North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

After a fairly unpredictable round of football I'm turning to the form from previous head-to- head clashes where appropriate this round. In round six the Cowboys travelled to one of their least favourite locations (ANZ Stadium) and humbled the Bunnies 30-12. To be fair the Bunnies were without Adam Reynolds that night, but they've lost the man who slotted in for Reynolds in that game (Glenn Stewart) this time around. The Cowboys are close enough to full strength, with Tautau Moga their only casualty at this stage of the season. The Rabbits record away from home in season 2015 is far from flattering. Since their round one demolition of the Broncos in the opening game of the season, they've won just 2 from 8 on the road. One of those wins was at a neutral ground (SCG) and the other was against the Titans. Meanwhile the Cowboys have won six of their last seven at home. Any game with Thurston and Inglis on the paddock at the time is worthy of your eyeballs. Don't get caught out by the early round 23 start.

Verdict – Cowboys by 4

Result - Rabbitohs 31 defeated Cowboys 18

Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

Tapering? Does anyone taper anymore? Could this explain the Broncos back-to-back losses? Perhaps not, but if you’re going to lose two games in a row it’s much better now than in September. During the two week ‘taper’ from the Broncos the Dragons have scored 82 points – that’s not bad, and a lot better than the 20 points they managed in the three games prior to that. Does it mean the Dragons have found there mojo? I doubt it – the 82 points were against the Knights and the Warriors, while the 20 points were against teams in the top eight. Even if the Broncos taper their season away they’ll still be in the top eight. Another good looking game of football though. A big Thursday night game followed by a big Friday night game – it’s the future…today.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Result - Broncos 32 defeated Dragons 6

Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

They can’t all be good games I suppose. The Tigers have probably avoided the dreaded spoon this season but a win at Campbelltown all but guarantees that. They were great to watch on Monday night and they should be able to carry that form through. The less said about the Knights the better. Back the overs in the total points betting market – providing the weather plays nice it’s the easiest way to make a hard living this weekend.

Verdict – Tigers by 8

Result - Knights 24 defeated Tigers 18

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – Pepper Stadium

Woof! What a pooch of a game. Hats off to the faithful few at Pepper Stadium on Saturday night – I suspect you want to be there more than either of the teams on the field. The Warriors have travelled to Sydney just once in the last three months, for a 20-0 loss to the Roosters. The Warriors can’t make the eight and can’t run last. The Panthers can’t make the eight either but last is a possibility. That is the only motivation I can find.

Verdict – Panthers by 2

Result - Panthers 24 defeated Warriors 10

Sydney Roosters vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

Last week I told you I couldn't possibly tip the Eels based on their previous woeful display. They were woeful again, but it was still good enough to get the points over the Panthers. That level of football is an entirely different level of football to what they'll need to compete with the Chooks. The Roosters are on the fringe of the top two and could easily find themselves there by the end of this round. That impressive points-differential could even earn them another minor premiership. The Roosters are like a night out with Footy Chick, while the Eels are like a night out with The Thinkers' crazy uncle. Take Footy Chick....and the Roosters.

Verdict – Roosters by 20

Result - Roosters 28 defeated Eels 18

Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium

I have never doubted the Sea Eagles backline, which is probably the best in the competition, but I’ve always doubted their forwards. I’m not doubting anymore – Trbojevic is a serious player for years to come, Starling has found his feet and Brenton Lawrence is back on the paddock. Their trip to the capital is well-timed, as the Raiders finals hopes faded with the Monday night loss to the Tigers. We'll see 70+ points scored at GIO this weekend, but Manly will score most of them.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 30

Result - Sea Eagles 26 defeated Raiders 24

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Central Coast Stadium

A number of clubs are running the ruler over Moses Mbye right now…and with good reason. Talented playmakers don’t grow on trees – he’s talented, he’s eloquent and he’s a clean-skin. It’s an early call but the team that secures his next contract will be very pleased with themselves. He’s a Queenslander too, before those desperates in NSW start getting their hopes up. The Titans are the desperates in Queensland, at least they should be. If the Knights score a (somewhat) unlikely victory against the Tigers on Saturday, the Titans could spring into action. I said ‘could’. Des Hasler needs to keep his side firing, or risk losing a finals slot to his old club.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 13

Result - Bulldogs 36 defeated Titans 14

Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – Monday night – Remondis Stadium

Some assumptions here, but if the Cowboys beat the Rabbitohs on Thursday the Sharks are in the top four with a win on Monday. The only team that’s beaten them since round 12 are the Sea Eagles…and that form is looking okay right now. The Storm have struggled away from camp purple this season. Their only away wins have been against the Dragons, Eels, Panthers and Raiders – and some of those wins were quite some time ago. The Sharks are better than that, and the Sharks are the only team in the competition that want to play at Remondis Stadium on a Monday night.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result - Storm 30 defeated Sharks 2

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

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

• COWBOYS vs Rabbitohs
• BRONCOS vs Dragons
• TIGERS vs Knights
• PANTHERS vs Warriors
• ROOSTERS vs Eels
• Raiders vs SEA EAGLES
• BULLDOGS vs Titans
• SHARKS vs Storm