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

Defence wins football games, and to prove that the table-topping Bulldogs have the best defence in the NRL this season. Things get muddled after that though, because the second and third-best defensive outfits are the tenth-placed Rabbitohs and the 11th placed Roosters. Oh NRL, you crazy crazy cat. No wonder I can't get my head around you in season 2014. In a world when I am sure of so little, it's nice to know that one thing is certain. I am certain the Dragons and Roosters will give us a rib-tickler of a contest on Friday afternoon, as they do each and every ANZAC Day. I'll stick with the Chooks, who have had the upper-hand in ANZAC Day clashes in recent years. Clearly there is nothing wrong with their defence, and there were signs last weekend that their attack is clicking into gear. Compulsory viewing football fans. Compulsory.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

Result - Roosters 34 defeated Dragons 14

Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors – Friday night – AAMI Park

I've been trying to work out the last time the Storm weren't in the top eight, and after considerable effort I have decided that it was 'ages ago'. To be fair to the purple machine, they are just two points behind the team running first...it's that kind of competition folks. The Storm have lost that aura of invincibility this season, but they may get some of their mojo back this weekend. They'll need to if they want to convince Benji Marshall to join them on little more than match payments. I'll go with the Storm in a tight game where both sides should lift. They are much less likely to find a way to lose when they're in a position to win.

Verdict – Storm by 2

Result - Warriors 16 defeated Storm 10

Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

I'll keep saying it until it is no longer true - I am yet to get a Broncos game right this season. I've changed my selection several times but the fact remains I'll get it wrong anyway, so I may as well just tip someone and stick with it. Broncos fan can rejoice, as I've ended up tipping the Bunnies. The Broncos have lost a number of close games this season, and this looks like another close one. In close games you want a good goalkicker, and Adam Reynolds will out-kick Corey Parker nine times out of ten. Corey Parker is freakishly superhuman, but giving him the goal-kicking duties on top of all that grunt work in the middle is bordering on cruel. If the Broncos do win I think their centre pairing can prove the difference, but I'm not sure that's enough.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2

Result - Rabbitohs 28 defeated Broncos 26

Cronulla Sharks vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday afternoon – Remondis Stadium

Luke Lewis and Anthony Tupou aren't quite back, but the Sharks are edging ever closer to their best line-up, and I'm delusional enough to tip them. The Panthers were tremendous against the Titans, but they are on a short back-up from Monday night football and face another big pack of forwards this weekend. I think the Sharks can rumble their way to victory right down the middle of the paddock. It's a feeling in my bones. If they don't win I'll book in for some x-rays.

Verdict – Sharks by 2

Result - Sharks 24 defeated Panthers 20

North Queensland Cowboys vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

I've come up with some pretty odd reasons to tip teams over the years, but this could be the oddest yet. The officials in charge of this game won't want too many of the 50-50 calls going against the home side, because if they do they may not get out of town(sville) alive. With the results of so many games being decided by the calls of the men in pink, this seems enough of a reason to tip the Cowboys. That the Eels have only won one game in Townsville ever isn't a bad reason either.

Verdict – Cowboys by 2

Result - Cowboys 42 defeated Eels 14

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium

There's not a lot I like about the Bulldogs current line-up, but I doubt the Bulldogs or their fans care one iota what I think. Top of the table after seven rounds and with a handy points differential (despite all the one-point victories), the Bulldogs are winning and surely that's the name of the game. What I do like about the Bulldogs is the return of Sam Kasiano on the bench. It may take him a few weeks to gain some match fitness but he is one forward that adds a whole new dimension to a football game. I made the mistake of falling for the Knights last weekend and was punished accordingly. I'm hoping not to make that mistake again. Hodkinson kicking five from five, and another field goal for good measure,  should be enough to see the home side through.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 7

Result - Bulldogs 16 defeated Knights 12

Manly Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval

This game has 'watch this space' stamped all over it, as we could see some significant line-up changes in the days ahead. The Sea Eagles have named both Cherry-Evans and Brett Stewart for this game. Cherry-Evans may still be injured and Stewart has a drink-driving controversy hanging over his head. It's possible one or both may not play, and Keiran Foran is already ruled out for a number of weeks with injury. Those changes are game-changing, but we'll wait and see what happens. Two weeks seems to be the 'normal' suspension in the NRL for drink-driving offences, but we're talking about Manly here. Geoff Toovey might attempt an Eddie McGuire/Alan Didak type explanation for why Stewart is wearing boots on Sunday. I'll play the cards in front of me and assume they both play, as we're talking about Manly here. Jamie (girls name) Lyon moves into the halves for the injured Foran, and I'm pretty comfortable with that. Peta (girls name) Hiku slots into the centres. Even with two girls named the Manly backline are a quality line-up. The Raiders haven't won two games in a row this season and its hard to punt on them pulling off that feat at Brookvale.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 4

Result - Sea Eagles 54 defeated Raiders 18

Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval

The Titans have won all but two games this season. Monday night was a narrow two-point defeat but their other loss was a complete shellacking...by the Tigers, on the Gold Coast. Many would wonder if the Titans can turn around such a result so quickly. I would too, but if the Eels can do it to the Roosters then the Titans can do it to the Tigers. The Tigers were tremendous (and a little lucky) last weekend and they need to back up and do it again. They do like playing at Leichhardt and should have plenty of self-belief, but the Titans are one team that can match that enormous Tigers pack and bench. Zillman returns for the Titans and the Tigers will have their hands full containing both he and Albert Kelly when the legs are starting to ache. An upset...probably.

Verdict – Titans by 4

Result - Titans 22 defeated Tigers 6

Wally Lewis - round eight selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

• Dragons vs ROOSTERS
• STORM vs Warriors
• Broncos vs RABBITOHS
• Sharks vs PANTHERS
• COWBOYS vs Eels
• BULLDOGS vs Knights
• SEA EAGLES vs Raiders
• TIGERS vs Titans