Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders – Thursday night – Suncorp Stadium

I said it once before but it bears repeating - the Raiders are not my friend. They were patchy last round, at times brilliant and at other times scrappy, but it was good enough last week against the Sea Eagles. Note that the Sea Eagles were down to one player on the bench for the last 20 minutes, and played most of the second half without Cherry-Evans, Lyon and Lawrence. We'll need more of that Raiders brilliance this time. The Broncos, in recent weeks, haven't been my friend either, with three losses from their last four starts. Sam Thaiday started the season on the bench, but he's gradually worked his way to the front of the scrum. Travis Waddell has big shoes to fill in the weeks ahead - I imagine he'll take a simple game plan into the match and let Milford and Hunt dance their dance. As a rule I take on the Raiders away from home, particularly against the better sides. Their record at Suncorp in recent years isn't great either.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Result - Broncos 26 defeated Raiders 18

Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – ANZ Stadium

I'm not sure which side has the tougher back-up. The Rabbitohs return from an extra-time loss in Perth while the Tigers never looked likely in the heavy going in Sydney. It looks like Robbie Farah is playing on Friday night but who really knows - surely Farah-gate is having a de-stabilising effect on the club. The Tigers usually win without Farah but that didn't happen against the Chooks. They usually lose with him so let's see if they can defy recent history again. Oddly enough, the only game the Tigers have won with Farah this year was in round nine against (you guessed it) the Rabbitohs. They won that game without Woods, Grant and Moses and with Lawrence playing in the halves. Despite that the Tigers are rank outsiders and I think they're backable (mind you I said that last weekend). I haven't had much luck tipping outsiders in recent rounds but here I go again.

Verdict – Tigers by 2

Result - Tigers 30 defeated Rabbitohs 14

Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

Clearly my criticism of the Warriors last week was the wake-up call they needed, as the greatest enigma in sport burst into life and played the type of spirited football we all wish they could deliver every week. Was the win over the Broncos a one-off or are the Warriors about to start one of those mid-season runs we often see during 'Origin season'? I doubt we'll be much wiser after this game, because even a lack-lustre Warriors should be too good for the rebuilding Knights.

Verdict – Warriors by 16

Result - Warriors 50 defeated Knights 14

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday night – TIO Stadium

One of these teams is facing a crisis, and it's not the Gold Coast Titans. Most of us had them pegged as wooden spooners this season, yet here they are in the top eight. Meanwhile the Eels lurch from one drama to the next. Their marquee signing looks more like a used tent right now. Foran is out for the season with injury, welfare issues and legal battles to contend with. Corey Norman might not be far behind. Eels coach Brad Arthur appears to be the only one holding the club together on and off the field. It has to be a distraction, and to add to the madness he's got an interstate trip to the Top End to manage. Titans...specials.

Verdict – Titans by 10

Result - Eels 22 defeated Titans 12

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

Roosters fans (and you know who you are) may be rejoicing after the solid win over the Tigers on the weekend but I'm here to give you all (and you know who you are) a dose of reality. The Chooks have won three games this season, and the teams they've beaten are currently 10th, 14th and 16th on the ladder. This Saturday night they take on a team at the top of the tree. The purple machine hasn't lost a game since round six and they won't be losing this either. That said, I'm looking forward to the battle of the forwards. Waerea-Hargreaves is improving with each performance and he and Napa will be licking their lips as they prepare to take on the biggest pack of forwards they are ever likely to face. Note that the Storm snared two handy signatures during the week - Addo-Carr from the Tigers and Asofa-Solomona has kept the All Blacks away and stayed purple. It's only a matter of time before Cronk commits to a life in purple too. The Storm are $1.50 to beat the Chooks. It's a gift.

Verdict – Storm by 13

Result - Storm 46 defeated Roosters 0

Manly Sea Eagles vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval

The Panthers record at Brookvale is poor, but the Sea Eagles record at Brookvale this season is even worse. They've won just once at home this season and that was way back in round three. That said, their last two losses at home were to the Broncos and the Cowboys, and I'd argue the Panthers are a rung down from that level. Both sides bring inexperienced halves combinations to this game. The Panthers have gone with a couple of Generation next-ers with Cartwight (not John) and Cleary (not Ivan) while the Sea Eagles are giving Koroisau and Walker another chance. These Sunday afternoon games at Brookvale used to pick themselves but not this season - I'll take the Panthers, but not confidently so. The Sea Eagles with the handicap start may tempt me.

Verdict – Penrith by 2

Result - Panthers 31 defeated Sea Eagles 24

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Monday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

This is the second game at ANZ Stadium this round where the away team is playing at their home ground. I've struggled to get a read on both these sides this season but the Bulldogs went within a whisker of beating the Sharks last Monday night. A repeat of anything like that performance and they'll be too good this Monday night.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 4

Result - Bulldogs 34 defeated Dragons 16

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys – Monday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium

We're saving the best for last this round. Michael Morgan returns for the Cowboys and both sides have effectively named their best seventeen. These sides met in round one where the Cowboys prevailed 20-14 in an even contest. Both sides have improved since that performance but most of the Cowboys best efforts have been at home. They've won just two from six away games this season, and those wins were against sides outside the top eight. Meanwhile the Sharks have won eight games in a row and haven't lost at home all season. They beat the Storm at home. They beat the Broncos at home, and I think they'll beat the Cowboys at home. You don't need me to tell you, but it's the game of the round.

Verdict – Sharks by 2

Result - Sharks 13 defeated Cowboys 10

Wally Lewis - round fourteen selections (in bold)

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

• BRONCOS vs Raiders
• Tigers vs RABBITOHS
• Knights vs WARRIORS
• Eels vs TITANS
• Roosters vs STORM
• Sea Eagles vs PANTHERS
• Dragons vs BULLDOGS
• Sharks vs COWBOYS