Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

It's fair to say the Broncos last performance surprised most of us. I mentioned last week that the margin of their victories at home is significantly larger than their victories away, and for that reason I'll be tipping them here. That said, my confidence in the Broncos has been shaken - trust them to lose the week I announce them as my premiership pick. The additions to the Bulldogs side only strengthen an outfit that gave the Chickens a contest in round 21 - Rona and Pritchard have scored 23 tries this season, and Tolman adds starch to a pack that already had plenty of starch. Moses Mbye has to be the best rugby league player to come out of Africa ever, and he clearly has a future in the game. Broncos just, and it's the game of the round.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Brookvale Oval

Oh Manly! He came and he gave without taking, but you sent him away. Oh Manly!

The lads from Manly stood up and delivered for their outgoing coach last weekend. I suppose they could do it again, and I suppose they could make some sort of run at the finals from here. I'll believe it if they can back up the effort last start with a similar effort this start. In the meantime my tip is based on the outcome the last time these sides met. Manly competed but the Bunnies always looked like they'd get there, and they got there with Reynolds off the field with concussion. With a top four finish in sight I can't see the Bunnies taking their eyes off the prize.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 8

New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Saturday afternoon – Westpac Stadium

The Warriors have taken games to Westpac Stadium on seven occasions...for one victory. Since Super League, these sides have met on 22 occasions...for 4 Warriors victories. They've lost their most important player in Shaun Johnson - one of not many players in this competition that can pick up a game and win it on their own, and their opponents are backing up from a confidence-boosting performance. It's the Red V for me.

Verdict – Dragons by 2

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – Remondis Stadium

The Sharks are on a decent roll - dragging better teams down to their level and beating them with experience. No doubt a similar strategy is planned for Saturday night, and Jonathan Thurston can certainly get frustrated when things don't go right. Paul Gallen and Michael Ennis won't have any qualms about niggling him off his game. Will it work? I think it can, but it won't be pretty.

Verdict – Sharks by 2

Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday night – TIO Stadium (Darwin)

When I was younger (so much younger than today), I was a much bigger idiot than I am now. One night I was celebrating with the lads in the beautiful mid-town district of Rockhampton. Base camp on such occasions was a van owned by a mate. On one such occasion I'd had a little more to drink than any human should and managed to fall asleep in the back of the van. Now usually this wouldn't be a problem, but the rest of the boys decided the best thing to do was leave the van overnight and pick it up the next day. Consequently, I woke up many hours later inside a car-shaped oven baking in the capricorn sun. Feeling a touch dehydrated and close to death, I dived for the esky in the back of the van and found a one litre bottle of ginger ale with my name on it. I guzzled like I was in a Solo commercial. Seconds later I realised that at least half that bottle of ginger ale was scotch, and seconds after that I did a very good job of coating the inside of the van with most of what was in my stomach. I managed to get the door of the van open and stumbled out into the day, frightening an elderly couple who were walking their dog. Little did they know I was closer to death than they were. My only option was to start the ardous journey home on foot. Vultures circled overhead and I saw colours that I haven't seen since...but I lived to tell you the tale. I tell you this tale because I watched that hideous Titans/Eels game, and I swear to you I would rather re-live that Rockhampton experience than watch a replay of that game. I cannot possibly tip the team that lost on Monday night. A rare Panthers victory looms.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – AAMI Park

With reference to the story I told you above...I had to go back and clean out the van. After eight hours in the Rockhampton sun it wasn't pretty, but it was still prettier than that game on Monday night. The Storm at home on a bounceback after a surprise loss. Bellamy will have them firing.

Verdict – Storm by 20

Newcastle Knights vs Sydney Roosters – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

Next week the Knights face the Tigers, and the loser of that game is your likely wooden spoon winner. This week the Knights are all about losing, but with their points differential looking a bit sick they don't want to lose by too much. Even that could be a stretch target for the Novacastrians - the Roosters have scored 71 points in the last fortnight while the Knights have conceded 98. The Dragons managed 46 points last week so if the Chooks bring their A-game they could post a cricket score. They could declare at halftime and send the Knights out again.

Verdict – Roosters by 22

Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers – Monday night – GIO Stadium

If games fall the right way the Raiders can be in the top eight with a win here. Meanwhile there'll be strategists in camp Tiger wondering if they'd be better off forfeiting the points and staying home. For the next seven days the minimum temperature in the capital is below zero. Monday night is still some way away, and weather forecasters can get it wrong, but I think we can safely assume it will be cold. They're also forecasting 25km/h westerlies on Monday afternoon and evening. The Tigers won't want to leave their hotel rooms, and once they do they'll just want to go back. Are rugby league players allowed to wear mittens? A victory for the elements...and the green machine.

Verdict – Raiders by 4

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

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

• BRONCOS vs Bulldogs
• SEA EAGLES vs Rabbitohs
• Warriors vs DRAGONS
• Sharks vs COWBOYS
• Eels vs PANTHERS
• STORM vs Titans
• Knights vs ROOSTERS
• RAIDERS vs Tigers