minutes. I have lingering concerns about Myles and Bird backing up from Origin duty - they both looked spent at the end of that game and the Titans will need every ounce of strength from their forwards if they want to compete with this enormous Warriors pack. The Titans do welcome back Luke Bailey but with Ashley Harrison out injured I fear the Warriors can get away with this one. 

Verdict – Warriors

Result - Warriors 32 defeated Titans 14

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

Oh yes they call it the streak. Look at that. Look at that. Fastest team on TV. Look at that. Look at that.

Newcastle have won two games in a row, but the streak ends on Sunday. Not so long ago you could rely on the Bunnies to lose the games they should win, but not this year. This is a very different South Sydney team. This is a South Sydney team that will actually play finals football this season. Lock them in Eddie. Come to think of it - we are just about due for a streaker at an NRL game. It's been too long.

Verdict – Rabbitohs

Result - Rabbitohs 34 defeated Knights 14

Manly Sea Eagles vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval

Nobody beats Manly at Brookvale on a Sunday afternoon. Nobody. Parramatta have their fare share of nobodies in their line-up but it won't help. They'd need half a dozen Jarryd Haynes to win this game, and I'm pretty sure the one they do have will pull out with an ankle injury. Tell Eddie to lock this one in too. 

Verdict – Sea Eagles

Result - Sea Eagles 40 defeated Eels 24

Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters – Monday night – Toyota Stadium

If you were sniffing around looking for an upset result this weekend this might be the game to consider. The Roosters can, from time to time, pull out a game of football. Unfortunately for the chooks those games are few and far between, and they haven't turned up with their game boots against any of the high-flyers in the competition all season. The very good sides usually have two things in common; they find a way to win no matter the circumstance, and their home ground is a fortress. The Sharks are winning games they would have lost in previous seasons, and they haven't lost at home since round two. The Sharks are finals bound - the Roosters are Bali bound.  

Verdict – Sharks

Result - Sharks 14 drew with Roosters 14

Wally Lewis - round eighteen selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published as soon as possible (usually on Thursday night or early Friday morning).

• Tigers vs BULLDOGS
• STORM vs Raiders
• Titans vs WARRIORS
• RABBITOHS vs Knights
• SEA EAGLES vs Eels
• SHARKS vs Roosters