Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

The Chooks are chasing their seventh successive victory and are giving every indication they're near their best for a tilt at the title. In their last three outings they've conceded just 12 points (while scoring 81) and it's reminiscent of their 2013 season. This is their toughest opponent in some time but I still doubt the attacking capabilities of their Bulldogs halves. The Roosters aren't exactly leaking points at the moment and I can't see the Bulldogs playmakers tearing them apart. Close in the first half, but the red, white and bluesters will run away with the game when its there to be won.

Verdict – Roosters by 16

Result - Roosters 38 defeated Bulldogs 28

Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – Leichhardt Oval

The Tigers would love to win at least once at Leichhardt Oval this season, but they're terrible. Robbie Farah returns and he'll be keener than any of them, but they're terrible. Given the movements in the NRL coaching ranks, Jason Taylor would love his side to notch up a win too, but they're terrible. Storm surely. Tigers terrible.

Verdict – Storm by 13

Result - Tigers 34 defeated Storm 16

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

Sharks fans are getting excited, and I suppose that is their right. At the risk of dousing their enthusiasm a little, I will mention that the five teams above them on the ladder all won last week...and won convincingly. They couldn't time their trip across the Tasman much better, what with the season-ending injury to Shaun Johnson. That all but ends the Warriors finals hopes, but I think they'll deflate slowly rather than pop in an instant. They've had a week to come to terms with the new normal, and I think they'll be desperate to show us they aren't a one-pony trick. The absence of Fifita for the Sharks, and the rub of the green at home, gives the Warriors enough of an edge in the forwards. They don't win a lot of games the hard and boring way, and their opponent does that better than just about anyone, but not this time.

Verdict – Warriors by 2

Result - Sharks 18 defeated Warriors 14

North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

Probably the game of the round, and the last time these sides met was one of the games of the season. An 80th minute field goal to Jonathan Thurston proved the difference in round 15, but there's a few important things to remember about that game. The Raiders were at home, coming off a bye and close to full strength. Matt Scott, James Tamou and Jonathan Thurston were backing up 4 days after an Origin match, and Michael Morgan was a late withdrawal. Another fairly quick turnaround for all the Cowboys this weekend but at least they got to stay in their (allegedly controversial) homes.

Verdict – Cowboys by 10

Result - Cowboys 32 defeated Raiders 24

Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – Central Coast Stadium

To be at the top of the table you need to win games away from home, and the Broncos have done just that (7 from 9). At home in recent times they've been nigh on unstopabble, racking up 164 points in their last four home games while conceding just 48. The wins away from Lang Park have been tighter (with an average winning margin of less than 8), but the wins keep on coming. Their last loss was way back in round ten - to the Cowboys in Townsville. Manly pulled out one of their typical backs-to-the-wall victories last weekend, but it wasn't enough to save the coach. Can they dig deep and find again? I doubt it. The neutral venue doesn't help either. The last time these sides met the Broncos won 44-10. It will be closer. Slightly closer.

Verdict – Broncos by 22

Result - Sea Eagles 44 defeated Broncos 14

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Jubilee Oval

How much do the Dragons like their coach Paul McGregor? I say the answer is 'lots', and I'm hoping they'll show it this weekend. I'm sure the Knights like Danny Buderus, but I doubt that's enough. In round 19 the Rabbits beat the Dragons by 16, and in round 20 the Rabbitohs beat the Knights by 46. That's all I need to hear.

Verdict – Dragons by 8

Result - Dragons 46 defeated Knights 24

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

The last time the Panthers won a game was in round 17...against the Rabbitohs. Oddly enough that was the last game the Rabbitohs didn't win. Since then the Bunnies have scored 76 points and conceded just 14.  And since then the Panthers have scored 38 points and conceded 110. Momentum is everything in this game, and right now the Bunnies have plenty of it while the Panthers look like they're pushing a medicine ball up a hill with the tip of a billiard cue.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 20

Result = Rabbitohs 20 defeated Panthers 16

Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels – Monday night – CBus Super Stadium

Parramatta are in Queensland for successive Monday night fixtures, but this should be closer than their last effort. Taking a team to the Gold Coast at this time of the year is risky when your side aren't in finals contention. For some, it ends up being a Mad Monday warm-up, and the Eels look like the sort of side that could do something that silly. The Titans on the other hand, will pencil this game in as one to win if they want to avoid the wooden spoon. The duck egg against the Broncos doesn't look great, but they had their competitive moments in that game, and if they can sustain that level for most of the 80 minutes that's good enough to beat the Eels. To the Titans fans that head out to the game on Monday night - I salute you.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result - Titans 24 defeated Eels 14

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

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

• ROOSTERS vs Bulldogs
• Tigers vs STORM
• Warriors vs SHARKS
• COWBOYS vs Raiders
• Sea Eagles vs BRONCOS
• DRAGONS vs Knights
• RABBITOHS vs Panthers
• TITANS vs Eels