South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Brisbane Broncos – Thursday night – Allianz Stadium

The Rabbitohs are playing their home game at the home of the Roosters - I wonder if the Broncos left their gear in the locker rooms from last week. Wayne Bennett has said that he may rest players from this game, but has named an unchanged line-up with just four on the bench. We shall see. Plenty of changes for the Rabbits - the return of Luke and Keary can't come soon enough. Inglis, on the other hand, is kept on ice for the time being. In many ways Luke is almost as important to the Bunnies as Inglis is. So much of their momentum starts with Luke and Inglis is a more dangerous prospect when Luke is on the field. He'll be missed next year (and the Warriors just might become the force we all want them to be). The Broncos/Roosters game last round was near enough to be the best football we've seen this year. Another ten minutes of play and the Broncos probably win that game, and that level is vastly superior to the Bunnies efforts against the Dogs. Granted they could turn it on - a top four finish is beyond them if they don't. I'm with the visitors who, despite the mind games from the coach, can still win the minor premiership this season. Since that stumble against the Sea Eagles their defence appears to be back in order, conceding just 36 points in three games against top eight sides. Souths without Inglis are much more defendable - the Broncos can tackle their way to victory.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Result - Broncos 47 defeated Rabbitohs 12

Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters – Friday night – Brookvale Oval

The Sea Eagles could easily surprise me (and I am cursed on Fridays) but I feel like their campaign has flared brightly and is now fading out. Two weeks ago they just got past the Raiders - a form line that looks less impressive with each passing day. Last week they lost to the Eels. Now if that was a cold wet night at Parramatta Stadium I could cop that, but when Manly are going well they don't lose Sunday afternoon games at Brookvale to sub-standard teams. Note that the Chooks beat the Eels just two weeks ago (after an early fright). No-one replaces Jared Waerea-Hargreaves but Sam Moa returns in the nick of time. Pearce is a loss too...at club level. Jackson Hastings gets a chance to shine and he'll relish the chance. He might look like he should be flying spitfires for the British Air Force during WWII, but his Dad was a bit of a hero of mine so I'll forgive the hairy little buggar. Willie Mason is back for the Sea Eagles, but Matt Ballin is out. His stable presence in the middle will be missed. The Chooks are chasing their third successive J.J. Giltinan Shield. Hunger games - the Roosters look hungrier.

Verdict – Roosters by 2

Result - Roosters 46 defeated Sea Eagles 10

Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium

Given that a fair portion of the Eels salary cap is in San Francisco (Hayne), Warrington (Sandow) and injured (Watmough) they're doing okay. Of course, their salary cap was bigger than everyone else this year...and they're not making the finals. Let's give them a pass mark...barely. Assuming I'm right on Thursday night (and that's an outrageous assumption) the Sharks can move into the top four with a win on Saturday. They've won 6 of their last 7, with their only loss that baffling display against the Storm when they forgot to play football. They won't forget again. Better team...in form...more to play for. Up Up Cronulla.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result - Sharks 35 defeated Eels 28

Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

The Knights enjoyed winning so much in round 23 they surprised everyone but Potato Man and won again. They're at big odds for a three-peat, but this is their old boys game, and this is a game they rarely lose. You would think their current coach, an old boy himself these days, can get his boys up for one more win this season. I think so anyway. Those leading tipping comps would be mad to follow me in here. The Bulldogs were in the sort of form that can win a premiership last weekend. A top four finish isn't beyond their reach either, but I'm a sucker for traditions and it's the Novacastrians for mine. A rare glimmer of happiness for a club that hasn't had much to be glimmering about in recent times. Note to everyone: if the Knights do win they'll hit the turps with the old boys on Saturday night. Keep that in mind when the Knights face the Panthers a week later.

Verdict – Knights by 2

Result - Bulldogs 20 defeated Knights 18

Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – AAMI Park

The last three losses by the Storm have been to teams outside of finals contention (Knights, Tigers and Warriors) - no wonder Craig Bellamy gets cranky. Melbourne are one team that (usually) bounce back strongly from a poor performance. Given their ladder position they'll need this win if they want a precious home game in week one of the finals. Is that enough? I say yes...tentatively. I'm expecting a strong start from the purple machine, and their defence is willing enough to hold out the Cowboys who'll be storming home late. A Cooper Cronk field goal in the 74th minute will prove the difference. I'm getting very specific - most of you just want me to get it right. A frustrating loss for the Cowboys, leaving the battle for the minor premiership a race in two.

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Storm 14 defeated Cowboys 6

Wests Tigers vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

The timing of the Farah announcement makes some sense, giving their club captain a chance to farewell his fans at a traditional home venue on a Sunday afternoon. Surely the Tigers rise up and perform given the circumstance. As for the Warriors...Sheesh! If they were a dog I'd be calling the vet. I'll come up with some sort of Tigers by 39+ betting option for this game - then watch Robbie Farah miss a conversion in the 80th minute which will almost certainly cost me a collect. That will hurt - let's hope the last Tigers try is right under the posts.

Verdict – Tigers by 38

Result - Tigers 50 defeated Warriors 16

Gold Coast Titans vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – CBus Super Stadium

Dave Taylor, undefeated as a playmaker in the NRL, is likely to keep that record intact. The Henry reforms from last week were short-lived, with Taylor back in the second-row to add some size to the Titans pack. Bird and James are out so he'll need to put in - the Dragons starting backrow of Frizell, Thompson and Merrin will make sure of that. The Titans, despite the win last week, are still in contention for the spoon. That's a reasonable motivation, but the Dragons have bigger fish to fry and play for. If the cards fall the way I've predicted the Dragons can seal a finals berth with a victory. A contest that could surprise to the upside - keep a sneaky eye on it in case we get a game of football out of this.

Verdict – Dragons by 10

Result - Titans 28 defeated Dragons 26

Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers – Monday night – GIO Stadium

Mathematically these sides could still finish last, but mathematically I could wake up underneath Scarlett Johannson tomorrow. It would make things interesting (especially for Ms Thinker) but it's not going to freakin happen. So what possible motivation do these teams have? This is the Raiders last home game of the season. The Panthers get to play their last home game of the season next week. That's all I've got. I'll take the home team...in this round and the next.

Verdict – Raiders by 6

Result - Raiders 34 defeated Panthers 18

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

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

• Rabbitohs vs BRONCOS
• Sea Eagles vs ROOSTERS
• Eels vs SHARKS
• Knights vs BULLDOGS
• STORM vs Cowboys
• TIGERS vs Warriors
• Titans vs DRAGONS
• RAIDERS vs Panthers

William Hill betting promotion - round 25

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