Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles - Friday night – ANZ Stadium

At the start of the season Channel Nine would have been licking their lips when they saw this match-up and quickly slotted it into primetime. Oh how the mighty have fallen, although the descent into crapulence may be temporary. Both teams are facing nearly identical issues at the moment - neither have their best pack of forwards available and both are missing their first choice fullbacks. In any case the Bulldogs weakened pack is still vastly superior to the Sea Eagles weakened pack. Andrew Johns let his tongue wag over the weekend and criticised the current NSW halves pairing - watch for an improved display from both of them. The return of Jamie Lyon for the Sea Eagles stems the bleeding, but the wound looks gaping at the minute. If my Friday night curse wasn't so confidence-destroying I'd be keen on the Dogs. We'll see.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 14

Result - Bulldogs 28 defeated Sea Eagles 16

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – WIN Jubilee Oval

I'm sure Laurie Daley wishes Milford and Hunt were born in Bowraville, because they would provide a more than handy solution to his NSW halves problem. Despite a few brain fades Ben Hunt had his best game of the season against the Chooks. Most importantly, when the game was there to be won he found a way to win it, and the Broncos haven't had a player like that since they turned Darren Lockyer into a statue. It's been nine years since the Broncos won a premiership but this team can go close. Amazingly, four current Broncos played in that game. One of those quartet (Hodges) returns this week and another one of them (Boyd) has started light training again. The Dragons are defending like no other at the moment and once again I'll be looking at 'total points under' betting options this weekend. A tough grinding game for the purists and I think the Broncos will get the points.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Result - Dragons 12 defeated Broncos 10

Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday afternoon – CBus Super Stadium

If you look at the starting thirteen for the Panthers this weekend and compare it with the thirteen they started with in round one you'll notice some pretty significant changes. They've lost both halves, both centres and a really under-rated back-rower in Lewis Brown. If any of those five were fit they'd get walk-up starts...so the depth at Penrith is being well and truly tested at the moment. The Titans have been in the opposite situation - key players missing at the start of the year who are now back and firing. James Roberts looks to be one right out of the box and with the Panthers short on centres at the moment he has a great opportunity to add to his extraordinary try tally thus far. The Panthers are slight favourites but I'll tip the Titans at home.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result - Titans 32 defeated Panthers 6

North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

For the last three weeks Jonathan Thurston has taken his game to another level - and it's astonishing that there are levels above the level he was already at. At some point he'll probably go off the boil a little, so just do yourself a favour and plonk yourself down in front of the champ while he's doing what he's doing. You don't find players like JT too often. I can't possibly tip against them while their key man is in such a rich vein of form. Enjoy the ride.

Verdict – Cowboys by 2

Result - Cowboys 28 defeated Warriors 24

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – AAMI Park

Craig Bellamy has named an unchanged line-up from last week, but then tacked on an extended bench that appears to include everyone on the Victorian electoral roll. I'm not sure if its sends a signal of great depth at the Storm or the complete opposite, but I won't be second-guessing Bellamy - one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. The Roosters would be walking around with heavy legs after that enthralling and exhausting loss to the Broncos. Extra time. Extra travel. Big Sam Moa is suspended so Dylan Napa steps up to the front row. Suddenly the Roosters look a little vulnerable up front, and the Storm have some seriously big bodies in their engine room. I think the purple pack can win that contest, particularly with a home crowd pushing them on (and it should be a decent crowd if everyone named on the bench turns up). The contest in the forwards usually determines the result of the game, and Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk have been around long enough to know how to turn such an advantage into a win. They grind out a victory like few others can, and when conditions suit they can rack up the points as well. Ben Hampton and Kurt Mann have given us a glimpse into the Storm in the post-Smith/Slater/Cronk era and they look like footballers. They revealed another one for us in Cameron Munster who impressed last week. It can't hurt to have Billy Slater as your mentor. The Roosters are a very warm favourite, and they don't look like a team that would lose three games in a row but...

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Storm 17 defeated Roosters 16

WestsTigers vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval

We've got a few ripping contests in round seven, but I'm looking forward to this game more than any of them. It's not so much the teams involved but the venue - we don't get many Sunday afternoon games at Leichhardt, but when we do you should watch them. It is a truly beautiful little suburban ground - let's hope the weather gods are kind and we have the place packed and bathed in sunlight. Both teams are coming off losses but are showing some genuine form this year. I'm with the Tigers who cherish games at this venue more than I do. They'll want to win this...and the team that wants to win most usually does.

Verdict – Tigers by 14

Result - Raiders 30 defeated Tigers 22

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

On form this game looks like a crap sandwich but before you hail the waiter and ask for an explanation let me point out two things. The Knights usually lift for Sunday games at home and the Eels are a team that should be suited to daytime conditions. For those reasons this crap sandwich may not taste as bad as it looks or sounds. I'll keep this brief as I'm feeling a bit peckish. Here's a rule I've stuck with for years - Knights at home on a Sunday....against almost anyone. Back the total points overs if such things appeal to you (gamble responsibly).

Verdict – Knights by 8

Result - Eels 28 defeated Knights 22

Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Monday night – Remondis Stadium

Despite the fairly pronounced loss to the Cowboys I thought the post-Reynolds line-up for the Bunnies worked pretty well. Glenn Stewart in the halves and Greg Inglis chiming in when the mood took him looked okay to my eye. Granted they didn't win, but there were some nice touches and they'll be better for the run. The Sharks are without twin brothers Fifita and Fifita and that's an issue when you're up against twin brothers Burgess and Burgess. Tagataese and Bukuya will attempt to fill the Fifita-Fifita void but it's a big ask and I think they'll be sucking in the big ones at the back end of proceedings. The Sharks will have plenty of admirers on recent form (and at their horrible home ground) but I'll take the Bunnies on the bounce-back. And here's another crazy prediction for the year - Chris Grevsmuhl will play State of Origin football for Queensland this year...Townsville boy come good. Remember where you heard it first.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4

Result - Sharks 18 defeated Rabbitohs 10

Wally Lewis - round seven selections (in bold)

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

• BULLDOGS vs Sea Eagles
• Dragons vs BRONCOS
• TITANS vs Panthers
• COWBOYS vs Warriors
• Storm vs ROOSTERS
• TIGERS vs Raiders
• KNIGHTS vs Eels
• Sharks vs RABBITOHS