Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys – Thursday night – Belmore Sports Ground

How much difference does a venue make? Just five weeks ago the Cowboys held the Dogs scoreless while picking up 36 points of their own. That Bulldogs team and this Bulldogs team are virtually identical (minus Kasiano), and there's no indication that the Bulldogs form is improving. The big difference is the venue - the Bulldogs spritual home. Oddly enough, Belmore is a venue where Bulldogs coach Des Hasler lost every single game he played. He'll fare better as a coach at this ground, but a win on Thursday night looks unlikely. A Cowboys victory and they move into the top four, and if they retain that it looks like they'll be heading to Melbourne for the first week of the finals. Worst reward ever.

Verdict – Cowboys by 10

Result - Cowboys 24 defeated Bulldogs 16

Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – AAMI Park

The Storm get two chances to wrap up the minor premiership this season. A win here and the J.J Giltinan Shield is theirs. A loss and they take on the only team that can take that trophy away from them next week. That's a nice little buffer to have, but I'm sure they'd prefer to wrap it up this Friday night. Like the Thursday night game we have one team hoping for a dramatic turnaround on the result the last time these sides met. The difference here is that the Storm are back at home, after tearing the Broncos apart in Brisbane in round 17. Not a lot went right for the Broncos that night, and the Storm were at their brutal best in what I think was the most dominant performance of the season so far. It's unlikely they'll be that good again, but they don't have to be. The Broncos have clearly improved since then...a lot. A win in Melbourne and they move ahead of the team that loses on Thursday on the ladder. That goes a long way toward ensuring a home final, and everyone wants a home final. Statistically, the Broncos beat the Storm in Melbourne more often than they beat them in Brisbane, but 2 wins from 6 isn't something to cheer about. It just so happens that the Storm have a better win rate at Suncorp than they do at AAMI Park. It's a curious one...but it's true. In a round full of great games this is one of them. The Broncos to shake the life out of this contest...and just fall short. If it comes down to field goals the composure of Cronk and Smith will get them over the line.

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Broncos 26 defeated Storm 16

Manly Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday afternoon – Brookvale Oval

The last game of the year at Brookvale and the faithful can pay their respects to Jamie Lyon who has played his last game for the club. He may not be the only one, with doubts over Brett Stewart and Steve Matai returning to the NRL next season. All three deserve a send-off and what's left of the Manly side will give their all but they just don't have the cattle. A win for the Green Machine and they, at least temporarily, move into the top two. They also welcome back Hodgson, Lee, Vaughan and Fensom this week. The Raiders are the feel good story of 2016. Just too good.

Verdict – Raiders by 10

Result - Raiders 44 defeated Sea Eagles 30

Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday night – Cbus Super Stadium

Here's a game of football. 7th plays 8th and the winner is absolutely guaranteed a top eight finish. Both sides bring handy form into this clash - the Titans have lost just once since 17 and the Panthers just once since round 18. Oddly enough, that one loss for each side was against the Warriors. These sides faced off in round 11 in Penrith and the Titans prevailed 28 points to 24. Since then the Titans have added Nathan Peats, Konrad Hurrell and Jarryd Hayne to their roster, while the Panthers have unearthed Nathan Cleary. The Panthers record against top eight teams this season has been poor, but they are peaking at the right time. I lean their way on the basis that their recent form looks stronger. They ploughed through the Tigers last week, while the Titans beat them by a solitary point. They took the Warriors to golden point in New Zealand, while the Titans lost to the Warriors on the Gold Coast. The Panthers beat the Chooks convincingly, and that's the only game the Roosters have lost in four rounds. It's the game of the round. Panthers.

Verdict – Panthers by 4

Result - Panthers 15 defeated Titans 14

Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium

If the season was four weeks old the Sharks would be on one point and the Roosters would be on six (including convincing wins over both grand finalists from last year). Sadly for the Chooks the season has been longer than that...much longer. The current vein of form just shows what the Red White and Bluesters could have done this season, but didn't. As for the Sharks, well you could almost feel sorry for them. Almost. It looks like the pressure of expectation is weighing them down like the Australian swim team. Despite that, I'm actually going to tip them here. They are hanging onto their top two spot by a thread, and if they want to keep it they really need to win this game given the challenge that awaits them in round 26 in Melbourne. It's the last game of the season at Shark Park and those rabid fans in the Shire can push their boys over the line.

Verdict – Sharks by 2

Result - Sharks 37 defeated Roosters 12

New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers – Sunday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

With 7th playing 8th earlier in the round this is a live game - the winner has (some) hope of making the eight, while the loser can officially schedule their end of season silliness. These sides did play earlier this year but it was a while ago, with the Tigers prevailing 34-26 at Campbelltown. This time the Warriors are without Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke while the Tigers are without Tedesco. I'm leaning to the home side but not with the confidence of some. If the Tigers haven't given up this could be one of the games of the round. Sadly, that loss last week looked a little bit like giving up. Who knows what sort of weather they're facing in Auckland but if conditions are fair this should be very entertaining indeed.

Verdict – Warriors by 4

Result - Tigers 36 defeated Warriors 24

Newcastle Knights vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

Those wascally wabbits. This is the Old Boys game for the Knights and I had them pegged as winning this. I didn't expect the Rabbitohs to start trying (and winning). I'm still bl00dy tempted I tells ya, but I can't quite do it. It wouldn't be fair to the two people who don't bother to read my ramblings here and just go straight to my tip and follow it without thinking for themselves. I will say this though - I'm going to have a bet. I'm backing the Knights with 14.5 points head start at $1.77. There...I said it. Gamble responsibly.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4

Result - Rabbitohs 34 defeated Knights 12

Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Monday night – Pirtek Stadium

Not a lot to motivate either side but I have to find a winner and this is how I'm doing it. This is the Eels last game at home this season and quite frankly they should go out and win for those fans loyal enough to get out there on a Monday night for a fundamentally meaningless fixture. The Dragons can do the same next week against the Knights. To those of you that get to the game...I salute you. To the Dragons fans that get to the game...I'll buy you a drink.

Verdict – Eels by 14

Result - Eels 30 defeated Dragons 18

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

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

• Bulldogs vs COWBOYS
• STORM vs Broncos
• Sea Eagles vs RAIDERS
• TITANS vs Panthers
• SHARKS vs Roosters
• WARRIORS vs Tigers
• Knights vs RABBITOHS
• EELS vs Dragons