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

The Rabbitohs lose at Brookvale (71%) more often than the Sea Eagles win at Brookvale (66%), but it's the ins and outs for this game that have the visitors as slight favourites. Daly Hyphen-Evans is out with an injury yours truly once suffered (syndesmosis), Buhrer is out again as quickly as he was in, and there's doubts over Matai and Lawrence. It's the Bunnies with the ins that wins - two Burgess brothers (Sam and Tom) and a supporting role in the forwards from the returning Dave Tyrrell. How does Sam bounce back after what looked like a genuinely awful neck injury is anyone's guess, but the big boof did win a Clive Churchill with a fractured head so I expect he'll do just fine.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2

Result - Rabbitohs 16 defeated Sea Eagles 12

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – Cbus Super Stadium

It pleases me to see the Titans doing well, but there's doing well and then there's a level above that. Last week reminded us all there are two teams that can play at a level beyond the rest. Hopefully there are three or four teams capable of lifting to those lofty heights. The Titans aren't in that group, but they're near the top of the ladder because they're winning and you can never say never in the NRL. If the Broncos shot all their ducks last week and left nothing behind for this week the Titans win this. Ifs and buts were candy and nuts....as the great Homer J would say. Jack Reek and Corey Oates return, and Oates has a few weeks to get fit and prove to the Queensland selectors he deserves a seat on the Origin bench. Titans captain Nathan Friend is back, and the ever-ascending Ashley Taylor gets to take on his old club. Let's hope the Titans pull a decent crowd through the turnstiles on Friday night, but I still think the Broncos will win this season so they need to be winning games like these.

Verdict – Broncos by 8

Result - Broncos 24 defeated Titans 16

Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – AAMI Park

The Melbourne Storm are so short of backs they've resorted to signing an AFL player this week - we won't see Shem Tatupu on Saturday but we're likely to see him soon. Koroibete has been named but won't be playing, so I'll assume Tohu Harris plugs a gap in the centres and Ben Hampton shifts out to the wing...I think. Despite all the deck-chair shuffling in Melbourne, this Knights squad are a bunch of kids. Sure they have a few wiser older heads in their seventeen but the wiser older heads of Smith (Cameron) and Cronk can steer their kids better than Smith (Jeremy) and Mullen. The Storm rarely lose two games in a row, and its even rarer if that second game is played at home. Even rarer still when their opponents haven't beaten anyone at all. Assuming we have dry weather football on Saturday I'm keen on total points overs for those that are remotely interested in such things. Purple reign. Purple reign.

Verdict – Storm by 13

Result - Storm 18 defeated Knights 14

Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

Paul Gallen has announced that 2016 will be his final Origin campaign - which is rather presumptious of him. He'll need to stay on the paddock between now and then, and I've a feeling he'll be limping off the field on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I don't wish injuries upon anybody, but the nicest guy in rugby league has been spending more than his fair share of time in rehab since Stephen Dank got shown the door at Sharks Central. So....how will the Sharks respond when Gallen heads into the tunnel in the 18th minute of this game? I think they're better without him. The quick turnaround from Monday night has me a little concerned but this Sharks backline has points in it, and the Tigers couldn't even jump out of the barriers against the Dragons. That said, I'm pegging this as the game of the round. On season statistics thus far these sides are pretty evenly matched. Once I've finished watching Winx win the Doncaster I'm definitely tuning in for this. The Tigers to give their all, but they're going to need a bigger boat.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result - Sharks 34 defeated Tigers 26

North Queensland Cowboys vs St George Illawarra Dragon – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

The Dragons are winning games with defence...and they have to. In their last four hours of football they've scored just three tries. The Cowboys scored that many against the Broncos just last week, and had another three disallowed. The last time the Cowboys played at home they scored seven tries and kept their opponents scoreless. For the first time this season the Cowboys have to make a change to their roster, with Javid Bowen making his first grade debut with the club his uncle made his own. Benji Marshall returns for the Red V and the Dragons will get their fare share of support at a venue they don't get to visit too often. A fair contest but the Cowboys to pull away at the business end - Thurston is some chance of outscoring the Dragons on his own.

Verdict – Cowboys by 16

Result - Cowboys 36 defeated Dragons 0

Sydney Roosters vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday afternoon – Central Coast Stadium

Are the Roosters fans great travellers? This could feel like a home game away from home for the Warriors - they'll draw a few Kiwis from the region and most neutral observers would love to see the Roosters remain winless at the foot of the table. Clearly the Warriors haven't set the rugby league world alight but at least their losses to the Tigers, Broncos and Storm were competitive losses. A big win over the Knights is questionable form but they found their mojo in the second half and that could be the shot in the arm they need. As for the Chooks, the narrow loss to the Sea Eagles suggests they're edging nearer to a win, but near enough isn't good enough.

Verdict – Warriors by 1

Result - Warriors 32 defeated Roosters 28

Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium

I like the look of the Panthers line-up...I really do. Moylan at fullback and Martin in the halves is a looking glass into what should be a successful future. My only concern is that the combinations may take a week or two to bed down, and this weekend they're up against a settled line-up playing with confidence and playing at home. Note that Latimore and Taylor have been added to an extended bench for the Panthers, and if both were definitely playing I could actually tip the visitors. As things stand I'll stick with the Eels at home, but the gambler in me is keen to back the Panthers with the handicap start.

Verdict – Eels by 2

Result - Panthers 20 defeated Eels 18

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Canberra Raiders – Monday night – Belmore Sports Ground

The Dogs lost their first choice fullback and dummy half before the season began...so they're doing okay. The same could be said for the Raiders, who lost their two best halves in round one. At least the Raiders are getting them both back on Monday night. It's a nice looking seventeen the Raiders are taking on the road, and at any other venue I'd give them a chance. Sadly, they're travelling to Belmore, and Belmore will be packed to the gills with blue and white brethren. With the will of the people behind those big Bulldogs forwards (and helping those referees with the 50/50 calls) I can't see anything but a Bulldogs victory. Looks like a game you want to be watching though. The atmosphere at Belmore will leak into your loungerooms...in a good way.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 10

Result - Raiders 22 defeated Bulldogs 8

Wally Lewis - round five selections (in bold)

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

• Sea Eagles vs RABBITOHS
• Titans vs BRONCOS
• STORM vs Knights
• Tigers vs SHARKS
• COWBOYS vs Dragons
• ROOSTERS vs Warriors
• EELS vs Panthers
• BULLDOGS vs Raiders