Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters – Thursday night – Suncorp Stadium

While the Roosters were impressive winners over the Broncos not so long ago, one has to ask what's in it for them this time. They can't catch the Bunnies on the ladder and the Knights can't catch them. Theoretically they can go past the Eels into 14th place, but that's not much of a carrot. Meanwhile the Broncos could, theoretically, lose a home final with a loss. They could also, theoretically, move into fourth spot with a win. So the Broncos have a carrot and a stick. Note that the Chooks will be without three of their best back-rowers in Cordnor, Taukeiaho and Aubusson. They face an opponent with an All-Australian back row. One of those back-rowers, club captain Corey Parker, is playing what could be his last game at Suncorp. The Broncos are celebrating the game as such. That could be the biggest carrot of all.

Verdict – Broncos by 16

Result - Broncos 24 defeated Roosters 14

Canterbury Bulldogs vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – ANZ Stadium

The way I assessed the Thursday night game seems a perfectly cromulent method to assess the Friday night game too. The Bunnies are currently 13th and cannot possibly finish any lower. There is some chance they could take 12th spot, if they really want it. Do they really want it? I suppose they can say they finished the season with four straight wins. That's something. The Bulldogs will know if they can get past the Broncos before this game begins, but the results from the Panthers and Cowboys games are still to come. A loss isn't such a big issue for the Bulldogs - a Panthers v Bulldogs final is likely to end up at a neutral venue anyway (Sydney Football Stadium). A win on Friday night could be worth something though. If the Broncos or Cowboys lose they move to fifth, and if they both happened to lose they move to fourth. That's worth the effort...surely. The Dogs have lost two in a row but their opponents on those occasions (Broncos and Cowboys) are, I think, a level above the Bunnies. I also think playing the Knights can be bad for a team in the week that follows. This contest will be harder, and it will feel harder. A little bit too hard if you ask me. I give the Bulldogs next to no hope of making a grand final this season, but they can win this.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 4

Result - Rabbitohs 28 defeated Bulldogs 10

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – Jubilee Oval

The team with the worst points differential in the competition takes on the team with the second worst points differential in the comp. Lucky for me I'm taking the kids to Sea World on Saturday afternoon, so I don't have to watch this piece of pooh disguised as a football game. The Dragons get to say goodbye to Ben and Benji on the weekend. The Knights can't wait to say goodbye to this whole season. If they couldn't make an effort in the Old Boys game last round what hope have they hear. Normally I don't expect the Dragons to score many points. I'm willing to make an exception.

Verdict – Dragons by 40

Result - Dragons 28 defeated Knights 26

North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

The Titans will approach this as a must-win game, although that isn't necessarily the case. The Tigers will have to beat the Raiders for the Titans to miss out on a finals berth. The Cowboys will know their fate by the time they take to the field on Saturday night. They can't move higher than fourth, but there is a very real chance they could drop to sixth with a loss. A win and they are rewarded with a final in Melbourne or Sydney, while a loss means they are punished with a final in Townsville. In fact, there's some chance they could end up playing the Titans again in a weeks time. Matt Scott is out and he's close to irreplaceable in that role so those that step into the breach will need to lift. Hopefully the crowd can help on that front. The Titans overall record against the Cowboys is pretty good (8 from 16) but they've never won in Townsville. Given the Cowboys record at home this season I suspect the Titans will just fall short again. But what a game...there'll be plenty of sore bodies in the days that follow this battle.

Verdict – Cowboys by 7

Result - Cowboys 32 defeated Titans 16

Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – AAMI Park

The Sharks are one team with a playing style that has troubled the Storm this season. The Sharks did it in round four, and the Raiders and Broncos have, in recent weeks, proved it wasn't a fluke. The primary task is to extract the foot of Cameron Smith from the accelerator. More often than not he manages to control the speed of the game. He couldn't do that last week, and it frustrated him so much he even got marched ten metres at one stage. Line speed in defence and swift ball movements in attack are the key, and the Sharks can do that. The Sharks did that in round four, and while a 14-6 scoreline looks like a dour victory the Sharks could have won that game by much more. So I'm giving them a big hope here, and the Sharks would love to have the J.J. Giltinan shield in their empty trophy cabinet. But I can't tip them. The Storm have never lost to the Sharks in Melbourne, and they very rarely lose two games in a row at home. There's no AFL in Melbourne this weekend, and the Storm often give us their best when they are the only show in town. With so much to play for, I'll back the experienced men in purple and the experience of their coach to get them home. Again...what a game. How good is the football on Saturday night peoples? Wow!

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Storm 26 defeated Sharks 6

Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval

I can't be the only one that would love to see The Viking Clap in the first week of the finals, but it isn't going to happen. The Raiders could move into the top two with a win (if the Sharks lose), but they'll be away from home next week (Sydney or Melbourne) no matter what [Attention tipsters: the information here is not correct. The Raiders can host a final with a top two finish. See the comments for more details...apologies for the incorrect information]. The Tigers, like most of us, will be watching the Cowboys vs Titans game on Saturday night. If the Titans win, this game becomes a lot less meaningful. At this point I'm leaping to the conclusion that the Tigers can make the top eight with a win. The Tigers proved they can win without Tedesco last week and I think they can win again. Much depends on what happens before kick-off on Sunday, but right now I'm backing the Tigers in an upset.

Verdict – Tigers by 4

Result - Raiders 52 defeated Tigers 10

New Zealand Warriors vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

Did you ever have a crazy girlfriend that was a lot of fun but so freaking unpredictable that you never had a clue what was really going on? The Warriors are my crazy girlfriend. The most frustrating team in the NRL will remain forever thus, and I'm not sure what it's going to take to change them. On Sunday they are free from any pressures or expectations and they'll probably win this game in a canter. If they do I'll look at them and I'll shake my head in dismay. Why can't you be like that every week? Why? The Eels have nothing to play for but I've been saying that for weeks. If only the Warriors could harness the discipline and effort the Eels have shown through adversity...they'd be top four at least. I'll tip the Warriors but nothing would surprise me in this game. The Eels at $2.85 are definitely backable. Warriors huh! Lucky for me I never married them.

Verdict – Warriors by 14

Result - Eels 40 defeated Warriors 18

Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday night – Pepper Stadium

The Panthers can't lose 7th spot, and by the time Sunday night rolls around they'll know if they can move any higher. Even Coach Potato wouldn't think the Panthers can move past the Cowboys, but there's a very slight chance they can move past the Broncos. Getting past the Bulldogs is slightly more likely, but even then they'll probably be playing the Bulldogs in the finals at a neutral venue anyway. There's a lot of unknowns at play right now, but what I do know right now is that this is the Panthers last game at home this season, and I expect them to perform accordingly. Don't be surprised if they jump the gates, spring to a 20 point lead and then rest some players in the second half. They do have a short turnaround into the finals compared to most. Campbell-Gillard is out for the season and he's a good one, but that Panthers bench isn't short of talent this year. As for Manly, this is a season that well and truly got away from them. They'll be getting away too. I suspect their bags are already packed.

Verdict – Panthers by 22

Result - Panthers 36 defeated Sea Eagles 6

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

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

• BRONCOS vs Roosters
• BULLDOGS vs Rabbitohs
• DRAGONS vs Knights
• COWBOYS vs Titans
• STORM vs Sharks
• Tigers vs RAIDERS
• WARRIORS vs Eels
• PANTHERS vs Sea Eagles