Manly Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers – Friday night – Brookvale Oval

Slightly odd that the free-to-air Friday night fixture this round sees the team running last taking on the team running 13th. And slightly odd that the team running last are a short-priced favourite - especially on the back of an impressive display by the Tigers last weekend. Daly Cherry-Evans (probably) backs up for the Sea Eagles. Aaron Woods (probably) backs up for the Tigers. Robbie Farah is nowhere to be seen. The venue sways my verdict here but I'm tipping the outcome with my usual lack of Friday night confidence. I do worry about the Sea Eagles pack, but I'll cross my fingers and hope they keep it together. The Tigers forwards were tremendous against the Bunnies, but Woods may have some of the gusto taken out of his sails given the quick turnaround and the flight back from Melbourne. At $1.40 backing the Sea Eagles should be a criminal offence. Those that back the Tigers with the handicap start should get a run for their money. The Sea Eagles to squeak home.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 2

Result - Sea Eagles 30 defeated Tigers 20

Canberra Raiders vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday afternoon – GIO Stadium

The Cowboys jag a daytime slot in Canberra which is a small blessing - by nightfall the temperature will be minus something. The Raiders have had two weeks to prepare for this game, their line-up is unchanged, free of Origin interruption and they get to play at home. Both Cowboys props and both Cowboys halves are backing up from Wednesday - if they back up at all (Thurston will have a pretty funny looking right eye if he does). If the Raiders don't throw ball-runners at the right edge defence of the Cowboys I'll be very surprised. Memo to Morgan and O'Neill - steel yourselves for an onslaught. If you like those bets Coach puts on try and find a reasonable price for Jarrod Croker to pick up a four-pointer. Surely. Surely.

Verdict – Raiders by 2

Result - Cowboys 21 defeated Raiders 20

Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – CBus Super Stadium

Anyone who spends any amount of time on the Gold Coast will know that the Warriors will get their fair share of the crowd support on Saturday night. The Warriors have a 50/50 all-time record on the Gold Coast and their away record this season is pretty similar (3 from 7). In round eight these sides met in New Zealand and the Titans prevailed (32-28) and that is probably more important than any historical record. Notably a fair number of the Titans that played in that last clash won't be here this time (Bird, Zillman, Elgey, Falloon).  That worries me a little, but assuming Myles plays this line-up is stronger than the one that ran away from the Bulldogs last week. That's probably good enough. I don't mind Hoffman in the halves either - he's under-rated by everyone bar me and the footballers that play alongside him.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result - Warriors 36 defeated Titans 14

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has never been one to take a backward step on or off the paddock. As if to reiterate his point about the impact of the State of Origin series on the NRL, he has not named any of his Origin players this weekend. None of them, not even on an extended 12 man bench. The point is well made but it does make it hard for us to pick a winner. With the teams named as is I think the Panthers are good things, but the current betting market (Penrith paying $2.75) tells me to expect some last minute team changes. If Des didn't get fined last week he might get pinged this time around. Tipping winners on a Wednesday isn't easy at the best of times, but this game is quite a challenge. Up until this point my approach has been to play the cards I see in front of me. With these cards I tip the Panthers at huge odds, and if the teams remain as is the current price is almost impossible to ignore. Watch for announcements, and adjust your selection accordingly.

Verdict – Panthers by 8

Result - Bulldogs 24 defeated Panthers 12

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

Two of my golden rules come together in one game this weekend. Rule One - back the Knights on Sunday afternoons at home. Rule Two - don't back the Sharks on Sunday afternoons full stop. Sadly for me, one of those golden rules failed me two weeks ago when the Sharks surprised everyone and beat the Roosters on such a Sunday afternoon. As for the Knights, one win since round 4 tells me you shouldn't be backing them under any circumstances - regardless of the rules. The pincushion/petrie dish that is Paul Gallen is unlikely to play, but Cronulla aren't short of big forwards. Andrew Fifita will be keen to impress after missing out on Origin II - he's likely to return for Origin III if Gallen is out of action for a period. Is it time to break two of my golden rules? Yes it is.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result - Sharks 30 defeated Knights 28

Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos – Sunday afternoon – AAMI Park

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has called a press conference for this afternoon - it's probably about Billy Slater and his shoulder but anything could happen. Watch this space...or some other space where you'll hear all about it (Twitter...probably). The Broncos should have a fair amount of support in the crowd - some of the die-hards will stay on from Wednesday night and make it a festival of football. Those up in arms about Hodges not getting suspended should note this: Hodges probably won't play anyway - if he were suspended for a week it would be for this game...which he probably won't play anyway. You see what I'm saying here? Wayne Bennett is ten steps ahead of us all. I can't believe the Broncos are $1.95 for this game, and I can't believe the Storm are favourites. Ben Hunt can do his Origin prospects no harm with a match-winning performance. I'm not sure how often footballers look at the NRL ladder but if things go as I've predicted the Broncos will be standing alone at the top of NRL mountain at the conclusion of this round (and I'm never wrong). I'm tempted to have a lash, but the last time I lashed I emptied someone's purse and it didn't go so well (which is strange because I'm never wrong). And that's why you should gamble responsibly.

Verdict – Broncos by 14 (Bet of the Year!!!!!!!)

Result - Broncos 14 defeated Storm 12

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

We're kept waiting until Monday night to see the game of the round, but isn't this a little beauty? Third plays fifth and it's the teams with the two best defensive records in season 2015. As things stand, all Origin players have been named. The Dragons should be nice and fresh after a bye last weekend but their last performance (losing to the Bulldogs) was a bit of a head-scratcher. Conversely the Roosters impressed with a win across the ditch without their Origin players. The Chooks may be outside the top four but they do have the best points differential in the competition. A win against a team above them goes along way toward a top four finish. Note the home venue (although the Red V may get more of the crowd support regardless). Remind your eyeballs - if you only see one game this weekend make it this one.

Verdict – Roosters by 8

Result - Roosters 19 defeated Dragons 14

Wally Lewis - round fifteen selections (in bold)

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

• SEA EAGLES vs Tigers
• RAIDERS vs Cowboys
• Titans vs WARRIORS
• BULLDOGS vs Panthers
• KNIGHTS vs Sharks
• Storm vs BRONCOS
• Dragons vs ROOSTERS