St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans – Friday night – UOW Jubilee Oval

Eighth plays ninth and the winner stays in the top half of the competition for at least another round (unless the Titans win and the Panthers beat the Eels by a lot more than anyone expects). I'm assuming Josh Dugan won't be playing after his jaw ran into the shoulder of Greg Inglis on Wednesday night - can it really be a shoulder charge when you're standing still? Nightingale is the logical replacement at fullback and he's not the sort of man to let his club down. These sides met earlier in the year and the Dragons prevailed on the Gold Coast by 19 points to 12. The Dragons have a very strong overall record against the Titans but, oddly enough, the Titans have won two from three at Kogarah. In any case this will be game number 250 in the NRL for Benji Marshall, and while his best football was with another club I'm sure the Dragons would like to celebrate that milestone with a win. Note that the Dragons have only scored more than 20 points in a game twice this year - once they scored 24 and lost and the other occasion was 30 points against the team running last. The Titans on the other hand have scored more than 20 points in a game on eight occasions. For the Dragons to win they'll need to contain the Titans attack, but I think they can I think they can.

Verdict – Dragons by 1

Result - Titans 32 defeated Dragons 12

Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternon – NIB Stadium

Despite the online bravado from the Sea Eagles fans on this site, Manly have lost seven of their last eight games, and another loss here sees them in danger of being overtaken on the ladder by a team that had 12 points docked from their total. While most of their wins this season have been against the poorer teams (Roosters, Dragons, Knights) I will give them some credit for two of their wins:

• they're the last team to beat the Sharks - way back in round three; and
• they did beat the Warriors in New Zealand - way back in round six.

Obviously that win over the Warriors is worth noting, and while this game isn't at Brookvale the Sea Eagles have been clever enough to pick up a cheque and take this game to Perth. That's a long way for the Warriors to travel - they've played in Perth on four previous occasions and they're yet to win. Given they struggle to win when they travel to Sydney it's hardly surprising that the trip to Perth knocks them around. All those big Warriors in those tiny little airline seats. The Warriors are a warm favourite and on form that makes perfect sense but the travel has me leaning the other way.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 2

Result - Sea Eagles 15 defeated Warriors 14

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium

Those at Redfern Central will tell you the Bunnies can still make the finals. They aren't lying, but they do need to win seven of their last eight games, and during those eight games they have to play the teams that are currently 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th on the ladder. That's quite a mountain they have to climb, and they haven't looked like mountaineers all season. Basecamp is the Broncos this weekend, who don't have to climb a mountain but they do have to dig themselves out of a hole. While they were completely flogged by the Storm last start I, like Wayne Bennett, saw glimpses of their best, particularly in the first ten minutes. The biggest concern is their defence, but I expect that's been a focus for them during the last two weeks - it needs to be. Reynolds was ruled out of Origin with injury but he's been named here ???, meanwhile this game will be without Greg Inglis and Corey Parker who are suspended following the chaos on Wednesday night. The Broncos have tapered mid-season previously and if my hunch is right they will rise again and prove to be a force when it matters most.

Verdict – Broncos by 7

Result - Broncos 30 defeated Rabbitohs 10

Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

Bellamy may be tempted to rest a few of his key assets this weekend, but he probably won't and he probably shouldn't. The Knights on a Sunday afternoon should never be taken for granted, and the return of Mullen in the halves can only help. That said, the Storm were both clinical and brilliant in their dismantling of the Broncos, and anything near that level has to be too good for the Knights. That round 26 clash between the Storm and the Sharks looks more important every week.

Verdict – Storm by 22

Result - Storm 20 defeated Knights 16

Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Pepper Stadium

Rugby League is a team game, but the Eels beat the Roosters last weekend thanks to one player. That one player, Corey Norman, won't be playing this Sunday after being stood down by the club for you know what. So all of a sudden the Eels are without their most creative player and their most potent attacking weapon following the injury to Semi Radradra. Once again, the schedule has fallen favourably for the Penrith Panthers, but I said that last week and they got flogged anyway. Moylan, Mansour and Peachey return for the home side and they're close enough to full strength. I can't tip them confidently, and at $1.28 they are at toxic odds that shouldn't be touched by your worst enemy, but I'll give them another chance to prove to me they are the team I think they can be.

Verdict – Panthers by 8

Result - Panthers 22 defeated Eels 18

Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks – Monday night – Allianz Stadium

Why take $1.28 about the Panthers when you can take $1.48 about the Sharks? Excellent question Thinker....gamble responsibly.

Verdict – Sharks by 10

Result - Sharks 32 defeated Roosters 20

Wally Lewis - round nineteen selections (in bold)

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

• DRAGONS vs Titans
• Sea Eagles vs WARRIORS
• Rabbitohs vs BRONCOS
• Knights vs STORM
• PANTHERS vs Eels
• Roosters vs SHARKS