Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

Both sides are out of contention in season 2012, but the Dragons don't realise it yet. The Red V are finding some form and the current halves pairing of Hornby and Fien does appear to be working - but it's too late baby now it's too late (though you really did try to make it). Week in week out the Dragons give their all, and they will do so again on Friday night. Their opponent could learn a thing or two from such discipline, but the chooks are a young side and it might be a year or two before we start seeing their best. If the Roosters throw caution to the wind and have a night where everything sticks they could pull off an upset on Friday night, but I couldn't tip them to my worst enemy.

Verdict – Dragons

Result - Roosters 26 defeated Dragons 10

Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers - Saturday afternoon – AAMI Park

How is this for an oddity - the teams running last and second last in the NRL are chasing three wins in a row this weekend. Not impressed? Well how about this - the team running last have won back to back games against top four sides. It's like the GWS Giants knocking off Collingwood and then flying to Adelaide and beating the Crows by 50. In the AFL it doesn't happen, but on this side of the Great Dividing Range we shrug our shoulders and say 'that's footy'. If the Eels (without Jarryd Hayne) can rack up 42 points against the Broncos in Brisbane then you can't entirely rule out the Panthers in Melbourne. The rise and fall of the Storm this season almost beggars belief. After nine rounds they were undefeated, and in the last eight weeks they have won only once. If momentum means anything, and plenty will tell you momentum is everything in rugby league, then the Panthers are the team to beat. But they aren't. The Panthers haven't beaten the Storm since 2006 and Melbourne need a big kill to regain some self-belief. My gut says Melbourne by about 30, and my brain agrees.

Verdict – Storm

Result - Storm 46 defeated Panthers 6

Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs - Saturday night – Hunter Stadium

I'm not sure how much Nathan Tinkler is paying Willie Mason, but he's earning his keep. He's not giving away penalties, his game is almost mistake-free and he's making valuable metres every time he tucks the ball under his arm. Even more valuable than that is his enthusiasm, which seems to be wearing off on his team-mates. I'm quite certain his addition to the squad has been the catalyst that has kick-started the Knights campaign. They've won five of their last six, and their only loss was to a red-hot Rabbitohs. Once again they face a red-hot opponent on Saturday night in the Bulldogs - a team that haven't tasted defeat since round ten. If the Knights want to make a statement, then a win this weekend will have everyone listening. Wayne Bennett knows it, Willie Mason knows it, and holy heck I think they can do it. It obviously won't be easy. Ben Barba has the ability to deflate the best of oppositions in an instant, and it's starting to look like Des Hasler is a pretty decent coach. They'll pack the joint out on Saturday night, and if the home side stay in the game the crowd can get them over the line. 

Verdict – Knights

Result - Bulldogs 26 defeated Knights 10

North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Dairy Farmers Stadium

It will be hard to get off the couch on Saturday night, what with two cracking games of football on display. Brett Stewart returns for the visitors, and Anthony Watmough is free to play after escaping suspension on a technicality (when he proved to the judiciary he only utilises the chicken wing tackle when they play the Roosters). The Sea Eagles will make a game of this but I think their workload over the last few weeks will take its toll in the end. In the last three weeks they've played (and lost) in Newcastle, taken on the Bulldogs (and lost) and then played the Warriors (and just won) in Perth. Now they fly to Townsville and take on another tough opponent that is hellbent on holding onto a top four berth. The Cowboys haven't lost at home since round six and a 1-12 point win looks likely.

Verdict – Cowboys

Result - Sea Eagles 8 defeated Cowboys 6

New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

The Warriors sure know how to find a way to lose. Three weeks ago they scored more tries than the Broncos, and lost. And in the last two weeks they've led 18-0, and lost. It's a worrying trend, and even more worrying is that when these sides met in round 15 the Warriors led by eleven points with ten minutes to go, and lost. Despite all that losing form I'm tipping the Warriors this weekend, because their opponent seems to have found some losing form as well. Be wary of potential team changes for the Sharks - they had four late and very important line-up changes last weekend, although Paul Gallen has said he's playing come hell or high water. If you are one of these maniacs that likes betting live during the game this looks like the sort of clash where you just keep plonking your money on the team that is losing until the last eight or nine minutes. Without a shred of confidence I'll take the home side, by a point.

Verdict – Warriors

Result - Sharks 45 defeated Warriors 4

Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos – Sunday afternoon – Canberra Stadium

I did give the Eels a hope of knocking off the Broncos on Monday night, but I didn't think they could win like that. The Broncos missed 64 tackles in that game, and were cut to shreds by a team that haven't threatened anybody all season. No doubt their coach cut them to shreds after that performance as well, so one would expect an improved performance this weekend. Josh Hoffman and Corey Parker are notable inclusions, and Ben Teo joins Alex Glenn in the centres in an effort to stem the bleeding in the backline. On their day the Raiders could win this in a hand canter, but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to work out what day that is. Tipsters take note, I've gone the wrong way with the Raiders for four weekends in a row. 

Verdict – Broncos

Result - Raiders 28 defeated Broncos 12

Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Sunday afternoon – Skilled Park

I have a vision in my head and it appears be on some sort of infinite loop. I keep seeing Dave Taylor ten metres from the try line running straight at Steve Michaels on the left edge. Steve Michaels isn't enjoying it one little bit. But for that ongoing vision I'd be giving the Titans an almighty chance on Sunday afternoon, but I assume this mental picture that is stuck in my head is there for a reason. I'd be a fool to ignore it. The Titans are in great form and it's wonderful to see them back but they might fall just short.

Verdict – Rabbitohs

Result - Rabbitohs 22 defeated Titans 18

Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels – Monday night – Campbelltown Sports Stadium

On current form you couldn't find a spot in the top eight for the Tigers. If they have any desire to play football in September they need to win on Monday night and give their diehard supporters a bloody good show in the process. The devastating loss to the Bunnies last round was expected but they've had time to regroup and their key players need to put up their hands and deliver. It's been quite a lot of fun watching the Eels pull off wins over the Storm and the Broncos, but all things must pass. It's Tiger time...just

Verdict – Tigers

Result - Tigers 51 defeated Eels 26

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

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

• Roosters vs DRAGONS
• STORM vs Panthers
• Knights vs BULLDOGS
• COWBOYS vs Sea Eagles
• WARRIORS vs Sharks
• Raiders vs BRONCOS
• Titans vs RABBITOHS
• TIGERS vs Eels